In December following the regiment in command of Lieutenant Colonel Abbott was engaged at the battle of Fredericksburg, with a loss of one officer (Captain J. B. Kennedy) and seven men killed, seven officers and thirty-three men wounded.

The following is the report of Colonel Abbott of the part taken by his regiment in that battle:

"This regiment, in compliance with orders of 1st brigade, 1st division, 5th A. C., C, G, D, broke camp on Thursday morning, December 11th, at 5.30 o'clock A. M., taking up a line of march towards Fredericksburg, halted near the Phillips House, remaining there until sundown, when the brigae was moved back to a piece of wood and bivouacked for the night. Next morning orders came to join the division, moving in the direction of Fredericksburg.

"At 10 o'clock the division halted, remaining there during the day, bivouacking for the night in line of battle by regiments; next day, Saturday, at 12 o'clock, again moved forward, crossing the river at 2.30 P. M., on center pontoon bridge, marching in good order to Main street. We halted for a short time, during which the pieces were loaded and every preparation necessary for an advance was made. At 3 o'clock we were again in motion, leaving the main street, passing through a cross street to the left towards the battlefield, where we were exposed to a heavy fire from the enemy's batteries on the hill, killing and wounding many of our best and bravest men. On leaving the street, by filing obliquely to the right across a small stream, again obliquing to the left, when we were somewhat sheltered from the fire by a high bank, I halted the regiment, the right resting near the railroad, for about thirty minutes, waiting an opportunity to advance through other troops who were on the railroad, marched down the track some thirty rods, and turned to the left. Here I was met by Colonel Barnes, who ordered me to take position on the left of the 13th New York. In doing this we were again exposed to the enemy's fire. I passed this place at double quick, and took up my position in good order. From this point the regiment moved in line of battle to the front, and there commenced firing, which was continued at intervals until after dark. Captain Kennedy was mortally wounded while bravely leading his men. Here many of my best men were killed or wounded. Not an officer faltered; all exhibited the coolness and courage of veterans. After dark our position was changed to the left of the 118th Pennsylvania, where we lay on our arms until daylight. Remained in this place during the day, Sunday, and were relieved with the brigade at 8 o'clock P. M., when we fell back to the river, near the pontoon bridge, remaining there during the next day, Monday. At night, again marched into the city, down the main street about one mile, and bivouacked on the walk for the night. The next morning, were ordered to recross the river, which we did, returning to the camp we occupied before the movement.

"The following is the list of casualties: Officers killed, one; officers wounded, seven; enlisted men killed, seven; enlisted men wounded, thirty-three.

"During the whole engagement and the time we moved from the camp on Thursday, Captain Belton, acting second in command, was everywhere present, exhibiting the same coolness and courage heretofore manifested in all the engagements in which the regiment has participated.

"I cannot but speak in high terms of all my officers, while the men, true to their country's flag, inspired by their love of freedom, stood firm and unmoved, and I trust the regiment did, as it ever has done, its duty. It has now recovered the fatigue of the battle, and notwithstanding the disappointment we are again willing and ready to follow our brave leader, Colonel James Barnes, wherever he may call."

After the battle of Fredericksburg the regiment, still serving in the 1st brigade, 1st division, 5th corps, lay in camp near Falmouth until the 27th of April, 1863 (having been engaged at U. S. Ford January 1st), when it moved in the direction of Chancellorsville. Crossing the Rappahannock and the Rapidan it reached that battle ground on the 30th, after four days of forced and heavy marching, and entered into action there as set forth in the following report of Colonel Abbott, losing three killed and seventeen wounded:

"I have the honor to submit the following report of the operations of this regiment during the late movements of the Army of the Potomac from the 27th of April to the 6th of May:

"This regiment with two hundred and seventy-nine men and twenty-three officers attached to the first brigade, first division, fifth corps (commanded respectively by Generals Barnes, Griffin, and Meade), broke camp on Monday, April 27th, and with the brigade marched northward seven miles to near Hartwood church, where the division was bivouacked for the night. On Tuesday morning our march was resumed and early on Wednesday morning we crossed the Rappahannock on pontoons, near Kelly's Ford,' distance twenty-eight miles from our old camp.

"Turning southward, the Rapidan was reached about sundown, and crossing the river, whose waters were waist deed at 'Ely's Ford,' we encamped upon the steep shores of the south bank. At sunrise of Thursday we moved in the direction of Chancellorsville, and arriving at that place at 10 o'clock A. M., we halted to allow the remainder of the corps to arrive. The 11th and 12th corps came up by another route, and to this brigade was assigned the advance upon the 'Fredericksburg and Gordonsville plank road,' toward the former city. Proceeding about two miles we arrived near some rebel earthworks. The brigade was halted, and this regiment with the 25th New York Infantry on the left and the 18th Massachusetts Infantry on the right, was ordered forward; the 1st Michigan Infantry advancing up the road until within musket range of the rebel works, when the line was halted, and Company H, Captain E. D. Judd, was sent forward, deployed as skirmishers. These skirmishers obtained information that the enemy's force consisted of two brigades of infantry with some field artillery. At 5 P. M. a few shots were exchanged by the skirmishers and two rebel prisoners taken.

"Orders were soon received to retire, which movement I believe to have been a mistaken one.

"Falling back to Chancellorsville, and marching off to our right about one mile, we encamped for the night. On Friday morning the brigade was sent out upon a reconnoissance along a road leading to the Rappahannock, whose banks we traversed southward to a point below Scott's Dam Ford;' and obtaining the desired information of the enemy we returned during the afternoon to near Chancellorsville. On our arrival the brigade formed in line of battle, remaining thus until about midnight. In the meantime the enemy shelled the woods vigorously, and a man of the 22d Massachusetts Infantry lost both legs by a solid shot. At midnight (on Friday, 1st) this position was abandoned and the brigade was posted upon a road leading from Chancellorsville to the Rappahannock, and strong barricades were constructed to protect the left flank of the army and our communications to the above river.

'At this honorable post we remained until late in the afternoon of Saturday, when we were ordered to move further to the right to strengthen a point threatened by the enemy. During this time we had a strong picket force in advance of our front. At 11 o'clock P. M. we were relieved by a portion of Howard's 11th corps, taking a new position near Chancellorsville, where we remained until 6 o'clock on Sunday, when we were again moved out on the road leading to the United States Ford,' to a point not far from the White House,' around which and in the woods troops were being massed. Fighting was in the meantime going on at Chancellorsville and along the whole line, and at 10 o'clock A. M. on Sunday, the brigade was moved to the White House,' where it remained until the enemy's shells compelled a temporary shelter in the adjoining woods. During this shelling some of our men were wounded. Remaining upon our arms until 3 o'clock A. M. on Monday we were ordered to the front, and two regiments of the brigade were sent beyond the works on picket duty. At 8 o'clock A. M. I was ordered to relieve these regiments, when I accordingly sent out nine of my companies under command of Major George C. Hopper, and their duty was nobly performed until they were relieved the next morning. While this force was on picket it continually skirmished with the enemy's sharpshooters, and several of my men were wounded. During the forenoon of Tuesday the enemy advanced in two lines, but our skirmishers kept him firmly at bay until they were ordered to fall back into the intrenchments, which they did in good order, allowing the artillery to open and clear the woods of rebels. During the above movement my regiment sustained its principal loss, but it deployed again promptly as soon as our artillery was silent, and was soon after relieved by another regiment of this brigade.

On being relieved we occupied the front line of works until 3 o'clock P. M. of Wednesday, when the already overworked brigade was detailed to cover as a rear guard the recrossing of the army to the east banks of the Rappahannock, which duty was performed with the fullest success. Rain began to fall at 4 P. M. of Tuesday, and so continued during the night and for days following. The roads were in a horrible condition, but by 10 o'clock A. M. of Wednesday the whole army had crossed in safety and this brigade was left to remove and protect the pontoon bridges, which labor consumed the rest of the day. At 6 o'clock P. M. the brigade took up its march for their old camps, but owing to continued rains and bad roads, it did not arrive there until the afternoon of Thursday, May 7th.

Thus ended the eleventh day of a campaign which for all that tests the quality of a soldier surpasses all our former experience.

"Great credit is due both officers and men for the cheerfulness and fortitude with which they endured fatigue, hardship, and danger. Though not brought into the most galling fire in this battle, yet they were trusted as veterans. We were, as will be seen from this report, marched and countermarched, and we have gained the cognomen of 'The Flying Brigade.' The many changes of position noted above were to place us at threatened points, in accordance with a well-known practice in military maneuvers. During the battle we constructed four distinct series of breastworks, to whose protection other troops were uniformly committed, while we bore the brunt of battle in the open field. It is unnecessary to mention individuals when all did their duty. The reputation of the regiment is even enhanced among their brethren in arms, and we are as ready to meet our country's foes, notwithstanding our thinned ranks, as we were before this movement began. We are proud of our State and proud of the reputation of Michigan troops. We sincerely trust that our future history will none the less give reason for faith in the hearts of the authorities and the people at home."

Again resuming its camping ground near Falmouth, it lay there until the 28th of May, 1863, when the division to which it was attached moved to Morrisville, a two days' march, and on the 9th of June crossed the river as support to a cavalry force which advanced to Brandy Station, fighting all day and returning to camp on the 10th. On the 14th it broke camp at Morrisville, and the 19th and 21st was in brisk skirmishes with the enemy's cavalry at Aldie. On the 26th the regiment crossed the Potomac into Maryland at Edwards's Ferry, and after laborious and exhausting marches under a broiling sun it reached Gettysburg, Pa., at 1.30 A. M. of July 2d. It entered into battle with the 5th corps on the same day in command of Colonel Abbott, with a force of 20 officers and 125 men. Colonel Abbott being wounded early in the engagement, Lieutenant Colonel W. A. Throop assumed command. It sustained a loss of one officer, Captain Amos Ladd, and four men killed, and six officers and twenty-five men wounded, with eight missing. A more detailed account of the part taken by the regiment is found in the following extract from the report of Colonel Throop:

"We left Hanover on the evening of the 1st, with the brigade marching to a place near the battlefield of the 2d during the night. On the morning of the 2d we were formed in line of battle, in reserve, where we remained until about 4 o'clock P. M., when we (with the brigade) were ordered to the front. We got into position in line about 4.30 P. M., with the 22d Massachusetts on our left and the 118th Pennsylvania on our right. We had no sooner got our line fully established than the enemy drove in our skirmishers and appeared in force in the edge of a wood on our front, within two hundred yards of our line. We ordered our men to fix bayonets, and commenced firing on the enemy with a deadly effect, driving him back after a severe fire of half an hour. He, however, soon returned, and was a second time driven back with great loss. Our men stood up bravely under the storm of bullets sent against them, loading and firing as coolly as though on drill. We entered the fight with three field, one staff, sixteen line officers, and one hundred and twenty-five muskets. Our color-bearer, Sergeant Patrick Connors, was the first man wounded after the firing commenced. The colors were at once taken from the ground by Corporal John H. Harrington, of Company A, and gallantly borne through the battle. Colonel Ira C. Abbott was wounded in the face early in the action and carried to the rear. We maintained our line, repulsing and holding in check the enemy until 7.30 P. M., when we were ordered to fall back, which we did in good order, being relieved by a brigade of Pennsylvania reserves. Men never behaved more gallantly than did the soldiers of the 1st Michigan in this battle, and it would be impossible to mention each case of individual gallantry and bravery when all did so well, but I would mention the name of First Sergeant Joseph F. Bird, of Company A, who particularly attracted my attention by his coolness, bravery, and admirable control of his men and thoughtfulness as to his duties. Among the officers I can make no separate mention, where all excelled their former reputation, and won for themselves new and lasting honors. Our losses are one commissioned officer killed and six wounded; four enlisted men killed, twenty-five wounded, and eight

missing. Of the steady, true, and galling fire of the one hundred and twenty-five muskets in the hands of Michigan 1st Regiment, the bodies of sixty-two dead rebels left on our front bear a fearful testimony."

The regiment was in the 1st Brigade, 1st Division, 5th Corps, commanded by Major General Sykes, mentioned in the "Rebellion Record" as follows:

* "The 5th Corps most fortunately arrived and took position on the left of the 3d, Major General Sykes commanding, immediately sending a force to occupy 'Round Top' ridge, where a most furious contest was maintained, the enemy making desperate but unsuccessful attempts to secure it."

It joined in the pursuit of the enemy on the 5th, becoming engaged at Williamsport on the 12th, and on the 18th crossed the Potomac into Virginia, driving the rebels from Manassas Gap, engaging the enemy at Wapping Heights on the 21st, going into camp at Warrenton on the 27th and at Beverly Ford on the 8th of August. Here it remained until September 17th, when it crossed the Rappahannock at Beverly Ford, and marched to Culpepper Court House and encamped, after which the regiment, together with the 18th Massachusetts and a squadron of the 2d Pennsylvania cavalry, occupied the town of Culpepper, under command of Colonel Throop, doing provost duty. The 1st Michigan remained here until the 11th of October, when the army fell back to Centreville, the regiment meeting the rebels at Culpepper and Brandy Station on the 13th, and on the 14th at Bristow Station. It again advanced and rested on the 1st of November at Three Mile Station, on the Orange and Alexandria railroad.

Breaking camp on the 7th the regiment marched with the Army of the Potomac in its advance to the Rappahannock river. The enemy were found strongly intrenched near Rappahannock Station, but, after a desperate struggle, were driven across the river with large loss.

From a correspondent:

"On they moved, looking more as though on dress parade than in line of battle prepared for the fray, led by the gallant Colonel Throop. What cared they for the shot and shell as they fell thick and fast around them, sometimes throwing the sand in their faces as one burst in front, or plowed up the earth at their side. Yet onward the whole line moved, although the ranks of the 18th and 22d Massachusetts and the 118th Pennsylvania were thinned at almost every step by the terrible missiles of death. Their conduct seemed to say, 'We care for none of these things.' One great absorbing idea seemed to pervade every mind, as through the rain of death, with stateliness that was truly sublime, they moved, and that was the capture of the foe in his stronghold.

"By this time we had gained the banks of the railroad, directly under the frowning jaws of the enemy's guns. The sun was sinking to rest, the sable folds of night were fast falling upon the scene, the cannon one by one ceased their horrid roar, until comparatively quiet reigned, when as by common consent the battle cry of freedom was heard, sounding like a death knell to the traitor's heart, quickly followed by the loud crash of musketry, the charge was made, the works were scaled, and the day was ours; and, strange as it may seem, not a man of the gallant 1st was hurt."

From the Sth to the 27th, the 1st was engaged in picket duty in the rear of the army, and in guarding the railroad from the attacks of the enemy's cavalry, being engaged at the Cross Roads on the 26th. Participating in the advance to Mine Run, the regiment crossed the Rapidan at Germania Ford, on the 27th, and being in the reserve did not become engaged, although in front of the enemy's works at Mine Run from the morning of the 29th to the evening of the 1st of December, when it fell back with the army across the Rapidan. On the 3d the regiment went into winter quarters at Beverly Ford, and until the 18th of February, 1864, its services were mostly con

fined to picket and guard duty on the O. and A. R. R. During this month 213 of the regiment re-enlisted as veterans, and it was ordered to report at Detroit, Michigan, where it arrived on the 1st of March, and was furloughed for thirty days. Rendezvousing at Coldwater, the 1st returned to the front on the 10th of April, arriving at its old camping grounds, at Beverly Ford, April 18th.

Engaging in the campaign of 1864, with the Army of the Potomac, the regiment, in command of Colonel Throop, and then in the 3d Brigade, 1st Division, 5th Corps, marched, on the 1st of May, to Brandy Station, and on the 4th crossed the Rapidan at Germania Ford. On the 5th the pickets discovered the enemy moving. Receiving orders to immediately attack as skirmishers, the regiment became engaged, and drove in the opposing advanced forces. During the action, which soon became general, the 1st lost a considerable number of men. It is claimed to have been the first infantry force of the army that attacked the enemy during the great campaign of 1864. During the following eight days it was almost continuously engaged in battle, or in skirmishing, sustaining large losses, especially at the battle of Alsop's Farm, on the 8th, where the regiment came out of the engagement with only twenty-three men. Pressing forward with the army, it participated in the battles of Spottsylvania on the 10th, 11th, and 12th; on the 21st was engaged at Nye River, on the 23d at North Anna, 24th at Jerico Mills, and was also in the affair at Noel's Tavern on the 26th, and on the 30th at Tolopotomy.

Following is from a report of Colonel Throop, covering the services of his regiment in detail:

"I have the honor to submit the following report of the part taken by the 1st infantry in the present campaign for the month of May: On the morning of May 1st we broke camp at Beverly Ford, on the Rappahannock, and marched to Brandy Station, where we bivouacked and remained until the 3d at noon, when we marched to near Culpepper, where we halted at sundown and remained until midnight, and again resumed our march toward Germania Ford, on the Rapidan river, crossing the river about 8 A. M. of the 4th, and advanced on the stone road to Orange Court House to within about three miles of Robertson's Tavern, where the regiment was detailed to picket in front of the brigade, covering the road and connecting on the left with the pickets of the 2d Brigade. There was at this time no enemy in our front, and during the night I received orders that the troops would move at 5 A. M. of the 5th. At 5.30 A. M. I received written orders to withdraw my pickets and rejoin the brigade on the road to the old Wilderness Tavern. Fifteen minutes before receiving the order to withdraw the enemy was discovered_coming down the road towards us with a strong force of infantry, preceded by cavalry. I therefore retained my picket line in position, disposing of my reserves to cover my right flank and hold the road, and immediately dispatched Adjutant Raymond to Report to General Bartlett the approach of the enemy and await orders for me. The cavalry of the enemy approached to within 400 yards of my picket line on the road, and his infantry deployed to the right and left of the road in line of battle; this disposition of his forces was immediately reported by me, and the 18th Massachusetts and 20th Maine regiments were sent out to my support. The troops were halted and moved up to the rear of my picket line, and lines of battle formed. The enemy had thrown out a very heavy line of skirmishers in my immediate front and pushed them boldly into the edge of a wood against my lines, but without firing. Our lines having been formed, and everything in readiness, an attack was ordered and I pushed my skirmish line forward at a double-quick, over an open field of a quarter of a mile, driving the enemy's line into the woods and on to their line of battle. I was followed up by my brigade, the 3d Brigade, 1st Division, 5th army corps, General J. J. Bartlett, in two lines of battle, and the fight became general. Part of my skirmish line fought that of the enemy in the woods hand to hand, using the bayonet. I lost very heavily in this charge, Captain Bradish, a most gallant officer, being killed, Captain Stanway severely wounded in the arm at the very muzzle of a rebel gun, and Adjutant Raymond wounded in the foot while carrying orders from myself along the line. From this time out, for eight successive days, we were either in a fight or skirmish, losing more men in killed and wounded each day, including our charge at Allsop's Farm' on Sunday, the 8th, where my loss was severe, bringing but twenty-three men out of the fight.

"Our work has been very severe, marching and fighting continually, the changes of