Historical Notes:
The 2nd Michigan Volunteer Cavalry Regiment was organized at Grand Rapids and was mustered in Oct. 2, 1861. It left the state on Nov. 14, was stationed at Benton barracks, St. Louis, was engaged in skirmishes at Point Pleasant, Tipton and New Madrid, participated in the siege of Island No. 10, and then moved with Pope's army to Mississippi. It was in the engagements at Pine hill, Monterey and Farmington, and the siege of Corinth. Col. Granger was made brigadier-general and was succeeded by Philip H. Sheridan as colonel, but the latter was not mustered in as such. The regiment was in the engagements at Booneville, Blackland, and Baldwin, in June, 1862, and was in a spirited fight at Booneville July 1, where 7,000 of Chalmer's cavalry were repulsed by six companies, numbering less than 500 men. This was one of the greatest minor victories of the war. The 2nd Mich. and 2nd Ia. cavalry followed the enemy for 20 miles, capturing a large amount of arms and clothing. The regiment was engaged at Rienzi in August, when a largely superior force was defeated and dispersed and many prisoners were captured. Col. Sheridan was made a brigadier- general and Lieut. -Col. Campbell was appointed colonel. The regiment was engaged at the battle of Perryville, Ky., then at Harrodsburg, Lancaster and the Rockcastle river. In Dec, 1862, and Jan., 1863, it was in a raid in eastern Tennessee, being engaged at Blountville, Zollicoffer, Wartrace, Jonesville, Bacon creek and Glasgow. In March it was engaged at Milton, Cainsville, Spring Hill, Columbia, Hillsboro and Brentwood. The engagement at Columbia was against a much larger force, but two battalions of the 2nd Mich. cavalry by tremendous efforts, saved the wagon trains, which were in charge of the 18th Ohio cavalry. The regiment fought at McGarvick's ford in April, and during the summer was engaged at Triune, Rover, Middletown, Shelbyville, Elk river ford, and Decherd. It participated at Chickamauga, holding an important point against an enemy, and in October was engaged in the pursuit of Wheeler's cavalry, being in action at Anderson's cross-roads. It fought at Sparta, Dandridge and Mossy creek, in December, and at Dandridge and Pigeon river in Jan., 1864. While at Cleveland, Tenn., 326 reenlisted as veterans and took a furlough, rejoining the regiment in July. On the Atlanta campaign the regiment fought at Dug gap, Red Clay, the Etowah river and Acworth, and joined Gen. Thomas' army in Tennessee. It met and defeated the enemy at Campbellville and Franklin in September; was engaged at Cypress river in October, where a force four times that of the Union army was defeated; participated at Raccoon ford, and during November was engaged at Shoal creek, Lawrenceburg, Campbellville, Columbia, Spring Hill and the battle of Franklin. During December it was engaged at Nashville, Richland creek, Pulaski and Sugar creek, and in 1865 fought at Corinth, Tuscaloosa, Trion, Bridgeville and Talladega. It was in camp at Macon from May 1 until July 17, detachments being sent to garrison Perry, Thomaston, Barnesville, Forsyth and Milledgeville. The regiment was mustered out Aug. 17, 1865. Its original strength was 1,163; gain 1,262; total, 2,425. Loss by death, 338. (Dyer states that the Regiment lost during service 4 Officers and 70 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 2 Officers and 266 Enlosted men by disease. Total 342. )
Officers:
Cols., Gordon Granger, Archibald P. Campbell; Lieut. -Cols., William C. Davies, Frederick Fowler, Benjamin Smith, Thomas W. Johnston; Majs., Robert H. G. Minty, Charles P. Babcock, Frank W. Dickey, John C. Godley, Leonidas S. Scranton, Marshall J. Dickinson, Harrison F. Nicholson, Charles N. Baker.
Assignments:
Duty at Benton Barracks, Mo., till February 21, 1862. Ordered to Commerce, Mo., February 21. Attached to Cavalry Division, Army of Mississippi, to April, 1862. 2nd Brigade, Cavalry Division, Army of Mississippi, to September, 1862. 2nd Brigade, Cavalry Division, Army of the Ohio, to November, 1862. Unattached, District of Central Kentiicky, Dept. of the Ohio, to March, 1863. 1st Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, Army of the Cumberland, to June, 1864. District of Nashville, Tenn., Dept. of the Cumberland, to October, 1864. 1st Brigade, 1st Division, Cavalry Corps, Army of the Cumberland, to November, 1864. 1st Brigade, 1st Division, Wilson's Cavalry Corps, Military Division Mississippi to August, 1865.
Service:
Siege operations against New Madrid, Mo., March 3-14, 1862. New Madrid March 4. Siege and capture of Island No. 10, Mississippi River, March 15-April 8. Moved to Hamburg Landing, Tenn., April 17-22. Atkins' Mills, Tenn., April 26. Monterey April 28-29. Siege of Corinth, Miss., April 29-May 30. Reconnoissance to Memphis & Charleston R. R. May 3. Farmington, Miss., May 3 and 9. Glendale May 8. Near Farmington May 12. Reconnoissance to Memphis & Charleston R. R. May 15. Expedition to Mobile & Ohio Railroad May 28-29. Booneville May 29. Osborn and Wolf's Creek, near Lackland, June 4. Reconnoissance toward Baldwyn June 6. Baldwyn June 6. Reconnoissance toward Guntown, Baldwyn, etc., June 9-10. Booneville July 1. Rienzi August 26. Ordered to Louisville, Ky., September. Near Louisville September 30. Pursuit of Bragg to Wild Cat, Ky., October 1-7. Near Perryville October 6-7. Battle of Perryville October 8. Lancaster October 14. Duty in Central Kentucky till December. Carter's Raid from Winchester and Nicholasville, Ky., into East Tennessee and Southwest Virginia December 20, 1862, to January 5, 1863. Bear Wallow December 23. Glasgow December 24 (Cos. "C," "H" "L," "M"). Near Munfordsville and Bacon Creek December 26 (Cos. "C," "H," "L," "M"). Passage of Moccasin Gap December 29. Watauga Bridge, Carter's Station, December 30. Holston River December 30. Dandridge, Tenn., January 6, 1863. Near Auburn February 15. Vaught's Hill, Milton, Tenn., February 18. Thompson's Station March 4-5 (Detachment). Expedition from Franklin to Columbia March 8-12. Thompson's Station March 9. Rutherford Creek March 10-11. Spring Hill March 19. Near Thompson's Station March 23. Little Harpeth March 25. Near Franklin March 31. Franklin June 4-5. Expedition to Thompson's Station May 2. Triune June 9. Middle Tennessee (or Tullahoma) Campaign June 23-July 7. Shelbyville, Eaglesville and Rover June 23. Middleton June 24. Fosterville, Guy's Gap and Shelbyville June 27. Bethpage Bridge, Elk River, July 1. Occupation of Middle Tennessee till August 16. Passage of the Cumberland Mountains and Tennessee River, and Chickamauga (Ga.) Campaign August 16-September 22. Rawlinsville, Ala., September 5. Destruction of Salt Works. Reconnoissance from Alpine toward Rome, Ga., September 10-11. Alpine September 12. Dirt Town, Lafayette Road, near Chattooga River, September 12. Reconnoissance from Lee and Gordon's Mills towards Lafayette September 13. Battle of Chickamauga September 19-21. Operations against Wheeler and Roddy September 29-October 17. Sparta November 26. Operations about Dandridge and Mossy Creek December 24-28. Dandridge, Tenn., December 24. Talbot's Station, Mossy Creek, December 29. Operations about Dandridge January 16-17, 1864. Bend of Chucky Road, near Dandridge, January 16. Dandridge January 17. Operations about Dandridge January 26-28. McNutt's Bridge January 27. Fair Garden January 27-28. Swann's Island January 28. Regiment re-enlisted March 28, 1864, and on Veteran furlough April to June. Atlanta Campaign May 1-June 29 (Non-Veterans). Varnell's Station May 7. Demonstrations on Dalton May 9-13. Tilton May 13. Battle of Resaca May 14-15. Near Cassville May 19. Stilesboro May 23. Burnt Hickory May 24. About Dallas May 25-June 5. Burned Church May 30-June 1. Operations about Marietta and against Kennesaw June 10-29. Lost Mountain June 15-17. Moved to Franklin, Tenn., June 29. Duty Railroad Defences of the District of Nashville till August 29. Rousseau's Pursuit of Wheeler September 1-3. Lavergne September 1. Pursuit of Forrest September 25-October 5. Pulaski September 26-27. Muscle Shoals October 30. Near Shoal Creek Octoher 31. Shoal Creek, near Florence, November 5-6. On line of Shoal Creek November 16-20. Fouche Springs November 23. Battle of Franklin November 30. Nashville December 15-16. Lynnvilie and Richland Creek December 24. Pulaski December 25-26. Raid through Mississippi January 17-21, 1865. At Water-loo, Ala., till March 11. Wilson's Raid to Macon, Ga., March 22-April 24. Trion April 1. Selma April 2. North Port, near Tuscaloosa, April 3. Occupation of Tuscaloosa April 4. Lanier's Mills, Sipsey Creek, April 6. Talladega April 22. Mumford's Station April 23. Camp at Macon May 1 to July 17. Mustered out August 17, 1865.
Rosters:
The roster of this unit contains the names of 3620 men.
Historical Notes: