8th Michigan Volunteer Infantry Regiment
Encyclopedia
The 8th Regiment Michigan Volunteer Infantry was an infantry
regiment
that served in the Union Army
during the American Civil War
.
and Detroit, Michigan
and mustered into Federal service for a three year enlistment on September 23, 1861.
The Eight Michigan was known as the "Wandering Regiment" for its service on many fronts and its frequent reassignments between different armies and geographical areas. The regiment began its service by being assigned to General Sherman in South Carolina where he was establishing a beachhead to provide a base for the naval blockade. From there the regiment went to Virginia and was assigned to General Burnside's 9th Corps. The Eighth saw service in both the eastern and western theaters of operation. The Eighth fought in several major battles in the east, was then sent to support General Grant at Vicksburg, and finally being dispached to east Tennessee before finishing out the war with the Army of the Potomac
in Virginia.
The regiment was mustered out on June 30, 1865.
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...
.
Service
The 8th Michigan Infantry was organized at Grand RapidsGrand Rapids, Michigan
Grand Rapids is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. The city is located on the Grand River about 40 miles east of Lake Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 188,040. In 2010, the Grand Rapids metropolitan area had a population of 774,160 and a combined statistical area, Grand...
and Detroit, Michigan
Detroit, Michigan
Detroit is the major city among the primary cultural, financial, and transportation centers in the Metro Detroit area, a region of 5.2 million people. As the seat of Wayne County, the city of Detroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and serves as a major port on the Detroit River...
and mustered into Federal service for a three year enlistment on September 23, 1861.
The Eight Michigan was known as the "Wandering Regiment" for its service on many fronts and its frequent reassignments between different armies and geographical areas. The regiment began its service by being assigned to General Sherman in South Carolina where he was establishing a beachhead to provide a base for the naval blockade. From there the regiment went to Virginia and was assigned to General Burnside's 9th Corps. The Eighth saw service in both the eastern and western theaters of operation. The Eighth fought in several major battles in the east, was then sent to support General Grant at Vicksburg, and finally being dispached to east Tennessee before finishing out the war with the Army of the Potomac
Army of the Potomac
The Army of the Potomac was the major Union Army in the Eastern Theater of the American Civil War.-History:The Army of the Potomac was created in 1861, but was then only the size of a corps . Its nucleus was called the Army of Northeastern Virginia, under Brig. Gen...
in Virginia.
The regiment was mustered out on June 30, 1865.
Total strength and casualties
The regiment suffered 11 officers and 212 enlisted men who were killed in action or motally wounded and 3 officers and 223 enlisted men who died of disease, for a total of 449fatalities.