United States Regiments & Batteries > Michigan > 1st Michigan Infantry Regiment
The 1st Michigan Infantry Regiment was formed in May of 1861 for three months service. It arrived in Washington two weeks later, leading Lincoln to exclaim, “Thank God for Michigan!” The regiment fought at Bull Run, then headed back to Michigan when it’s enlistment was up in August. It quickly reorganized as a three year regiment and returned in September, fighting in all of the battles of the Army of the Potomac until Appomattox. The 1st Michigan Infantry Regiment lost 15 officers and 172 enlisted men killed or mortally wounded and 1 officer and 149 enlisted men to disease, a total of 337.
The regiment is honored by a monument at Gettysburg. From the monument:
Total enrollment 2144 officers and men. Killed in action officers 12, men 135. Died of wounds officers 6, men 22. Died of disease, officers 1, men 95. Total 252. From the first to the last. Entry into Virginia and capture of Alexandria May 24, 1861 to Appomattox April 8, 1865. Participated in 54 skirmishes and general engagements.
1st Michigan Infantry Regiment (3 months service)
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1861
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| May 1 | Organized at Fort Wayne, Detroit, Michigan, and mustered into United States service for three months (the only three-months Regiment from Michigan) under Colonel Orlando Willcox, Lieutenant Colonel Loren L. Comstock and Major Alonzo Bidwell.
 Colonel Orlando Willcox |
| May 13 | Left State for Washington, D.C. |
| May 16 | Arrived in Washington late in the evening, the first western regiment to reach Washington. Assigned to the Department of Washington. |
| May 24 | Crossed the Potomac via the Long Bridge and occupied Arlington Heights, Va. |
| June 1 | Action at Arlington Mills (Co. “E”) Attached to Willcox’s Brigade, Heintzelman’s Division, McDowell’s Army of Northeast Virginia |
| July 16-21 | Advance on Manassas, Virginia |
| July 21 |
Battle of Bull Run (Manassas)The 1st Michigan Infantry Regiment was commanded by Major Bidwell while Colonel Willcox commanded the brigade. The regiment went into action with 25 officers and 475 enlisted men and lost 6 men killed or mortally wounded, 4 officers and 33 enlisted men wounded and 65 men missing. Captain Eben Butterworth and Lieutenants Bernard Mauch and John Casey were mortally wounded and captured by the 28th Virginia Infantry. Captain Charles Lum and Lieutenant Hiram Warner were wounded. Colonel Willcox was wounded leading several charges during the battle, for which he received the Medal of Honor. Captain William Withington of Company B was also awarded the Medal of Honor for staying on the field and succoring Willcox. He was wounded and taken prisoner, but was exchanged and went on to become the colonel of the 17th Michigan Infantry Regiment. |
| August 7 | Mustered out under Major Bidwell. |
1st Michigan Infantry Regiment (3 years service)
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1861
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| June-September | Organized at Detroit under the command of Colonel John C. Robinson, Lt. Colonel Horace Roberts and Major Franklin Whittlesey.
 Colonel John Robinson |
| September 16 | Mustered in and left State for Washington, D.C.; Attached to Hooker’s Brigade, Division of the Potomac |
| October | Duty at Bladensburg, Maryland and at Annapolis Junction guarding Washington & Baltimore Railroad (part of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad). Attached to 1st Brigade, Hooker’s Division, Army of the Potomac |
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1862
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| February | Assigned to the Railroad Brigade, Army of the Potomac |
| March | Attached to 1st Brigade, 2nd Division, 3rd Army Corps, Army of the Potomac |
| March | Duty at Camp Hamilton, Fortress Monroe, Va. |
| April 28 | Colonel Robinson was promoted to brigadier general. Lieutenant Colonel Roberts was promoted to colonel and Major Whittlesey was promoted to lieutenant colonel. |
| May | Attached to Robinson’s Brigade, Dept. of Virginia |
| June | Ordered to join Army of the Potomac in the field. Attached to 1st Brigade, 1st Division, 5th Army Corps. |
| June 25-July 1 |
Seven Days before Richmond |
| June 26 |
Battles of Mechanicsville |
| June 27 |
Gaines MillColonel Roberts was wounded and Lieutenant Colonel Whittlesey was wounded in the leg. |
| June 29 |
Peach Orchard and Savage Station |
| June 30 |
Glendale and Turkey Bridge |
| July 1 |
Malvern Hill, then at Harrison’s Landing |
| August 3 | Lieutenant Colonel Whittlesey was forced to leave active duty with the regiment due to lameness from his leg wound at Gaines Mill. It was hoped to be temporary but would be permanent. |
| August 16-27 | Movement to Fortress Monroe, then to Centreville, Va. |
| August 28 |
Gainesville |
| August 30 |
Second Battle of Bull Run (Second Manassas)Colonel Roberts was killed. Lieutenant Colonel Whittlesey was promoted to colonel but was incapacitated due to his wound from Gaines Mill, so Lieutenant Colonel Ira Abbott was promoted from major and took command of the regiment. |
| September 6-22 |
Maryland Campaign |
| September 16-17 |
Battle of Antietam (Sharpsburg)The regiment was in reserve. |
| September 19 |
Shepherdstown Ford |
| September 20 | Shepherdstown |
| October 29 – November 19 | Movement to Falmouth, Va. |
| December 12-15 |
Battle of FredericksburgLieutenant Colonel Ira Abbott was wounded. |
| December 29-30 | Expedition from Potomac Creek to Richards and Ellis Fords, Rappahannock River |
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1863
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| January 20-24 |
“Mud March” |
| January – April | At Falmouth |
| March 18 | Colonel Whittlesey resigned due his lame right knee, the result of his Gaines Mill wound. Lieutenant Colonel Ira Abbott was promoted to colonel. |
| April 27-May 6 |
Chancellorsville Campaign |
| May 1-5 |
Battle of Chancellorsville |
| June 11-July 24 |
Gettysburg Campaign |
| July 1-3 |
Battle of GettysburgOn July 2 the Regiment fought south of the town on the Stony Hill near the Rose Farm. It was commanded by Colonel Ira C. Abbott, who was wounded on July 2nd. Lieutenant Colonel William A. Throop then took command despite also being wounded. From the monument at Gettysburg:Present for duty 21 officers 240 men, total 261. Killed 1 officer 4 men. Wounded 6 officers 27 men. Missing 4 men. Total 42.  Monument to the 1st Michigan Infantry at Gettysburg |
| July 5-24 | Pursuit of Lee to Manassas Gap |
| July 27 – September 17 |
At Warrenton and Beverly Ford |
| September 18 | Provost duty at Culpeper |
| October 11-22 |
Bristoe Campaign |
| November 7-8 | Advance to line of the Rappahannock |
| November 7 |
Rappahannock Station |
| November 26 – December 2 |
Mine Run Campaign |
| December 3 | Duty near Culpeper |
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1864
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| February 23 | The regiment re-enlisted as Veterans |
| March | Attached to 3rd Brigade, 1st Division, 5th Corps |
| May 4-June 15 |
Campaign from the Rapidan to the James River |
| May 5-7 |
Battle of the Wilderness |
| May 8-21 |
Battle of Spotsylvania Court House |
| May 8 |
Laurel Hill |
| May 12 |
Assault on the Salient |
| May 23-26 |
North Anna River |
| May 23 |
Jericho Mills |
| May 28-31 |
Totopotomoy |
| June 1-12 |
Battle of Cold Harbor |
| June 1-3 | Bethesda Church |
| June 16 |
Siege of Petersburg begins |
| July 30 |
Mine Explosion, Petersburg (Reserve) |
| August 18-21 |
Six-Mile House, Weldon Railroad |
| September 29 – October 2 |
Poplar Springs Church |
| October 27-28 |
Boydton Road, Hatcher’s Run |
| December 7-12 |
Warren’s Expedition to Weldon Railroad |
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1865
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| February 5-7 |
Dabney’s Mills, Hatcher’s Run |
| March 28-April 9 |
Appomattox Campaign |
| March 29 |
Junction, Quaker and Boydton Roads |
| March 29 |
Lewis’ Farm, near Gravelly Run |
| March 30-31 |
White Oak Road |
| April 1 |
Battle of Five Forks |
| April 2 |
Fall of Petersburg |
| April 3-9 | Pursuit of Lee |
| April 9 |
Appomattox Court HouseSurrender of Lee and his army |
| May 16 | Duty at City Point, Va. |
| May 16-18 | Moved to Alexandria |
| May 23 | Grand Review |
| June 16 | Ordered to Louisville, Ky. |
| July 9 | The 1st Michigan Infantry Regiment mustered out at Jeffersonville, Indiana |