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18th Michigan Infantry
in the American Civil War
| Regimental History |
| Eighteenth Michigan Infantry. — Cols., Charles E.
Doolittle, John W. Horner; Lieut. -Cols., George L. Spaulding, Edwin M.
Hubbard. Majs., John W. Horner, James D. Hinckley. This regiment was
organized at Hillsdale, and was mustered in Aug. 26, 1862. It left the
state Sept. 4, reported at Cincinnati, and was stationed at Lexington,
Ky., from Nov. 1, 1862, until Feb. 21, 1863. It then moved to Danville
and was with the forces that retreated from Danville on the 24th,
skirmishing with those of Pegram as they left. On the 28th the regiment
joined in pursuit of Pegram, making a long, rough march to Buck creek.
It returned to Stanford, then moved to Lebanon, and thence to Nashville,
where it was employed as provost guard from Nov. 1, 1863 to June 11,
1864. Ordered south, it reached Decatur, Ala., in June and was placed on
garrison and scouting duty. It was a part of the force which surprised
Patterson's brigade of cavalry at Pond springs, capturing their camp
equipage, wagons and commissary stores, and in July it assisted in
routing the same brigade at Courtland, being the only infantry engaged
at either time. It left Decatur in September to reinforce the garrison
at Athens, reaching there just in time to repel Roddey's command. It
joined in pursuit of Wheeler, overtaking and skirmishing with his
rear-guard at Shoal creek, and then returned to Decatur. A detachment of
231, en route to reinforce the garrison at Athens, was attacked by a
force under Forrest, numbering about 4,000, when within 2 miles of
Athens, and after 5 hours' desperate fighting was compelled to
surrender. The regiment participated in the successful defense of
Decatur against Hood's army, a detachment dislodging a body of
sharpshooters in rifle-pits near one of the forts and capturing 115
prisoners. The regiment remained at Decatur until Nov. 25, and then
moved to Stevenson, where it was engaged in building fortifications
until Dec. 19. It was ordered back to Decatur where it was on garrison
duty until Jan. 11, 1865, when it proceeded to Huntsville for post duty.
It was ordered to Nashville in June and was mustered out June 26, 1865.
Its original strength was 1,002: gain by recruits, 372; total, 1,374.
Loss by death, 310. |
Footnotes:
Regimental history taken from "The Union Army" by Federal Publishing
Company, 1908 - Volume 3
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