11th Michigan Volunteer Infantry Regiment
The Eleventh was recruited at White Pigeon, the several
companies being mustered into United States service at
different dates, but the organization was completed Sept.24,
1861, with an enrollment of 1000 officers and men.
The Regiment left its rendezvous Dec. 9, 1861 for Kentucky,
and remained during the winter at Bardstown. During the
spring of 1862 the Eleventh was occupied in guarding the
Nashville and Louisville railroad, then in July made a series
of long marches in pursuit of the Confederate raider John
Morgan, being a part of the force that defeated Morgan at
Gallatin, Tenn., on the 13th of August. Upon its return to
Nashville, it was assigned to Negley's Division rendering
valuable assistance in fortifying that city so it was
impregnable to the attack of the opposing forces. Colonel May
resigned April 1, 1862, with Lieutenant Colonel Stoughton
being commissioned Colonel on that same date. The Regiment
under his command was assigned to the Second Brigade, Second
Division of the 14th Corp.
The Eleventh participated in the advance upon Murfreesboro
and was in the fiercest fighting at Stone River. Negley's
Division, the Second, was in the center of the Union line
which was stoutly assailed by the Confederates in such
overwhelming numbers as to force it back toward Murfreesboro
Pike. The Eleventh fought gallantly with the many casualties
of the Regiment attesting to the severity of the contest. The
Eleventh was one of the first Regiments to cross Stone River,
and was among the troops that captured a Confederate battery
which had been abandoned when the Confederates were driven
from the field. During January, 1863, the Eleventh was
detached from its Division then placed on provost duty at
Murfreesboro, remaining there until the following June,
when the advance was made upon Tullahoma.
In September the Eleventh left its camp at Dechard, Tenn.,
making a toilsome march over the mountains and reaching the
battle of Chickamauga ,in time to participate in two days of
the fiercest fighting of the war. The Regiment was under the
command of Lieutenant Colonel Mudge during the battle as
Colonel Stoughton was then in command of the Second Brigade.
Colonel Stoughton, after the battle of Chickamauga, withdrew
his Brigade to Rossville by command of General Thomas,
holding that position until the Union army had passed to
Chattanooga, then on the morning of the 22nd returned to
Chattanooga, being one of the last of the Union Troops to
leave the field. The Eleventh was in the Second Brigade
commanded by General Stoughton November 25, 1863, when the
famous charge was made by General Grant's troops up the steep
and difficult side of Missionary Ridge. The Eleventh sprang
up the almost impassable barrier, with the Confederates
on the crest of the ridge pouring a murderous fire of
musketry and artillery into the faces of the Union troops,
but step by step, clinging to the trees and shrubs, to help
them in their advance, they finally reached the summit,
driving the Confederates in confusion down the other
side of the mountain. The Eleventh was one of the first
regiments to gain the crest of the ridge. Major Benjamin G.
Bennett led the Regiment, but was killed before reaching the
crest, when Captain P.H. Keegan assumed command. The Regiment
suffered severely in this charge.
The following May the Regiment entered upon the Georgia
Campaign with the army under the command of General Sherman,
fighting its way steadily to the Chattahoochee River, which
it crossed July 17th, then took part in the Seige of Atlanta.
A few miles from Marietta, Ga., the Confederates had
entrenched and the Eleventh charged the Cofederate works, but
met with considerable loss, including Colonel Stoughton, who
was so seriously wounded in the leg as to cause amputation.
While in front of Atlanta, the Eleventh was in a number of
charges, losing many in killed and wounded.
The term of service for which the Regiment enlisted, expired
while in the trenches before Atlanta, so the Regiment was
sent back to Chattanooga, then from there to Sturgis, Mich.,
where it was mustered out of service on Sept.30,
1864.
During their term of Federal service, they were engaged
at:
| Gallantin,Tn. | Fort Riley,Tn. | Stone
River,Tn. |
| Elk River,Tn. | Davis Cross
Rds,Tn. | Chickamauga,Ga. |
| Mission
Ridge,Tn. | Graysville,Ga. | Buzzards's
Roost,Ga. |
| Resaca,Ga. | New Hope Church,Ga. | Kenesaw
Mountain,Ga. |
| Rough's Sta.,Ga. | Peach Tree
Creek,Ga. | Seige of Atlanta |
ORGANIZATION
Organized at
White Pigeon, Mich., and mustered in September 24, 1861.
Left State for Bardstown, Ky. December 9, and duty there till March, 1862.
Attached to Railroad Guard, Unattached, Dept. of the Ohio to September, 1862.
29th Brigade, 8th Division, Army of the Ohio to November, 1862.
2nd Brigade, 2nd Division, Center 14th Army Corps, Army of the Cumberland to January,
1863.
2nd Brigade, 2nd Division, 14th Army Corps, Army of the Cumberland to October, 1863
2nd Brigade, 1st Division, 14th Army Corps to September, 1864.
1862-1864
| Total Enrollment | 1323 |
| Killed in Action | 61 |
| Died of Wounds | 31 |
| Died in Confederate Prisons | 9 |
| Died of Disease | 178 |
| Discharged from Wounds | 265 |
|
| Total Casualty Rate | 41.1% |
Rosters:
The roster of this unit contains the names of 2091 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.
