The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1888-02-02
THE 4th MICH.
A Word from the Yeracious Statstician of that
Regiment.

EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: It has fire.
quently been said that the best fighting men
were the poorest takers This accounts, prob
ably, in a very great measure, why there is not
any more said or written regarding the work
done by the old 4th Mich, of the First Divis-
ion, Fifth Corps, during the late war for the
Union. 1t is a fact-and | think tits on record
that this regiment was in fight, and was
also in the Army of the Potomac from the first
to the last.
am not aware that they claim to have done
all the killing at any particular battle, or that
they took all or the only flag the enemy had,
or that they were the first to enter or first to
retreat from any difficult place; but l do know
from personal knowledge that they did their
duty nobly and we'll, as the following record
will show The old 4th Mich. was organized at
Adrian, Mich, May, 1861 mustered into the
United States service June 20, 1861, with 1924
men; left Adrian for seat of war June %, 1861.
They were engaged in 81 battles, with total
loss of 157 killed, 460 wounded la prisoners,
272 discharged for disability, SO died from
wounds received in BATTLE were starved to
death in rebel prisons, shot by rebel guards,
la died from disease, II officers killed, 129 re-
enlisted as veteran volunteers, and of the orig
inal 1924 men, 135 men and % officers were
present for muster-out june 80, 1864, at De-
troit, Mich. At this time 81 men and one Off
Ger were prisoners in the hands of the rebels
From this regiment sprung nine Colonies and
three Generals, and from the ranks many other
officers. Three of its Colonies were killed.
The estimated cost to the State to arm and
equip this regiment for muster into the United
States service was $68, 843. During its term Of
service it fought 81 battles captured Is can
non 400 stands of arms 2 stands of coors 81
horses and mules, IL supply wagons, "a darkics
$50 prisoners, 962 hens, 400 ROSTERS, $40 tur
keys, 1877 geese, 1872 ducks, upset ii hives o.
bees, confscated 4 bags of peanuts and bar
rels of moasses, (the peanuts, properly, should
be credited to the 18th n. Y, as they got the
greater part of them,) shot q wild hogs, bayo
netted rs others, bought four fiocks of sheer
| with Erie and Kalamazoo greenbaCks, swampeC
| IA Suffers and did various other things mot il
my diary towards putting down the rebellion
besides marching Is, 400 miles, $50 of it bein:
done in 10 days, carrying 0-pound knap5acl<
40 rounds of cartridges, and other parapher
MALTA amounting to hundred pounds to The
man.
Uncle Sam hired these men for less than 81
| cents per day, and they did him good service
They built Fort Woodbury., opposite George
| town, ID. c.; made seven miles of breastworks
laid six miles of corduroy road, built21 bridges
! and at night played seven-up to see who woult
| raid the Suffers tent; all of which the depOn
ent pron0unces correct.
AS one of the historians of this regiment
would be glad if every survivor Of the old At
| Mich. would write out short sketch of him
self, and send to me, to be incorporated in on
history Of the regiment | want his biograph
in as brief a way as possible, but the numbe
of battles participated in and any incident G
interest should be given.-A. II. BoIEs, His
torian No. 2, 4th Mich.