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1st Michigan Light Artillery Battery
"E"
1861-1865
The rendezvous of Battery
"E" was at Marshall, where they were organized in conjunction
with
the 1st. Michigan Engineers and Mechanics. They were mustered
into the service of the United
Sates on December 6, 1861, with the following officers: Captain
John H. Dennis, of Grand
Rapids. First Lieutenant John J. Ely, Grand Rapids. Second
Lieutenant Peter De Vries, Adrian.
They were mustered into service at Nashville, Tennessee, after
the Battery arrived there from
Michigan.They left the State of Michigan on December the 17th., 1861, going directly into the service with the Western Army, with whom they were first engaged with the Confederates at Pittsburgh Landing on April 7, 1862, under the command of Captain Dennis, then again at Fort Riley, Tennessee on the following September 20th., under the command of the newly promoted, Captain John G. Ely, replacing Captain Dennis, who had resigned.
The Battery went into garrison at Nashville on November 1, 1862. They remained there, constituting part of the artillery reserve, until the first of June, 1863, when they were attached to General Hard's brigade, then ordered to Murfreesboro. Remaining there three months, the Brigade was ordered back to Nashville, where they remained on service the balance of the year. Fifty-seven of the Battery reenlisted here, as veterans, receiving the customary furlough, which they spent in Michigan.
During 1864, while under the command of Captain Peter De Vries, they remained at Nashville. While there, one section participated in the raid made in July by the forces under General Rosseau, into Alabama and Georgia. This section was engaged with the Confederates at Coosa on July 15th., then again at Cheraw on the 20th.
The Battery was serving in Tennessee, still at Nashville on November 1, 1864, except for one section, which was on duty at Springfield. In December, they were attached to the 4th. Army Corp, and in that month they participated in defence of Nashville, against the attack of Confederate General Hood, where they gained an enviable reputation in that important battle, then they were engaged in pursuing his forces on their retreat southward. The Battery remained at Nashville until February, 1865, when they were ordered to Decatur, Alabama, where they constituted a part of the garrison of that place, until they were ordered to Michigan for muster out. They arrived at Jackson on the 16th., and was mustered out of service on the 30th. of July, 1865.
During there term of Federal service, they were engaged at:
Pittsburgh Landing,Tn/ Fort Riley,Tn / Coosa,Al/ Cheraw,Al/ Nashville,Tn
Total Enrollment--327..... Drowned--2..... Died of Disease--29
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Copyright © 1995, Don Harvey, Revised 13 June 1996