4th Michigan

Contact: Commander Paul S. Montresor, 236 E Ann Arbor Tr., Plymouth, MI 48170

Phone: 734-737-9431 or 734-620-3808

The original 4th Michigan Volunteer Infantry was recruited from the southern tier of counties of the State, and was organized by Colonel Dwight A. Woodbury at Adrian Michigan. Like some of the other regiments from Michigan, it was comprised of independent companies including militia men from the towns of Tecumseh, Jonesville, Hudson, Barry, and Sturgis. The Organization of the regiment was completed at its rendezvous in Adrian, and it was mustered into Federal Service for three years on June 20 1861. The Fourth Michigan was uniformed and equipped for field service before it left the state, and it started for Washington D.C. on June 25th, 1861, with an enrollment of 1,025 officers and enlisted men.

The 4th took a most honorable part in McClellan's Peninsular Campaign of 1862. During this campaign added to its record of valor at Hanover Court house, Mechanicsville, and Gaines Mill. At Malvern Hill, Colonel Woodbury fell at the head of the regiment, bringing a close to his brilliant military career.

After the Peninsular Campaign, the 4th Michigan took part in the battles of Antietam, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, and Gettysburg. The spring campaign of 1864 opened with a death grapple of Union and Confederate armies in the battle of the Wilderness. From this time until the aspiration of its term of service in June, 1864, the 4th was continuously engaged with the enemy and took part in the bloody battles along the North Anna and Pamunky Rivers. It was engaged before the works of Petersburg when the enlistments ran out and the regiment was pulled from the line. The soldiers then returned to Detroit, Michigan, and then home.

One hundred and twenty men re-enlisted and returned to service. This time, the Fourth Michigan was sent to the West where it saw action in Tennessee and Alabama. The Regiment remained on duty in the south until May, 1866 when it was mustered out of Federal service and returned again to Michigan.

The Fourth participated in over 40 engagements and suffered more than 190 killed and mortally wounded, and over 200 who died from disease.