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11th Michigan Cavalry
in the American Civil War

Regimental History
Eleventh Michigan Cavalry. — Col., Simeon B. Brown; Lieut. -Cols., James B. Mason, Charles E. Smith; Majs., Charles E. Smith, Henry L. Wise, George J. West, Darwin D. Buck. This regiment was organized at Kalamazoo and was mustered in Dec. 10, 1863. It left the state the same day for Covington, Ky., and was engaged in scouting in February and March. It was in a skirmish at West Liberty in April, and then moved to Louisa, Ky., forming part of the 1st brigade, 1st division, Army of the Ohio. It was in engagements at Pound gap, Hazle Green, Mount Sterling, Lexington, Georgetown and Cynthiana. The fight at Mt. Sterling was severe, the enemy being routed, and at Cynthiana the 11th was in the charge which destroyed the enemy's line and scattered his forces. Engagements followed at Point Burnside, McCormick's farm, Laurel mountain, Bowen's farm, Saltville, Sandy mountain and in western Virginia. At Saltville about 4,000 of Burbridge's command attacked works defended by 22,000. The brigade to which the 11th was attached carried the main work, the 11th losing 86 in killed, wounded and missing. Compelled to withdraw, the regiment acted as rear-guard and the following day it was cut off and surrounded by 4,000 cavalry, but hewed its way through the opposing lines in a hand-to-hand fight of an hour, Col. Mason being mortally wounded. The regiment encamped at Mt. Sterling and was engaged during November in clearing the country of guerrillas and engaging in skirmishes with them at Hazle Green, McCormick's farm, Morristown, State creek, Mt. Sterling, Church river, Russellville, Cobb's ford, Bristol, Paperville, Abingdon, Wytheville, Mt. Airy, Marion, Seven-mile ford, Saltville and Jonesboro. At Bristol the regiment took a number of prisoners and a large quantity of stores; at Abingdon it fought a brigade, captured the enemy's artillery and 250 prisoners; at Marion a detachment charged Breckenridge's cavalry, and after 36 hours fighting drove it into North Carolina; another detachment of 120 held a bridge against the fire of a heavy force. Capt. George, with 100 picked men from the regiment drove a body of the enemy from a mountain gap and held it. It was in a running fight from Marion to Wytheville, 24 miles, when the enemy's wagon train and artillery were taken. At Wytheville the command drove the home guards to the mountains and captured 75,000 rounds of fixed artillery ammunition, 5,000,000 musket cartridges, 75 wagons, 6,000 blankets, 8 cannon, 33 caissons, large quantities of stores, and destroyed a large amount of property. At Saltville it aided in the destruction of the saltworks, machinery, utensils (including 2,000 kettles), buildings and wells, 3 forts, 2 arsenals filled with ammunition, 13 cannon and caissons, 5 locomotives, 80 cars, depots, and other buildings. In Jan., 1865, the regiment was engaged at Mt. Sterling and Hazle Green. It next fought at Flemingsburg, Boone, Yadkin river, Mount Airy, Hillsville, Salem, Christiansburg, Jonesboro, Danbury, Statesville, Salisbury, and in a number of minor engagements. At Anderson Court House the last remnant of the Confederate treasury was destroyed. The regiment captured Jefferson Davis' cavalry escort and then moved to Hartwell and Asheville, N. C, Greeneville, Tenn., Strawberry plains, Knoxville and Pulaski, where it was consolidated with the 8th Mich, cavalry, July 20, 1865. It was in service at that point until Sept. 22 when it was mustered out. The original strength was 921; gain, 658 total, 1,579. Loss by death, 142.

Footnotes:
Regimental history taken from "The Union Army" by Federal Publishing Company, 1908 - Volume 3

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