17th Michigan Volunteer Infantry Regiment (Stonewall Regiment)

Historical Notes:
The 17th Regiment, Michigan Infantry was organized at Detroit, Michigan on August 8 to 22, 1862. It was mustered out June 3, 1865 in Washington D. C. The regiment lost during service 7 Officers and 128 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 154 Enlisted men by disease. Total 289.

Eight men from the regiment were awarded the Medal of Honor:

Private Frederick Alber, Company A, Battle of Spotsylvania Court House, May 12, 1864

Private Joseph E. Brandle, Company C, Lenoire Station, Tennessee, November 16, 1863

Corporal John A. Falconer, Company A, Fort Sanders, Knoxville, Tennessee, November 20, 1863

Private Andrew J. Kelley, Company E, Knoxville, Tennessee, November 20, 1863

Sergeant Daniel McFall, Company E, Battle of Spotsylvania Court House, May 12, 1864

Corporal Irwin Shepard, Company E, Knoxville, Tennessee, November 20, 1863

Lieutenant Colonel Frederick W. Swift, Lenoire Station, Tennessee, November 16, 1863

Sergeant Charles A. Thompson, Company D, Battle of Spotsylvania Court House, May 12, 1864

Officers:

Colonel William H. Withington

Colonel Frederick W. Swift

Assignments:
Organized at Detroit, Mich., August 8 to 22, 1862. Left State for Washington, D.C., August 27. Attached to 1st Brigade, 1st Division, 9th Army Corps, Army of the Potomac, to April, 1863. Army of the Ohio to June, 1863, and Army of the Tennessee to August, 1863. 3rd Brigade, 1st Division, 9th Army Corps, Army of the Ohio, to January, 1864. 2nd Brigade, 1st Division, 9th Army Corps, Army Ohio, and Army Potomac, to April, 1864. 1st Brigade, 3rd Division, 9th Army Corps, Army Potomac, to May, 1864. Acting Engineers, 3rd Division, 9th Army Corps, to September, 1864. Acting Engineers, 1st Division, 9th Army Corps, to April, 1865. 1st Brigade, 1st Division, 9th Army Corps, to June, 1865. Service:
-Maryland Campaign September 6-22, 1862. Battle of South Mountain September 14. (Regiment afterwards designated the "Stonewall Regiment" for its achievements in this battle.) Battle of Antietam September 16-17. Duty in Maryland until October 30. Movement to Falmouth, Va., October 30-November 18. Battle of Fredericksburg, Va., December 12-15. "Mud March" January 20-24, 1863. Moved to Newport News, Va., February 14, thence to Louisville, Ky., March 19. To Bardstown, Ky., March 29. To Lebanon April 3. To Columbia April 29, and thence to Jameston, Ky., and duty there until June 4. Moved to Vicksburg, Miss., June 4-12. Siege of Vicksburg June 14-July 4. Advance on Jackson, Miss., July 4-10. Siege of Jackson July 10-17. Destruction of Mississippi Central Railroad at Madison Station July 18-20. At Milldale until August 3. Moved to Covington and Crab Orchard, Ky., August 3-24. March to Knoxville, Tenn., September 10-26. Action at Blue Springs October 10. Duty at Lenoir October 20 to November 14. Knoxville Campaign November 4-December 24. Lenoir Station November 14. Action at Campbell's Station November 16. Siege of Knoxville November 17-December 5. Repulse of Longstreet's assault on Fort Saunders November 29. Operations in East Tennessee until March, 1864. Moved to Nicholasville, Ky., thence to Annapolis, Md., March 17-April 5. Campaign from the Rapidan to the James River May 4-June 15. Battles of the Wilderness May 5-7; Spottsylvania May 8-12; Ny River May 10; Spottsylvania Court House May 12-21. Assault on the Salient May 12. North Anna River May 23-26. Ox Ford May 23-24. On line of the Pamunkey May 26-28. Totopotomoy May 28-31. Cold Harbor June 1-12. Bethesda Church June 1-3. Before Petersburg June 16-18. Siege of Petersburg June 16, 1864, to April 2, 1865. Mine Explosion, Petersburg, July 30, 1864. Six Mile House, Weldon Railroad, August 18-21. Poplar Springs Church, September 29-October 2. Reconnoissance on Vaughan and Squirrel Level Roads October 8. Boydton Plank Road, Hatcher's Run, October 27-28. Fort Stedman, Petersburg, March 25, 1865. Appomattox Campaign March 28-April 9. Assault on and fall of Petersburg April 2. Occupation of Petersburg April 3. Pursuit of Lee April 3-9. Moved to Alexandria, Va., April 24-27. Grand Review May 23. Mustered out June 3, 1865. Rosters:
The roster of this unit contains the names of 2453 men.

Company A - Lenawee County

Company B - Washtenaw County, Berrien County, and Cass County

Company C - Monroe County, Branch County, and St. Joseph County

Company D - Kalamazoo County

Company E - Allegan County and Washtenaw County Company E was composed largely of students from Michigan State Normal College, today known as Eastern Michigan University. Due to the large number of students in its ranks, Company E acquired the nickname "Normal Company". They trained at Fort Wayne under their first commander, Colonel William H. Withington, until August 27 when they left for Maryland.

Company F - Jackson County and Wayne County

Company G - Jackson County

Company H - Branch County

Company I - Kalamazoo County and Monroe County

Company K - Kalamazoo County and Jackson County

Unassigned Company - Jackson County

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.