Update to "Happy Birthday To Us"

My father writes to point out that he did 22 and 1/2 months, not 2 years. Considering that, when folks ask me how long I was in the Army I usually break it down to years, months, and days, I guess I asked for that.

Got rushed, as Mrs. Drang's father was coming over for brunch, so I wasn't able to add that my great-great-grandfather was not, technically, in the Army, but his service in the State Volunteer organization--the 22nd Michigan Volunteer Infantry, to be precise--certainly is noteworthy.

(Note to anyone who stumbles across this blog while researching Civil War genealogy: Mr. Harvey's website, linked to above, is an invaluable resource, and he offers a CD-ROM with Michigan's regimental histories. The web site also features a Civil War Music soundtrack, if you allow Java/Flash. This can slow downloads, of course. Just so you know.)

The 22d Michigan was one of many regiments raised in excess of Michigan's allocation. (At the time Michigan was a relatively lightly populated state; therefore, it never approached the numbers raised by more populous states.)

The Twenty Second Regiment was raised in the counties of Oakland, Livingston, Macomb, St. Clair, Lapeer and Sanilac, being what was then, the Fifth Congressional District. Its rendezvous was at Pontiac, the Honorable Moses Wisner, who had been lately Governor of the State, later to be commissioned Colonel of the Regiment, having charge of the camp. The recruitment of the 22nd. commenced on July 15,1862, being completed August 29th., when it was mustered into the service of the United States.

Eventually, the 22d Michigan found themselves with a guy named George Thomas at a previously obscure knob called Snodgrass Hill, facing what probably seemed like every rebel on the planet.

Arriving on the field, the Regiment was pushed right to the front, being immediately severely engaged. The Regiment went into this action with a strength of 584 officers and men, losing 2 officers wounded with 15 missing, 36 men killed, 89 wounded and 247 missing, a loss of 372 men, before the sun set on that fateful day.

A scan of the locations of grave sites for men of the 22d Michigan reveals a depressing number listed as "Andersonville, GA."

Maybe it wasn't considered significant at the time, but I read in the Official Regimental History that they arrived at the Chickamauga battlefield after a 50 mile forced march, arriving with every man who started; they supposedly passed in review by the Corps Commander, who complimented the commander on the appearance of his "Brigade"--a Brigade, of course, consists of two or more Regiments. Given casualty rates at the time, seeing almost 600 men march past, I suppose the "Brigade" mistake was easy to make. Still, having been on more than a few 20 and 25 mile marches, I can say that arriving with the same number you started out with, especially when there were that many, is a remarkable achievement. Unknown at this range whether "marching to the sound of the guns" was an incentive.

Somewhere between Mustering in and arriving in Tennessee, the 22d Michigan picked up a stray and made him a drummer boy: John Clem, who was not "Johnny Shiloh", as the 22d did not serve there.

After Chickamauga, the remnants of the 22d Michigan served as engineers in the vicinity of Lookout Mountain, and also were involved with the Battle of Atlanta.

No battle is a fun thing, of course, and the Civil War was full of experiences that can best be described as "horrific", but Chickamauga was certainly one of the worst.