Historical Notes:
The 6th Regiment, Michigan Heavy Artillery was organized at Kalamazoo, Michigan and was mustered in August 20, 1861. The Regiment was mustered out August 20, 1865 and discharged at Jackson, Michigan, on September 5, 1865. The Regiment was recruited for the Infantry arm of the service serving as such until July, 1863, when General Banks converted it into a Regiment of Heavy Artillery. The regiment lost during service 2 Officers and 76 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 6 Officers and 498 Enlisted men by disease. Total 582.
Officers:
Colonel Frederick W. Cortenius
Colonel Thomas S. Clark
Assignments:
Organized at Kalamazoo, Mich., and mustered in August 20, 1861. Left State for Baltimore, Md., August 30, and duty there until February 22, 1862. Attached to Dix's Command, Baltimore, Md., to February, 1862. Butler's New Orleans Expedition to March, 1862. 2nd Brigade, Dept. of the Gulf, to November, 1862. Sherman's Division, Dept. of the Gulf, to January, 1863. 1st Brigade, 2nd Division, 19th Army Corps, Dept. of the Gulf, to August, 1863. Designation of Regiment changed to 6th Regiment Heavy Artillery July 28, 1863. District of Port Hudson, La., Dept. of the Gulf, to June, 1864. Bailey's Engineer Brigade, Dept. of the Gulf, to August, 1864. U, S. Forces, Mobile Bay, Dept. of the Gulf, to December, 1864. District Southern Alabama, Dept. of the Gulf, to August, 1865.
Service:
Expedition to eastern shore of Maryland November 11-December 8, 1861. Ordered to Fortress Monroe, Va., February 22, 1862. Sailed with Gen. Butler's Expedition against New Orleans, La., on Transport "Constitution" March 4 and arrived at Ship Island, Miss., March 13. Duty there until April 14. Operations against Forts St. Phillip and Jackson April 25-28. Occupation of New Orleans May 2 (one of the first Regiments to occupy the city). Expedition to New Orleans & Jackson Railroad May 9-10. Moved to Baton Rouge, La., May 13. Reconnaissance to Warrenton May 14-29. Grand Gulf May 16. Vicksburg May 20. Grand Gulf May 27. Camp at Baton Rouge until August 20. Expedition to Camp Moore July 20-30. Battle of Baton Rouge August 5. Evacuation of Baton Rouge August 20. Guard duty at Metaria Ridge August 22-December 6. Expedition to Bayou Teche January 12-15, 1863. Action with Steamer "Cotton" January 14. Duty at Camp Parapet and Kenner until March. Expedition to Ponchatoula March 21-30 (1 Co.). Capture of Ponchatoula March 24. Skirmish at Ponchatoula March 26. Manchac Pass, Amite River, April 12. Raid on Amite River & Jackson Railroad May 9-18, destroying over $400,000 worth of property. Ponchatoula May 13. Camp Moore May 15. Moved to New Orleans, thence to Port Hudson May 21-23. Siege of Port Hudson May 24-July 9. Assaults on Port Hudson May 27 and June 14. Surrender of Port Hudson July 9. Regiment received thanks of Gen. Banks for gallant and efficient services during the siege and was by his orders, on July 10, 1863, converted into a Regiment of Heavy Artillery, to retain its Infantry number, and to have the organization pay and equipment prescribed by law for troops of the Artillery arms. Order approved by Secretary of War July 30, 1863. Regiment on garrison duty at Port Hudson, La., until June 6, 1864. Action at Tunica Bayou, La., November 8, 1863. Moved to Morganza, La., June 6, and duty there as Infantry until June 24. At Vicksburg, Miss., until July 23. Moved to mouth of White River, thence to St. Charles, Ark. Ashton, Ark., July 24. Ordered to Mobile Bay, Ala., August, and assigned to duty as follows: Companies "A," "B," "D," "G" and "K" garrison at Fort Morgan August 23, 1864, to July 9, 1865. (Co. "B" detached on Granger's Expedition to Mobile December 23, 1864, to January 31, 1865, then returned to Fort Morgan.) Companies "C," "E," "F," "H" and "I" garrison at Fort Gaines August 23, 1864, to July 9, 1865. (Cos. "C," "E," "F" and "H" on Granger's Expedition to Mobile, December 23, 1864, to January 31, 1865.) Companies "A" and "K" detached from Fort Morgan March 31, 1865. Siege of Spanish Fort March 31-April 8, and of Forts Huger and Tracy April 8-9, then garrison Fort Blakely until April 20, and return to Fort Morgan. Company "B" detached from Fort Morgan to Navy Cove April 10 to July 9. Company "E" detached from Fort Gaines at Fort Powell April 10 to July 9. Regiment ordered to New Orleans, La., July 9, and duty there until August 20 Mustered out August 20 and discharged at Jackson Mich., September 5, 1865.
Rosters:
The roster of this unit contains the names of 2868 men.
Historical Notes: