1st Michigan Light Artillery Battery "C"

The Battery left Grand Rapids December 17, 1861, under the command of Captain Dees, for the field with the Western Army.

They were engaged with the Confederates at Farmington, Ms, May 9, 1862, then again at the Seige of Corinth from the 10th. to the 31st. of that month. On September 16th., following, the Battery, under the command of Captain Dees, was sent from Burnsville on a reconnaissance towards Iuka, Ms, made by the 2nd. Brigade, 2nd. Division, Army of the Mississippi. About six miles from that place the command was met by Confederate pickets, which were driven in, and the force advanced. The line of battle was formed on a hill commanding the country for about a mile. Two of the guns of the Battery, 10 pounder Parrots, and a 10 pounder Howitzer, were placed on the brow of the hill, throwing shot and shell. The other two guns of the Battery were soon in position, and the firing continued for about fifteen minutes. The force advanced through an open field below the hill, reaching the wood on the other side, turned to the right, when the infantry and cavalry advanced and opened fire on the rebels. The firing was brisk on both sides for a short time, when a retreat was ordered,the Battery covering it. On falling back to the hill before mentioned, a halt was made, the Battery reopened fire, shelling in several directions. On the advance of the skirmishers toward a wood about a mile distant, the rebels opened a brisk fire from the edge of the wood, when the Battery again opened fire from a 10 pounder Parrot, shelling the southerners with such a good effect, that he very soon left the wood. Soon night came on and the firing ceased.

On the morning of the 3rd. of October, 1862, the Battery, under the command of Lieutenant George Robinson, with a section of the 8th. Wisconsin Battery, all being under the command of Lieutenant C.A. Lamberg, of Battery "C", marched from a point on the Kossuth Road, four miles from Corinth, with the 1st. Brigade, 2nd. Division, Army of the Mississippi, towards Corinth, taking a position southwest of the town. On the morning of the 4th., the Battery was stationed on the North of the Memphis and Charleston Railroad Depot. At about 4 A.M., the Confederates commenced shelling the town, throwing several shells into the Battery, but without effect. The Battery was placed in position a short distance to the right, then afterwards in rear of General Rosecrans headquarters, with an Ohio battery on their right, seeing the rebel skirmishers in front, firing was commenced on them about 8 A.M., when they disappeared. Later in the day a large force of Confederates appeared advancing on the right and front of the Battery, when they again opened fire, driving them back into the woods. They soon advanced in greater force, when the guns were double-shotted with cannister, then a rapid fire was opened with good effect for about an hour, but the rebels continued to advance. The infantry on the right of the Ohio battery broke, when they limbered up and retired, leaving the right flank of the Michigan Battery exposed and without support. The rebels being within twenty yards of the guns, and unable to maintain the position, they also limbered up and left for the rear, moving to the South side of the Memphis and Charleston Railroad, then from there to the rear of General Rosecrans headquarters, when the firing ceased, the Confederates being driven back at all points, in a very demoralized condition. During this engagement, the Battery lost eleven in wounded and missing, and six horses killed in addition to eight wounded. On this occasion they acquired a high reputation for efficiency, bravery and being a reliable battery.

Marching from Corinth on November 2, 1862, they encamped at Grand Junction on the 4th., then marched to Davis Mills. On the 29th., one section engaged the Confederates at Lumkin's Mills, disabling two of the rebel guns, forcing, with the cavalry brigade, the rebels into their earthworks at the Tallahatchie River. December the 11th., the Battery now under the command of Captain George Robinson, was encamped at Oxford, Mississippi, thence they proceeded to LaGrange, the returned to Corinth, January 7, 1863, where they were stationed until the 13th. of May. On the 20th. of April, one section accompanied General Dodge on an expedition into Alabama, engaging Confederate cavalry at Town Creek, then returning to Corinth on the 2nd. of Nay. On the 13th., they proceeded to Memphis, Tennessee, where they formed a part of the garrison until the 18th. of October, when they marched to Iuka, being stationed there on November the 1st. In March of 1864, they were stationed at Prospect, Alabama, then near the end of the month moved to Decatur.

They were on the Atlanta Campaign, engaging the rebels at Resaca, Dallas, Big Shanty, Kenesaw, Nickajack Creek, all in Georgia, then at Decatur, Alabama, followed by the Seige of Atlanta from July 22 to August 25th.

From November 1, 1864, until the 12th., they were engaged in the pursuit of the forces of General Hood. On the 15th., they commenced the march with General Sherman's Army on the Savannah Campaign, when on the 9th., 10th., and 11th. of December they encountered the Confederates near Savannah, assisting in driving them from their works. On the 10th., they were engaged all day, on the 11th., silenced some of their guns, dismounting one. The Battery lay at Savannah until January 4, 1865, when they embarked on a transport for Beaumont, SC, then on the 16th., went into camp at Pocotiglo. Breaking camp on the 29th., they moved with the Carolina Campaign, when on the 9th. of February engaged the rebel forces at the South Edisto River, losing one killed and one wounded, then reached Columbia on the 17th. Near Cheraw, on the 4th. of March, they again were engaged, assisting in the capture of 28 guns, then on the 13th., crossed the Cape Fear River at Fayetteville, NC, when they participated in attacking the Confederates at that point, driving them from their position. At South River, on the 15th., they were again engaged, then lay in position at Bentonville on the 21st., then went into camp at Goldsboro until the 10th. of March, when they started for Raleigh, reaching there on the 14th., remaining in camp until the 29th., when they moved, via Richmond to Washington, arriving there on May 23rd., soon thereafter starting for Detroit, reaching there on the 13th. of June, where on the 22nd., they were mustered out, paid off, then disbanded.

During their term of Federal service, they were engaged at: Corinth,Ms/ Farmington,Ms/ Iuka,Ms/ Lumkin's Mills,Ms/ Tallahatchie,Ms/ Town Creek,Al/ Resaca,Ga/ Dallas,Ga/ Big Shanty,Ga/ Kenesaw,Ga/ Nickajack Creek,Ga/ Decatur,Al/ Siege of Atlanta/ Savannah,Ga/ South Edisto,SC/ Cheraw,SC/ Fayetteville,NC/ Bentonville,NC

Total Enrollment--239..... Killed in Action--2..... Died of Wounds--1..... Died of Disease--31

Copyright © 1995, Don Harvey, Revised 13 June 1996