4th Michigan Volunteer Infantry Regiment
Encyclopedia
The 4th Regiment Michigan Volunteer Infantry was an infantry
regiment
that served in the Union Army
during the American Civil War
. The 4th Michigan wore a very americanized zouave uniform. This uniform consisted of a federal dark blue sack coat, dark blue chasseur trousers, tan gaiters, and a dark blue zouave fez with a red tazzle.
and mustered into Federal service for a three year enlistment on June 20, 1861. The regiment's first lieutenant colonel
was a future prominent politician and civil engineer, William Ward Duffield
. Several other soldiers in the regiment reached post-war prominence, including state politician George Spalding
, who enlisted as a private
in Company A.
The regiment was mustered out on June 30, 1864. The regiment's veterans and recruits were assigned to the 1st Michigan Infantry
.
fatalities.
Infantry
Infantrymen are soldiers who are specifically trained for the role of fighting on foot to engage the enemy face to face and have historically borne the brunt of the casualties of combat in wars. As the oldest branch of combat arms, they are the backbone of armies...
regiment
Regiment
A regiment is a major tactical military unit, composed of variable numbers of batteries, squadrons or battalions, commanded by a colonel or lieutenant colonel...
that served in the Union Army
Union Army
The Union Army was the land force that fought for the Union during the American Civil War. It was also known as the Federal Army, the U.S. Army, the Northern Army and the National Army...
during the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
. The 4th Michigan wore a very americanized zouave uniform. This uniform consisted of a federal dark blue sack coat, dark blue chasseur trousers, tan gaiters, and a dark blue zouave fez with a red tazzle.
Service
The 4th Michigan Infantry was organized at Adrian, MichiganAdrian, Michigan
As of the 2010 census Adrian had a population of 21,133. The racial and ethnic makeup of the population was 84.1% white, 4.4% black or African American, 0.6% Native American, 0.9% Asian, 5.9% from some other race and 4.0% from two or more races...
and mustered into Federal service for a three year enlistment on June 20, 1861. The regiment's first lieutenant colonel
Lieutenant Colonel (United States)
In the United States Army, United States Air Force, and United States Marine Corps, a lieutenant colonel is a field grade military officer rank just above the rank of major and just below the rank of colonel. It is equivalent to the naval rank of commander in the other uniformed services.The pay...
was a future prominent politician and civil engineer, William Ward Duffield
William Ward Duffield
William Ward Duffield was an executive in the coal industry, a railroad construction engineer, and an officer in the Union Army during the American Civil War. After the war he was appointed Superintendent of the U.S...
. Several other soldiers in the regiment reached post-war prominence, including state politician George Spalding
George Spalding
George Spalding was a politician from the U.S. state of Michigan.-Biography:Spalding was born in Blairgowrie, Perthshire, Scotland and immigrated to the United States in 1843 with his parents. The settled in Buffalo, New York, where he attended the public schools. He later moved to Monroe,...
, who enlisted as a private
Private (rank)
A Private is a soldier of the lowest military rank .In modern military parlance, 'Private' is shortened to 'Pte' in the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth countries and to 'Pvt.' in the United States.Notably both Sir Fitzroy MacLean and Enoch Powell are examples of, rare, rapid career...
in Company A.
The regiment was mustered out on June 30, 1864. The regiment's veterans and recruits were assigned to the 1st Michigan Infantry
1st Michigan Volunteer Infantry Regiment (3 Years)
The 1st Regiment Michigan Volunteer Infantry was an infantry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War.-Service:The 1st Michigan Infantry was organized at Detroit, Michigan and mustered into Federal service for a three year enlistment on September 16, 1861...
.
Total strength and casualties
The regiment suffered 12 officers and 177 enlisted men who were killed in action or motally wounded and 1 officer and 107 enlisted men who died of disease, for a total of 297fatalities.
Commanders
- ColonelColonel (United States)In the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, colonel is a senior field grade military officer rank just above the rank of lieutenant colonel and just below the rank of brigadier general...
Harrison JeffordsHarrison JeffordsHarrison Jeffords was the colonel of the 4th Michigan Volunteer Infantry Regiment in the Union Army of the Potomac during the American Civil War...
, killed at the Battle of GettysburgBattle of GettysburgThe Battle of Gettysburg , was fought July 1–3, 1863, in and around the town of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. The battle with the largest number of casualties in the American Civil War, it is often described as the war's turning point. Union Maj. Gen. George Gordon Meade's Army of the Potomac...