3rd Michigan Volunteer Infantry Regiment

The Third was organized at Grand Rapids and was mustered into service June 10, 1861, with an enrollment of 1040 officers and men. The Regiment left Grand Rapids June 13, 1861, for Washington D.C. to join the Army of the Potomac, and one month afterward took part in the action at Blackburn's Ford, Va.

Colonel McConnell resigned Oct. 22, 1861, and Major Champlin was commissioned Oct. 28, 1861, then under his command the Third went into winter quarters at Alexandria, Va. until the following March, when it was assigned to General Berry's Brigade, Third Division, Third Corp, then entered upon the Peninsular Campaign of 1862 conducted by General McClellan.

The Regiment was engaged in the battle of Williamsburg, Va., May 5th, fought gallantly at Fair Oaks receiving a special commendation from General Berry commanding the Brigade, also from General Phil Kearney commanding the division for duty "Nobly Performed". The severe loss of 30 killed, 124 wounded and 15 missing attested to the conspicuous part that the Third took in the battle.

It engaged the Confederates at Charles City Cross Roads, June 30th then at Malvern Hill July 1st. During the entire campaign, the Third was marching or constructing fortifications, when not fighting the Confederates in the historic battles on the Peninsular Campaign. The campaign ended at the battle of Malvern Hill, when the Third with its Corp returned to take part in the disastrous campaign conducted by General Pope. At Groveton, near the old battlefield of Manassas (Bull Run), a severe engagement was fought with the Confederate Corp of General Jackson. General Longstreet arriving upon the field in time to relieve Jackson's troops and convert the campaign of General Pope into a retreat of the Union forces to behind the defenses of Washington.

During the months following, the Regiment moved with its Brigade to different points in Virginia, then in October with the Third Corp crossed the Potomac at Chain Bridge, then after marching through Maryland they crossed the river again reaching Falmouth Va., the 23rd. At this point it crossed the Rappahanock River and participated in the three days battle of Fredricksburg, recrossing it on December 15th, forming camp at Falmouth, Va. The Third crossed the Rappahanock River again at United States Ford on May 1, 1863 on the march to Chancellorsville, where it was in danger of capture or annihilation on account of the demoralization of the Eleventh Corp when overwhelmed by Jackson's Confederate troops, but by stubborn fighting the Third held its position with a loss of 63 killed, wounded and missing, when in good order re-crossed the river with the army when the order was given by General Hooker. The Third was with General Sickles Division during this engagement with the contest hand to hand, the slaughter great.

On the 11th of June the Third Corp started on a long and tiresome march in search of General Lee's army, coming in contact with it at Gettysburg, Pa. the 2nd and 3rd day of July. Sickles' Corp, in which the Third served, had an advanced line the second day of the battle, was assaulted by the Confederates, when a desperate conflict ensured. The Corp fell back to its original position, until it was strengthened by the Fifth Corp, whereby the Confederates were repulsed.

In this battle the Third lost 40 killed, wounded and missing.

After the battle of Gettysburg, the Third followed the retreating Confederate army to Williamsport, crossed the Potomac River at Harpers Ferry and marched to Manassas Gap.

On the 17th of August the Third moved to Alexandria Va., when it was then sent to New York City to quiet the disturbances caused by the draft riots.

From New York it was sent to Troy, N.Y., then returned to its Brigade at Culpepper, Va., where it arrived September 17th. In October the Regiment was at Auburn Heights, Manassas, Centerville, airfax Station and at Catlett's Station.

The Regiment was in camp at Warrenton Junction November 7th, at which time it commenced a series of marches, meeting the Confederates at Kelly's Ford. At Mine Run it charged the Confederates in their works, then moved to Brandy Station on December the 2nd. During the operations for the month, the Regiment lost 31 killed, wounded and missing.

On the 23rd of December, 207 members of the Regiment re-enlisted and returned to Michigan on Veteran furlough. After the Regiment returned from veteran furlough, it joined the Second Brigade, Third Division, Second Corp, crossing the Rapidan River on May 4, 1864, entering upon the Wilderness Campaign. It was then temporarily consolidated with the Fifth Michigan Infantry.

The Second Corp was commanded by General Hancock, always being where the heaviest fighting was, the Third sharing in all the movements and battles of the Corp.

It was engaged in the desperate struggle of the Wilderness. Charging the Confederate works at Spottsylvania, where it captured a large number of prisoners with two Regimental colors. The Third was again engaged at the North Anna River on the 23rd and 24th of May, then at Cold Harbor, June 7th. On the 9th of June the men who did not re-enlist and some of the recruits who joined the Regiment after it was in the field, with some of the officers, proceeded to Michigan where they were mustered out. This action depleted the Regiment to such an extent that those who had re-enlisted were formed into a Battalion, then were attached to the Fifth Michigan Infantry. The order consolidating the Third and Fifth Infantry was issued by the Secretary of War on June 13, 1864.

On the 20th day of June 1864, the Third was mustered out of service and disbanded when paid, in Detroit.

During their term of Federal service they were engaged at:

Blackburn's Ford,Va.	Bull Run,Va.	Yorktown,Va.
Williamsburg,Va.	Fair Oaks,Va.	Savage Station,Va.
Peach Orchard,Va.	Glendale,Va.	White Oak Swamp,Va.
Malvern Hill,Va.	2nd Bull Run,Va.	Chancellorsville,Va.
Gettysburg,Pa.	Wapping Heights,Va.	Auburn Heights,Va.
Kelly's Ford,Va.	Locust Grove,Va.	Mine Run,Va.
Wilderness,Va.	Todd's Tavern,Va.	Po River,Va.
Spottsylvania,Va.	North Anna River,Va.	Cold Harbor,Va.

ORGANIZATION

Organized at Grand Rapids, Mich., and mustered into State service May 21, 1861.
Mustered into United States service June 10, 1861.
Left State for Washington, D.C., June 13.
Attached to Richardson's Brigade, Tyler's Division, McDowell's Army of Northeastern Virginia, to August, 1861.
Richardson's Brigade, Division of the Potomac, to October, 1861.
Richardson's Brigade, Heintzelman's Division, Army of the Potomac, to March, 1862.
3rd Brigade, 3rd Division, 3rd Army Corps, Army of the Potomac, to August, 1862.
3rd Brigade, 1st Division, 3rd Army Corps, to March, 1864.
2nd Brigade, 3rd Division, 2nd Army Corps., to June, 1864.

1861-1864

Total Enrollment	1432
Killed in Action	110
Died of Wounds	65
Died in Confederate Prisons	15
Died of Disease	81
Discharged from Wounds	404
Total Casualty Rate	47.1%

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Rosters:
The roster of this unit contains the names of 2241 men. Bibliography for Research:
Dyer, Frederick H. A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion. Davenport, IA. Eastern Digital Resources.

U. S. Government Printing Office. Official Records of the American Civil War Davenport, IA. Eastern Digital Resources.

Clark, James S. 'General Lyon and the Fight for Missouri.' In War Sketches and Incidents (MOLLUS, IA, Vol. 2). Des Moines, IA: Kenyon, 1897. pp. 274-92 (10 photocopied pages). E464M5.1991v56.

Michigan. Legislature. Record of Service of Michigan Volunteers in the Civil War 1861-1865. 46 vols. Kalamazoo: Everard, 1903. Minnesota.

Minnesota Adjutant General's Report of 1866. Roseville: Park Genealogical Books, 1997. Ingersoll, Lurton D. Iowa and the Rebellion.... Phila: Lippincott, 1867. E507I47. Brief Regimental Histories

Iowa. AGO. Roster and Records of Iowa Soldiers in the War of the Rebellion Together With Historical Sketches of Volunteer Organizations, 1861-1865. Vol. 1. Des Moines, IA: E.H. English, 1908. UA43I82v1.

Ritner, Jacob B. Love and Valor: The Intimate Civil War Letters Between Captain Jacob and Emeline Ritner. [Ed by Charles F. Larimer] Western Springs, IL: Signourney, 2000. 453 p. E507.5.1st.L68.

Stuart, Addison. Iowa Colonels and Regiments.... Des Moines, IA: Mills, 1865. E507S92.

Wilkie, Franc B. Pen and Powder. Boston: Ticknor, 1888. 383 p. E601W69.