4th Michigan Volunteer Infantry Regiment

The Fourth Michigan Infantry was recruited from the southern tier of counties of the State, being organized by Colonel Dwight A. Woodberry at Adrian. Like some of the other regiments, it was comprised of independant companies that had received considerable military knowledge, a valuable assistance in the organization of citizen soldiers. It was composed of the "Peninsular Guard" of Sturgis, the "Barry Guard" of Ann Arbor, the "Smith Guard" of Monroe, the "Trenton Volunteers" of Trenton, the "Dexter Union Guard" of Dexter, the "Hudson Volunteers" of Hillsdale, the "Grosvenor Union Guard" of Jonesville, and the "Tecumseh Volunteers" of Tecumseh. The organization of the Regiment was completed at its rendezvous in Adrian, then mustered into the United States service for three years on June 20, 1861. The Fourth was uniformed and equipped for field service before it left the state and started for Washington on June 25, 1861, with an enrollment of 1025 officers and men, arriving there on July 2nd., Going into camp near Georgetown, D. C.

The Fourth took part in McClellan's Peninsular Campaign of 1862, having been assigned to Griffin's Brigade, Morrell's Division of Porter's Corp and was present at the Seige of Yorktown, later fighting gallantly at Williamsburg. The conspicuous position it held in the advance of the army upon the Confederate forces at Newbridge, on the Chicahominy, displaying their valor there under the most trying circumstances earned it special notice from General McClelland in his dispatches to the war department.

In this campaign the Fourth sustained its honorable record at Hanover Court House, Mechanicsville, also covering itself with glory at the desperate battle of Gaines' Mills. It was engaged with heavy loss at Turkey Bend, and White Oak Swamp. At Malvern Hill, Colonel Woodbury fell at the head of his Regiment on July 1st, closing a usefull and brillant military career.

After the Peninsular Campaign the Fourth entered upon the Pope Campaign, taking part in the engagements at Gainsville, Manassas, then Antietam. In December they suffered severly at Fredericksburg, where it was a part of the Second Brigade, First Division, Fifth Corp.

May 4, 1863 saw the Fourth engaged at Chancellorsville, losing heavily in killed and wounded, then after long and fatiguing marches through Maryland and Pennsylvania arrived at Gettysburg, where it fought July 2nd and 3rd in that historic encounter, receiving the plaudits of distinguished officers for its deeds of heroism. From Gettysburg the Fourth followed the Confederate Army, all of the while actively on the march or fighting until the following October, when it went into camp at Warrenton Junction for a well earned rest.

On the 7th of November the Fifth Corp commenced a series of marches and actions along the Rapidan River, which continued, until the winter put a stop to active field operations.

The spring campaign of 1864 opened with the death grapple of Union and Confederate armies at the Wilderness. From this time until the expiration of its term of service in June, the Fourth was continuously engaged with the Confederates taking part in the sanguinary battles along the North Anna River and the Pumunky River. It was engaged before Petersburg, Va., June 16, then as the term of its three years service had expired, the Regiment was embarked for Washington, thence to Detroit. Arriving there on the 26th where it was mustered out of service on June 30, 1864.

During their term of Federal service, they were engaged at:

New Market,Va.	New Bridge,Va.	Hanover Court House, Va.
Mechanicsville,Va.	Gaines' Mill,Va.	Savage Station,Va.
Turkey Bend,Va.	White Oak Swamp,Va.	Malvern Hill,Va.
Gainesville,Va.	2nd Bull Run,Va.	Antietam,Md.
Shepardstown Ford	Snicker's Gap,Va.	Fredricksburg, Va.
Morrisville,Va.	United States Ford	Chancellorsville,Va.
Kelly's Ford,Va.	Ashby's Gap,Va.	Gettysburg,Pa.
Williamsport,Md.	Wapping Heights,Va.	Culpepper, Va.
Brandy Station,Va.	Bristo Station,Va.	Laurel Hill,Va.
Po River,Va.	Spottsylvania,Va.	Ny River,Va.
North Anna River	Jerico Mills,Va.	Noel's Turn,Va.
Tolopotomy,Va.	Magnolia Swamp,Va.	Bethesda Church,Va.
Harrisons Landing, Va.	Petersburg,Va.

ORGANIZATION

Organized at Adrian, Mich., and mustered in June 20, 1861.
Left State for Washington, D.C., June 26.
Attached to Wilcox's Brigade, Heintzelman's Division, McDowell's Army of Northeastern Virginia, to August, 1861.
Sherman's Brigade, Division of the Potomac, to October, 1861.
Morell's Brigade, Porter's Division, Army of the Potomac, to March, 1862.
2nd Brigade, 1st Division, 3rd Army Corps, Army of the Potomac, to May, 1862.
2nd Brigade, 1st Division, 5th Army Corps, Army of the Potomac, to June, 1864.

1861-1864

Total Enrollment	1399
Killed in Action	124
Died of Wounds	68
Died in Confederate Prisons	16
Died of Disease	99
Discharged from Wounds	385
Total Casualty Rate	49.4%

Rosters:
The roster of this unit contains the names of 2293 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.