The 10th Michigan Infantry Regiment was an

infantry regiment Infantry, or infantryman are a type of soldier who specialize in ground combat, typically fighting dismounted. Historically the term was used to describe foot soldiers, i.e. those who march and fight on foot. In modern usage, the term broadl ...

that served in the Union Army between February 10, 1862, and August 1, 1865, during the

American Civil War The American Civil War (April 12, 1861May 26, 1865; also known by Names of the American Civil War, other names) was a civil war in the United States between the Union (American Civil War), Union ("the North") and the Confederate States of A ...

Service

The 10th Michigan Infantry was organized at

Flint, Michigan Flint is the largest city in Genesee County, Michigan, United States, and its county seat. Located along the Flint River (Michigan), Flint River northwest of Detroit, it is a principal city within the Central Michigan, Mid Michigan region. Flin ...

, and mustered into federal service for a three-year enlistment on February 6, 1862. The regiment was organized in Flint during the fall and winter of 1861–62 with men from the following counties: Shiawassee,

Livingston Livingston or Livingstonemay refer to: Businesses * Livingston Energy Flight, an Italian airline (2003–2010) * Livingston Compagnia Aerea, an Italian airline (2011–2014), also known as Livingston Airline * Livingston International, a North Am ...

, Genesee, Midland,

Saginaw Saginaw () is a city in Saginaw County, Michigan, United States, and its county seat. It had a population of 44,202 at the 2020 census. Located along the Saginaw River, Saginaw is adjacent to Saginaw Charter Township and considered part of ...

Oakland Oakland is a city in the East Bay region of the San Francisco Bay Area in the U.S. state of California. It is the county seat and most populous city in Alameda County, with a population of 440,646 in 2020. A major West Coast port, Oakland is ...

, Sanilac, St. Clair, Lapeer,

Jackson Jackson may refer to: Places Australia * Jackson, Queensland, a town in the Maranoa Region * Jackson North, Queensland, a locality in the Maranoa Region * Jackson South, Queensland, a locality in the Maranoa Region * Jackson oil field in Durham, ...

, Eaton, and Hillsdale. The regiment was officially mustered on February 6, 1862. It left the state on April 22, being ordered to

Pittsburg Landing Pittsburg Landing is a river landing on the west bank of the Tennessee River in Hardin County, Tennessee. It was named for "Pitts" Tucker who operated a tavern at the site in the years preceding the Civil War. The landing helped connect the wes ...

. The regiment saw action at the

Siege of Corinth The siege of Corinth, also known as the first battle of Corinth, was an American Civil War engagement lasting from April 29 to May 30, 1862, in Corinth, Mississippi. A collection of Union forces under the overall command of Major General Henry H ...

. It was also engaged at Boonville in July; was then ordered to

Nashville Nashville, often known as Music City, is the capital and List of municipalities in Tennessee, most populous city in the U.S. state of Tennessee. It is the county seat, seat of Davidson County, Tennessee, Davidson County in Middle Tennessee, locat ...

and assigned to the 1st brigade and 1st division of Rosecrans' army. It was engaged in provost, guard duty and fatigue duty at

. On December 31 it guarded an

ammunition train The ammunition train was an element of armies in 19th and 20th century warfare. They were responsible for transporting the artillery and infantry ammunition of each division from the ammunition refilling point to the area of engagement. The train i ...

for the army, made a march of in 36 hours, and participated in the engagement at the

Battle of Stones River The Battle of Stones River, also known as the Second Battle of Murfreesboro, was fought from December 31, 1862, to January 2, 1863, in Middle Tennessee, as the culmination of the Stones River Campaign in the Western Theater of the American Ci ...

. On January 3, 1863, Companies A and D were attacked by a large force of

Confederate A confederation (also known as a confederacy or league) is a political union of sovereign states united for purposes of common action. Usually created by a treaty, confederations of states tend to be established for dealing with critical issu ...

guerrillas Guerrilla warfare is a form of unconventional warfare in which small groups of irregular military, such as rebels, Partisan (military), partisans, paramilitary personnel or armed civilians, which may include Children in the military, recruite ...

, but repulsed them, killing 15 and capturing at least that same number. On January 25, 1863, a squad guarding a convoy was captured by 200 of Confederate

cavalry Historically, cavalry (from the French word ''cavalerie'', itself derived from ''cheval'' meaning "horse") are groups of soldiers or warriors who Horses in warfare, fight mounted on horseback. Until the 20th century, cavalry were the most mob ...

. 27 men of the 10th being near, they went forward and routed the enemy with heavy loss, capturing guns and horses and saving most of the convoy, which had been set alight. On April 10, several hundred guerrillas drove a detail of 46 men away from another convoy they were guarding. Reinforced by 15 men, the guard returned and saved the convoy. In August and September the regiment joined in the march from

Murfreesboro Murfreesboro is a city in Rutherford County, Tennessee, United States, and its county seat. Its population was 165,430 according to the 2023 census estimate, up from 108,755 residents certified in 2010 United States census, 2010. Murfreesboro i ...

to Columbia. The regiment then moved to Anderson's cross-roads, and then to Smith's ferry, which was reached on October 26. On November 26, it participated in the capture of Chickamauga Station. The regiment moved towards

Knoxville Knoxville is a city in Knox County, Tennessee, United States, and its county seat. It is located on the Tennessee River and had a population of 190,740 at the 2020 United States census. It is the largest city in the East Tennessee Grand Division ...

, marched for several days, but was then ordered to Columbus, reaching it on December 9. They moved through

Stevenson Stevenson is an English language patronymic surname meaning "son of Steven". Its first historical record is from pre-10th-century England. Another origin of the name is as a toponymic surname related to the place Stevenstone in Devon, England. The ...

Huntsville Huntsville is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Alabama. The population of the city is estimated to be 241,114 in 2024, making it the 100th-most populous city in the U.S. The Huntsville metropolitan area had an estimated 525,465 ...

, fought in the

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, and

Florence Florence ( ; ) is the capital city of the Italy, Italian region of Tuscany. It is also the most populated city in Tuscany, with 362,353 inhabitants, and 989,460 in Metropolitan City of Florence, its metropolitan province as of 2025. Florence ...

, skirmishing at the latter. It moved for

Chattanooga Chattanooga ( ) is a city in Hamilton County, Tennessee, United States, and its county seat. It is located along the Tennessee River and borders Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia to the south. With a population of 181,099 in 2020, it is Tennessee ...

on December 15. 395 men, having reenlisted as veterans on February 6, 1864, were expecting to receive the longed-for furlough. Instead, on February 23, the regiment was ordered to prepare for a movement into Georgia. The order was cheerfully obeyed and the regiment participated in the battle of Battle of Buzzard's Roost, with 13 killed, 36 wounded and 17 missing. It made a gallant advance over two sharp ridges but, being unsupported, was compelled to return to its earlier stand. The 10th then took part in the successful counterattack at Tunnel Hill before being furloughed home in March. On its return, it reached Chattanooga on May 11, in time to take part in the Atlanta campaign. It was engaged at Resaca,

Rome Rome (Italian language, Italian and , ) is the capital city and most populated (municipality) of Italy. It is also the administrative centre of the Lazio Regions of Italy, region and of the Metropolitan City of Rome. A special named with 2, ...

, and

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, and was in reserve at

Kennesaw Mountain Kennesaw Mountain is a mountain between Marietta and Kennesaw, Georgia in the United States with a summit elevation of . It is the highest point in the core ( urban and suburban) metro Atlanta area, and fifth after further-north exurban count ...

. When Confederate General

John Bell Hood John Bell Hood (June 1 or June 29, 1831 – August 30, 1879) was a Confederate general during the American Civil War. Hood's impetuosity led to high losses among his troops as he moved up in rank. Bruce Catton wrote that "the decision to replace ...

attacked in defense of Atlanta, the 10th fought valiantly at Peachtree Creek. They also fought engagements at Sandtown and Red Oak. At Jonesboro they charged the enemy's works, taking 400 prisoners and a stand of

colors Color (or colour in Commonwealth English; see spelling differences) is the visual perception based on the electromagnetic spectrum. Though color is not an inherent property of matter, color perception is related to an object's light absorpt ...

, with 30 killed and 47 wounded. The regiment also fought at the Battle of Rough and Ready. Afterwards, it moved forward with the army on the Savannah campaign, engaging in skirmishes at Sandersville and

Louisville Louisville is the most populous city in the Commonwealth of Kentucky, sixth-most populous city in the Southeast, and the 27th-most-populous city in the United States. By land area, it is the country's 24th-largest city; however, by populatio ...

. At Louisville, four companies defeated a superior force. The regiment reached

Savannah A savanna or savannah is a mixed woodland-grassland (i.e. grassy woodland) biome and ecosystem characterised by the trees being sufficiently widely spaced so that the canopy does not close. The open canopy allows sufficient light to reach th ...

on December 11 and moved into the city on December 21. It then participated in the Carolinas campaign, being engaged with the enemy at

Fayetteville Fayetteville may refer to: *Fayetteville, Alabama *Fayetteville, Arkansas ** The Fayetteville Formation *Fayetteville, Georgia *Fayetteville, Illinois *Fayetteville, Indiana *Fayetteville, Washington County, Indiana *Fayetteville, Missouri *Fayette ...

, Averasborough, Southfield Road, and Bentonville. It reached

Richmond Richmond most often refers to: * Richmond, British Columbia, a city in Canada * Richmond, California, a city in the United States * Richmond, London, a town in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames, England * Richmond, North Yorkshire, a town ...

on May 7. The regiment was in the

Grand Review The Grand Review of the Armies was a military procession and celebration in the national capital city of Washington, D.C., on May 23–24, 1865, following the Union victory in the American Civil War (1861–1865). Elements of the Union Army in th ...

at Washington D.C., moved to

Louisville, Kentucky Louisville is the List of cities in Kentucky, most populous city in the Commonwealth of Kentucky, sixth-most populous city in the Southeastern United States, Southeast, and the list of United States cities by population, 27th-most-populous city ...

in June, and was mustered out on July 19. The regiment was discharged on August 1, 1865, in Jackson, Michigan. The Tenth Michigan Infantry is now represented by a Civil War reenactment group.

Commanders

Colonel Colonel ( ; abbreviated as Col., Col, or COL) is a senior military Officer (armed forces), officer rank used in many countries. It is also used in some police forces and paramilitary organizations. In the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries, a colon ...

Charles M. Lum * Lieutenant-Colonel Christopher J. Dickerson * Lieutenant-Colonel William H. Dunphy *

Major Major most commonly refers to: * Major (rank), a military rank * Academic major, an academic discipline to which an undergraduate student formally commits * People named Major, including given names, surnames, nicknames * Major and minor in musi ...

James J. Scarrett * Major Henry S. Burnett * Major Sylvan Ter Bush

Total strength and casualties

The regiment had seven officers and 95 enlisted men killed in action or mortally wounded, and two officers and 223 enlisted men who died of disease, for a total of 327 fatalities. Its original strength was 997: gain by recruits, 791; total, 1,788. Loss by death, 299.http://www.civilwararchive.com/Unreghst/unmiinf2.htm#10th The Civil War Archive website after Dyer, Frederick Henry. ''A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion''. 3 vols. New York: Thomas Yoseloff, 1959.

References

Bibliography

* * {{cite book , last1=Dyer , first1=Frederick , title=A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion , date=1959 , publisher=David Yoseloff , location=New York Units and formations of the Union army from Michigan 1865 disestablishments in Michigan 1862 establishments in Michigan Military units and formations established in 1862 Military units and formations disestablished in 1865