United States Regiments & Batteries * Michigan * 3rd Michigan Infantry Regiment


The 3rd Michigan Infantry Regiment had a total enrollment of 1,432 men. The regiment lost 4 officers and 154 enlisted men killed or mortally wounded and 2 officers and 89 enlisted men to disease during the Civil War. It is honored by a monument at Gettysburg.

1861
May 21 Organized at Cantonment Anderson at the Kent County agricultural fairgrounds in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and mustered into State service
June 10

Mustered 1.040 men into United States service under Colonel Daniel McConnel, Lieutenant Colonel Ambrose A. Stevens, Major Stephen Champlin and Adjutant Edward S. Earle.

  • Company A – “Valley City Guards” – Kent County – Captain Samuel A. Judd
  • Company B – “Grand Rapids Artillery” – Kent County – Captain Baker Bordan
  • Company C – “Grand Rapids German Rifles” – Kent County – Captain Adolph Birkenstock
  • Company D – “Boston Light Guards” = Ionia County – Captain Moses B. Houghton
  • Company E – “Lyons Light Guards” – Kent County – Captain Edwin S. Pierce
  • Company F – “Union Guards” – Kent County – Captain John J. Dennis
  • Company G – “Williams Rifles” – Ingham and Wayne Counties – Captain John R. Price
  • Company H – “Muskegon Rangers” – Muskegon County & Ottawa County – Captain Emery D. Bryant
  • Company I – “Lamont and Georgetown Rifles” – Captain George Weatherwax
  • Company K – Kent County – Captain Byron R. Pierce
June 13 Left Michigan for Washington, D.C., travelling on two trains on the Detroit & Milwaukee Railroad to Detroit. Here they transferred to two boats for an overnight trip to Cleveland.
June 14 Left Cleveland by rail for Washington via Pittsburg, Harisburg and Baltimore.
June 16 Arrived in Washington and marched to Chain Bridge, where camp was set up on the bluffs overlooking the Potomac. Attached to Richardson’s Brigade, Tyler’s Division, McDowell’s Army of Northeastern Virginia for Duty in the Defenses of Washington, D.C.
July 1 William Choates of company C died of disease and was buried at Camp Blair, the first member of the regiment to die. 
July 16 Advance on Manassas, Virginia.
July 16-21 Occupation of Fairfax Court House, Virginia.
July 17 Action at Blackburn’s Ford
July 18

Battle of Bull Run (Manassas)

The regiment was in reserve and helped cover the retreat of the Federal army.

July 21 Duty in the Defenses of Washington, D.C.
August Attached to Richardson’s Brigade, Division of the Potomac
October 21-24 Reconnaissance to Occoquan
October 22 Colonel McConnel resigned for medical reasons.
October 28 Major Champlin was promoted to colonel over Lieutenant Colonel Stevens.
October Assigned to Richardson’s Brigade, Heintzelman’s Division, Army of the Potomac
1862
February 3 Reconnaissance to Occoquan Village (Companies H & I)
March Attached to 3rd Brigade, 3rd Division, 3rd Corps, Army of the Potomac
March 17

Peninsular Campaign

Moved to the Virginia Peninsula

April 5-May 4

Siege of Yorktown

Commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Stevens

May 31-June l

Battle of Fair Oaks or Seven Pines

The regiment lost 30 killed, 124 wounded and 15 missing. Colonel Champlin was wounded in the hip.

June 1-2 Reconnaissance beyond Seven Pines
June 25-July 1

Seven days before Richmond

June 25

Oak Grove

June 29

Savage Station and Peach Orchard

June 30

Charles City Cross Roads and Glendale

July 1

Malvern Hill

July – August 15 Duty at Harrison’s Landing
August Attached to 3rd Brigade, 1st Division, 3rd Corps, Army of the Potomac
August 16-27 Moved to Fortress Monroe, then to Centreville
August 29

Battle of Groveton (Brawner’s Farm)

August 30

Second Battle of Bull Run (Second Manassas)

Colonel Champlin was wounded for a second time, leaving command of the regiment to Major Byron Pierce.

September 1

Battle of Chantilly

September Lieutenant Colonel Stevens was appointed colonel of the 21st Michigan Infantry. Major Byron Pierce was promoted to replace him.
September –
October 11
Duty in the Defenses of Washington, D.C.
October 11-
November 23
March up the Potomac to Leesburg, thence to Falmouth, Va.
November 29 Colonel Champlin was promoted to brigadier general. Lieutenant Colonel Byron Pierce was promoted to colonel and command of the regiment.
December 12-15

Battle of Fredericksburg

1863
January 20-24
“Mud March”
April 27 At Falmouth
April 27-May 6

Chancellorsville Campaign

May 1-5

Battle of Chancellorsville

The regiment lost 63 casualties.

June 11-July 24

Gettysburg Campaign

July 1-3

Battle of Gettysburg

The 3rd Michigan Infantry Regiment was commanded by Colonel Byron Root Pierce until he was wounded on July 2nd. His brother, Lieutenant Colonel Edwin S. Pierce then took command.

From the monument in the Peach Orchard at Gettysburg:

July 2nd 1863. This regiment deployed as skirmishers 150 yards in advance of this position. Held the line extending from the Peach Orchard east to the woods. Was the right of De Trobriand’s Brigade, and connected with the left of Graham’s.

Went into action with 19 officers, 267 men, total 286. Casualties: 7 men killed, 3 officers and 28 men wounded, 7 men missing – total 45.

< See Lieutenant Colonel Pierce’s Official Report on the 3rd Michigan in the Battle of Gettysburg >
July 5-24 Pursuit of Lee to Manassas Gap
July 23

Action at Wapping Heights

August 17-
September 17
Moved to Alexandria and then by ship to New York. Duty at New York City and at Troy during the draft riots.
October 9-22

Bristoe Campaign

October 3

Auburn

November 7-8 Advance to line of the Rappahannock
November 8

Kelly’s Ford

November 26-
December 2

Mine Run Campaign

The regiment lost 31 casualties during the campaign

November 27

Payne’s Farm

December 23 207 men reenlisted and were granted Veteran furlough.

1864

February 6-7 Demonstration on the Rapidan
March Attached to 2nd Brigade, 3rd Division, 2nd Corps
May 4-June 9

Campaign from the Rapidan to the James

May 5-7

Battle of the Wilderness

May 8-21

Battle of Spottsylvania Court House

May 8

Laurel Hill

May 10
Po River
May 12

Assault on the Salient (“Bloody Angle”)

May 19

Harris Farm, Fredericksburg Road

May 21-23

North Anna River

May 26-28 On line of the Pamunkey
May 28-31

Totopotomoy

June 1-9

Battle of Cold Harbor

June 9 The 3rd Michigan Infantry Regiment left the front
June 10 Non-veterans mustered out
June 13 Veterans and Recruits transferred to 5th Michigan Volunteer Infantry Regiment as Companies A, E, F and I

The regiment was reorganized in October and served in the Western Theater.