15th Regiment Michigan Infantry 

1862-1865

The Regiment left Monroe on March 27th., arriving at Pittsburgh Landing, Tenn. just in time to participate in the battle fought there on the 6th and 7th of April, where the Union forces were commanded by General Grant, the Confederate forces by General Johnston. It was attached to General Rosseau's Brigade during the engagements, suffering a loss of 2 officers and 31 men killed, 1 officer and 63 men wounded.

It was an experience very severe for troops so recently organized; but, the Regiment fought with the steadiness of veterans, receiving a most complimentary notice in orders from the Brigade commander for conspicuous gallantry.

The Fifteenth took part in the Seige of Corinth, Miss., which lasted from May 10th to the 31st, then met the Southern forces at Iuka, Sept. 19, Chewalla Oct. 1, then on the 3rd. and 4th. was in the advance at Corinth, when an attack was made by the Confederates, resulting in a loss to the Fifteenth of 13 killed and 32 wounded.

In November the Regiment moved to Grand Junction, remaining in that vicinity until June 1863, when it was attached to the First Division, Sixteenth Corp, in command of Colonel Oliver.

It was then ordered to Vicksburg, Miss., Then proceeded to Hayne's Bluff, where it was temporarily attached to the Ninth Corp, where on July 6th, they crossed the Big Black River in the advance on Jackson, and operated with the Ninth Corp until the Confederates were driven across the Pearl River on July 17th.

Vicksburg having surrendered, the Fifteenth was attached to the Second Brigade, Fourth Division, Fifteenth Corp, moving with that Corp to reinforce the Army of the Cumberland, passing through Memphis, Tenn., then Corinth Miss., it arrived at Florence, Ala. on Nov. 1st. The Regiment then moved to Bridgeport, Ala., then on to Scottsboro where it remained until February 1864.

At Scottsboro 186 members re-enlisted and the Regiment returned to Monroe, where the men were given a veteran furlough to visit their families.

The Regiment assembled again at Monroe, then proceeded to Chattanooga, Tenn. where it arrived on May 4th. It immediately joined in the Georgia Campaign with General Sherman's army and was constantly marching and fighting, participating in many of the hard fought battles before crossing the Chattahoochie River where it went into the entrenchments during the Siege of Atlanta.

At Decatur, a few miles east of Atlanta on the 22nd of July, the Fifteenth had a desperate engagement with General Hood's army, fighting with such gallantry that it captured the colors of two Confederate regiments and 176 prisoners, while succeeding in repulsing a very determined attack of the South. (Chas. Sanscrainte a member of the 15th won the Congessional Medal of Honor during this action.) It was constantly under fire during the siege and when General Sherman moved his army to the south of Atlanta, where the Fifteenth again repulsed a heavy assault at Jonesboro, in the battle that caused General Hood to evacuate Atlanta.

The Regiment then went into camp at East Point, Ga. for a long needed rest; however, when General Hood started north with his army, the Fifteenth joined in the pursuit.

It started Oct. 4th., marching by way of Marietta, Allatoona, Rome, Resaca and Snake Creek Gap, Ga., to Carr Springs, Ala. The records show the Regiment marched 200 miles during the month, participating in numerous skirmishes, some of them arising to the dignity of battles.

Leaving Hood to pursue his march North upon Nashville where General Thomas was in readiness to receive him the Fifteenth returned to Atlanta, where it arrived on the 12th, when two days afterward commenced the March from Atlanta to the Sea. It was then serving with the Third Brigade, Second Division, Fifteenth Corp. The Regiment moved with the Corp upon Savannah, where, after the surrender of that city, they remained in camp until Jan. 14, 1865, when they embarked upon transports for Beaufort, S.C.

On January 30th, it commenced the march through the Carolinas, via Grangeburg, Columbia, Cheraw, and Fayetteville, reaching Goldsboro on March 14th. Colonel Oliver was promoted to Brigadier General on January 11, 1865, while Frederick S. Hutchinson was commissioned Colonel January 14th.

Then under his command the Regiment marched to Raleigh, N.C., then on to Washington D.C., where it arrived on the 21st., then took part in the Grand Review with General Sherman's army on May 24th.

On June 1st the regiment was sent to Louisville, Ky., then on to Little Rock, Ark., where it arrived on the 7th of July. It remained there until August 14th, when it started on its return to Michigan, arriving at Detroit on September 1, 1865, where it was paid off and disbanded.

During their term of Federal service, they were engaged at:

Pittsburgh Landing,Tn./ Farmington,Ms./ Corinth,Ms./ Iuka,Ms./ Chewalla,Ms./ Vicksburg, Ms./ Jackson, Ms./ Resaca,Ga./ Big Shanty,Ga./ Kenasaw Mountain,Ga./ Decatur,Ga./ Atlanta,Ga./ Atlanta,Ga./ Atlanta & Memphis Railroad/ Jonesboro,Ga./ Lovejoy's Station,Ga./ Clinton,Ga./ Saluda Creek,SC./ Fort McAllister,Ga./ Orangeburg,SC./ Congaree,SC. Columbia,SC./ Fayetteville,NC./ Bentonville,NC.

 
                      Total Enrollment..........2390
                      Killed in Action............51
                      Died of Wounds..............24
                      Died in Confederate Prisons..4
                      Died of Disease............182
                      Discharged for wounds......286
  
                      Total Casualty Rate.......22.8%

Copyright © 1995, Don Harvey, Revised 13 June 1996