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Michigan in the Civil War
More than 90,000 Michigan men — nearly a quarter of the state's male population in 1860 — served in the United States Civil War. Over 14,000 Michigan soldiers died in the service of their country — roughly 1 of every 6 who served. Michigan supplied a large number of troops and several generals, including George Armstrong Custer's Michigan Wolverine Cavalry. In all, Michigan fielded 31 Regiments of Infantry, 11 Regiments of Cavalry, 14 batteries of Artillery, 1 regiment of Sharpshooters, and 1 regiment of Engineers. Among the more celebrated units was the 24th Michigan Volunteer Infantry, which suffered heavy losses at the Battle of Gettysburg. To find out more about Michigan's Civil War history check out the following books, DVDs, and websites:
Websites
- Bentley Historical Libary
- Database of Michigan Soldiers
- Michigan & the Civil War
- Michigan in the Civil War
Books
Custer and his wolverines: the Michigan Cavalry Brigade, 1861-1865 by Edward G. Longacre
Dear Sarah: letters home from a soldier of the Iron Brigade by edited by Coralou Peel Lassen
A distant thunder: Michigan in the Civil War by Richard Bak
Father Abraham's children: Michigan episodes in the Civil War by Frank B. Woodford; new foreword by Arthur M. Woodford
An historical sketch of the Seventh Regiment Michigan Volunteer Cavalry from its organization in 1862 to its muster out in 1865 by Asa B. Isham
"I hope to do my country service": the Civil War letters of John Bennitt, M.D., surgeon, 19th Michigan Infantry by edited by Robert Beasecker; with a foreword by William M. Anderson
Michigan and the Civil War: a great and bloody sacrifice by Jack Dempsey
Michigan and the Civil War: an anthology
Michigan soldiers in the Civil War by Frederick D. Williams
"My brave Mechanics": the First Michigan Engineers and their Civil War by Mark Hoffman; foreword by William M. Anderson
These men have seen hard service: the First Michigan Sharpshooters in the Civil War by Raymond J. Herek
When gallantry was commonplace: the history of the Michigan Eleventh Volunteer Infantry, 1861-1864 by Leland W. Thornton