1st Michigan Light Artillery Battery "I"

The Battery left for Washington, under the command of Captain Daniels, with the Fifth, on the 4th. of December, 1862, taking with them a complete equipment and a full battery of guns, four Parrots and two Howitzers.

Arriving at Washington on December the 11th., they at once entered into service with the Army of the Potomac.

Captain Daniels, with his Battery, first met the rebels at the battle of Aldie, Va, April 27, 1863, without loss, then on the 30th. returned to Fairfax Court House.

Participating in the summer Maryland Campaign, then the Pennsylvania Campaign, they marched from Fairfax Court House to Drainsville, June 24th., thence via Frederick and Tanneytown, Md to Gettysburg, Pa, where they arrived July the 2nd. On the third day of the battle there, they were engaged, losing one killed and four wounded, then on the 5th., lost one wounded.

Marching on the 8th., they proceeded by Cragerstown and Boonesboro to Berlin, Md,thence by Uniontown and Piedmont to Warrenton, arriving there July 25th. Subsequently they moved forward to the army to Culpepper Court House. On the 27th. of October they were ordered to proceed to the Department of the Cumberland, arriving at Nashville on the 13th. of November.

The Battery, now under the command of Captain Luther R. Smith having resigned, remained at Nashville, Tn, with the Reserve Artillery of the Department of the Cumberland until the 7th. of March, 1864, when they started for Whiteside, Tn, a distance of 140 miles, arriving there on the 17th. of March. They remained there until the 28th. of April, then reported to General Butterfield, commanding the 3rd. Division of the 20th. Army Corp, at Lookout Valley.

They participated, with the Division, in the events of the ensuing Georgia Campaign. At Cassville, on the 19th. of May, they engaged the Confederate rear guard, without loss. Resuming the march on the 23rd, they crossed the Etowah River on the same day. One section engaged the rebels at New Hope Church,on the 27th., then the entire Battery was engaged on the 28th., with the loss of one man wounded on the latter date.

On the 17th. of June, the Battery was again engaged at Lost Mountain, with a loss od two severely wounded. Taking position on an elevation near Marietta, on the 21st., they remained there during nearly all of the operations around Kenesaw Mountain.

They engaged the Confederates on the 1st. of July at the Culp's House. Pursuing them, after their evacuation of the position at Kenesaw, towards Marietta, they became engaged at the latter place, on the 3rd. of July, with a loss of three wounded, two of whom mortally. They participated in the battle of Peach Tree Creek, on the 20th., in connection with Newton's Division, of the 4th. Corp. On the 22nd., they moved to near Atlanta, taking position in the line of works, to participate in the seige until the 25th. of August, with a loss of one man killed, August 6th., one man wounded on the 10th., then one wounded on the 13th. On the 25th. they fell back, with their Division, to Turner's Ferry, on the Chattahoochie River, there assisting in repelling an attack on the position at the Ferry, loosing one wounded.

On the 2nd. of September, the Battery moved into Atlanta,taking a position of the works there, which they held until the 1st. of November, 1864, when they were ordered to Chattanooga, Tn, where they were mounted, as Horse Artillery, forming a part of the Reserve Artillery, Department of the Cumberland.

The Battery remained at Chattanooga, until the early part of July, 1865, when they were ordered to Michigan, for mustering out of the service.

Arriving at Jackson on July the 6th, then was paid off and disbanded on the 14th. of July 1865.

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

Aldie,Va/ Gettysburg,Pa/ Cassville,Ga/ New Hope Church,Ga/ Lost Mountain,Ga/ Culp's House,Ga/ Marietta,Ga/ Peach Tree Creek,Ga/ Atlanta,Ga/ Turner's Ferry,Ga

Total Enrollment--234..... Killed in Action--2..... Died of Wounds--3..... Died of Disease--24

Copyright © 1995, Don Harvey, Revised 14 June 1996