23rd Regiment Michigan Infantry 1862-5

Colonel David Jerome, of Saginaw, was selected by Governor Blair as the commandant of the camp, who had charge of its recruitment and organization, which was most successfully accomplished.

They left Saginaw on the 18th. of September 1862, under the command of Colonel Chapin, proceeding at once to Kentucky, its muster rolls showing a force of 983 officers and men. Soon after its arrival, it was assigned to the Tenth Division of General Rosecrans' Army, then pushed forward to Bowling Green. While there a detachment of the Regiment was attacked by a superior force of Confederate guerrillas, but were repulsed.

The 23rd. remained at Bowling Green until May 29,1863, employed in guarding the trains. On the 31st. of May they set out in the pursuit of Confederate General John Morgan's cavalry, then in the area. The 23rd. proceeded with the pursuit to Glasgow, Tompkinsville, Munfordsville, Elizabethtown,, then Louisville. They then proceeded into Ohio through Cincinnati, Portsmouth, Chilicothe then to Paris, Kentucky, just in time to save a railroad bridge from destruction. On the 4th. of August the Regiment proceeded to Lexington, Louisville, Lebanon thence to New Market.

They were here assigned to the 2nd. Brigade, 2nd. Division of the 23rd. Corp. Leaving New Market they proceeded on the advance into Eastern Tennessee.

During the first 2 weeks in November, the Regiment was in camp at Louden,Tn., then marched to Lenoir, then to Hough's Ferry, where they attacked a Confederate force that was camped there, driving them from the area. The Regiment, along with the rest of the army retreated to Knoxville, with reinforced Confederates in hot pursuit. A halt was ordered at Campbell's Station, where a fierce engagement occurred, the Regiment repulsing several Confederate attacks, when the order to fall back was given, then a march to Knoxville was resumed under the most trying of conditions, through mud and torrential rains. The loss to the Regiment during this time was 8 killed, 23 wounded and 8 missing.

The Regiment participated actively in the Siege of Knoxville, until it was raised on December the 5th., then on the 7th. set out after the fleeing attackers. The Regiment pursued them to Strawberry Plains, then on to Dandridge, where the lack of tents and overcoats caused such privations, they were forced to return to the environs of Knoxville.

The following May, they were ordered west to take part in the Atlanta Campaign, arriving at Tunnel Hill, then on to Rocky Face, where they met the Confederates, taking a ridge in front of the southerners works. Moving from Rocky Face to Snake Gap, they made an unsuccessful charge on the Confederate works, losing in a matter of minutes, 63 men, killed and wounded.

The Confederates, having evacuated Resaca, the Regiment joined in the pursuit all the way to Atlanta, there to participate in the Seige of Atlanta. During the pursuit they were engaged at Lost Mountain on the 17th. of June, then Kenesaw Mountain on the 27th., at the Chatahoochie River July 5th., before Atlanta, then on to Lovejoys Station and finally on the 31st. of August, halted at Decatur.

In October the Regiment set out once again, after the fleeing Confederate army under General Hood, who was then moving north up the Tennessee River. The Regiment marched north as far as Johnstonville, where they boarded trains for Columbia,Tn. where heavy skirmishing was occurring, when the army fell back to Franklin,Tn. Before reaching there the Confederates attacked them at Spring Hill, where a gallant defence was put up. They then moved in the direction of Nashville, where upon arrival went into the trenches until the 15th. of December, when it went on the offense, driving General Hood's forces from all of the positions they held, in a daring charge that drove the defenders from a stone wall they held.

On the 17th. the pursuit of the fleeing Southerners continued, and during the first three days of the march, the rain fell in torrents, the mud being fully six inches deep, which with the swollen streams, rendered the progress extremely difficult and tedious. The pursuit continued until Columbia was reached, where a halt was made and the movement ended.

The Twenty Third Corp, having received orders to proceed to Washington, the Regiment left Columbia on January 1,1863. They marched to Clifton, on the Tennessee River, distant 250 miles, where they arrived on the 8th., boarding steamers for Cincinnati on the 16th., from there by rail to Washington, leaving there on the 11th. of February, on steamers bound for Cape Fear,N.C., reaching there on the 15th.

On February 17th., the Regiment moved against Fort Anderson, then on the 18th. the troops were advanced to within a few yards of the Fort, there entrenched under heavy musketry, moving on the Fort and occupying it on the 19th., being first to enter. They again met the Confederates at Town Creek, capturing two pieces of artillery along with 350 prisoners. They then moved on to guard the railroad at Mosely Hall, where the army was being resupplied, remaining there until April the 9th. when they advanced with the army to Raleigh, where they were encamped at the time of surrender of General Johnston's army, ending the war.

On May 3rd., they marched to Greensboro, then by rail to Salisbury, where on the 28th. they were mustered out of United States service, then sent by rail to Michigan, arriving in Detroit July the 7th,, then paid off and disbanded on the 20th.

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

Paris,Ky/ Huff's Ferry,Tn./ Campbell's Station,Tn/ Knoxville,Tn/ Dandridge,Tn/ Strawberry Plains,Tn/ Rocky Face,Ga/ Resaca,Ga/ Etowah River,Ga/ Dallas,Ga / New Hope Church,Ga/ Lost Mountain,Ga/ Kenesaw,Ga/ Chattahoochie Rvr,Ga/ Seige of Atlanta,Ga/ Lovejoy's Station,Ga/ Columbia,Tn/ Duck River,Tn/ Spring Hill,Tn/ Franklin,Tn/ Nashville,Tn/ Fort Anderson,N.C./ Town Creek,N.C./ Wilmington,N.C./ Goldsboro,N.C.

Total Enrollment--1417..... Killed in Action--41..... Died of Wounds--18..... Died of Disease--228

Copyright © 1995, Don Harvey, Revised 13 June 1996