3rd Michigan Volunteer Infantry Regiment (Reorganized)

Historical Notes:
As soon as the 3rd Michigan Infantry was mustered out in 1864, orders were issued to reorganize the regiment. This was done during the summer and it was mustered in at Grand Rapids on Oct. 15. It left the state Oct. 20, reported at Nashville and was ordered to Decatur, Ala., where it was stationed during November, being in a small engagement on the 23d. It was then ordered to Fort Rosecrans, Murfreesboro. The pickets being forced in and the town possessed by Faulkner's brigade, four companies of the 3d joined other troops in a spirited engagement, repulsing the enemy. The regiment was in numerous small affairs and on Jan. 16, 1865, it moved to Huntsville, Ala., where it was assigned to the 3d brigade, 3d division, 4th army corps. It moved to Jonesboro, and was ordered to Nashville on April 20. On June 15 it was sent to Texas, reaching Green Lake July 11, and on Sept. 12, it started for San Antonio, reaching there two weeks later. It engaged in provost guard duty and during the winter two companies were on duty at Gonzales. The regiment was mustered out at Victoria May 26, 1866. Its original strength was 879. Gain by recruits, 230; total, 1,109. Loss by death, 158. The Third was re-organized in October 1864, at Grand Rapids, under Colonel M. B. Houghton, and was mustered into service the 15th of the month with an enrollment of 879 officers and men.

The Regiment left Grand Rapids October 20, for Nashville, Tenn. During the month of November the Third was stationed at Decatur, Alabama. It then moved to Murfreesboro, Tenn., where it was engaged in picket and scouting duty, remaining in the Murfreesboro area until January 16, 1865, when it moved to Huntsville, Alabama.

In February the Regiment was at Huntsville, when on the 16th of March proceeded to New Market, Tenn. afterward camping at Bull's Gap and Jonesboro. It was very efficient in driving out the numerous bands of guerrillas that infested that portion of the country, thus affording protection to the loyal people of Tennessee.

After the surrender of the Confederate army in the east, the Third proceeded to New Orleans, where it embarked and crossed the Gulf of Mexico to San Antonio, Texas, where it remained during the winter, doing provost duty, when in May 1866, it moved to Victoria, where it was mustered out of service.

The Regiment returned to Michigan being paid and disbanded at Detroit, June 10, 1866. The Regiment lost during service 1 Enlisted man killed and 1 Officer and 163 Enlisted men by disease. Total 165.

During their term of Federal service they were engaged at:

Decatur,Ala.

Murfreesboro,Tenn.

ORGANIZATION

Organized at Grand Rapids, Adrian and Pontiac, Mich., August 24 to October 12, 1864.
Mustered in October 15, 1864.
Left State for Decatur, Ala., October 20.
Attached to District of Northern Alabama, Dept. of the Cumberland, to November, 1864.
1st Brigade, Defences of Nashville & Chattanooga Railroad, Dept. of the Cumberland, to January, 1865.
3rd Brigade, 3rd Division, 4th Army Corps, to June, 1865. 2nd Brigade, 3rd Division, 4th Army Corps, to August, 1865.
Dept. of Texas to May, 1866.

1864-1866

Total Enrollment	1191
Died of Wounds	2
Died of Disease	78
Discharged from Wounds	32
Total Casualty Rate	9.4%

Rosters:
The roster of this unit contains the names of 1897 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.