United States Regiments & Batteries > Michigan


The regiment lost 6 officers and 131 enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 165 enlisted men to disease during the Civil War.

1863
April 14 to
October 7
The 1st Michigan Sharpshooters Regiment was organized at Kalamazoo and Dearborn, Michigan under the comman of colonel Charles Victor DeLand. Company K was mostly composed of Native Americans of the Ojibwa, Odawa and Patawotomi. These men proved to be very adept at scounting and skirmishing skills, which they taught to the rest of the command.

Colonel Charles DeLand

Colonel Charles V. DeLand

July 7 Six companies were mustered in and ordered to Indianapolis, Ind., then to Seymour, Ind., to repel the Morgan Raid.
July 13

Action with Morgan at North Vernon, Indiana.

July 14 At Pierceville
July Returned to Dearborn, Michigan and finished training there
August 16 Moved to Chicago, Ill. and duty guarding prisoners at Camp Douglas
1864
March 17 Ordered to Annapolis, Md. and attached to 2nd Brigade, 3rd Division, 9th Army Corps, Army of the Potomac
May 4-June 15

Campaign from the Rapidan to the James River

May 5-7

Battle of the Wilderness

The regiment lost 11 men killed or died of wounds, 13 men wounded, and 1 man missing

May 8-21

Battle of Spotsylvania Court House

The regiment lost 34 men killed or died of wounds, 117 men wounded, and 4 men missing. Colonel Charles  DeLand was wounded.

May 10

Ny River

May 12

Assault on the Salient

May 13 Major John Piper was killed.
May 14 Captain Levant Rhines took command of the regiment.
May 23-26

North Anna River

May 23-24 Ox Ford
May 26-28 On line of the Pamunkey
May 28-31

Totopotomoy

June 1-12
Battle of Cold Harbor
June 1-3

Bethesda Church

June 16-18

First Assault on Petersburg

Captain Levant Rhines was killed. He was posthoumously promoted to major. Captain Captain Elmer Dicey took command of the regiment.

June 19

Siege of Petersburg begins

July 15 Colonel Charles DeLand rejoined the regiment after recovering from his wound.
July 30

Mine Explosion, Petersburg

Captain Elmer Dicey was captured while commanding the regiment.

August 18-21

Weldon Railroad (Globe Tavern)

September Assigned to 2nd Brigade, 1st Division, 9th Army Corps
September 29-October 2

Poplar Springs Church

Colonel Charles DeLand was wounded and captured. Captain George Murdock took command of the regiment.

October 8 Reconnaissance on Vaughan and Squirrel Level Roads
October 27-28

Boydton Plank Road, Hatcher’s Run

November 12 Major Asahel Nichols took command of the regiment.
December 4 Captain George Murdock was promoted to Brevet Major
December 12 Brevet Major George Murdock resigned.
1865
February 4 Colonel Charles DeLand was discharged due to disability caused by his wounds.
March Major Asahel Nichols was promoted to lieutenant colonel.
March 25

Fort Stedman, Petersburg

March 28-April 9

Appomattox Campaign

April 2

Fall of Petersburg

The regiment was one of first units to enter Petersburg. Lieutenant Colonel Asahel Nichols was badly wounded. He was promoted to Bevet Colonel for “conspicuous gallantry”. Captain James DeLandthen took command until he was also wounded, when Captain Levant Case took command. Both were later promoted to Brevet Major for “conspicuous gallantry”.

April 3

Occupation of Petersburg

Captain Ira Evans took command of the regiment.

April 3-9 Pursuit of Lee
April 22-27 Moved to Washington, D.C. Brevet Lieutenant Colonel Edward J. Buckbee took command of the regiment.
May 23 Grand Review
July 28 The 1st Michigan Sharpshooters Regiment mustered out under the command of Brevet Lieutenant Colonel Edward J. Buckbee.