11th Michigan Infantry

11th Michigan Infantry Regiment

Term of Service: September 24, 1861-September 30, 1864
Allegiance: Union
Type: Infantry
Disbanded: September 30, 1864
Organization: Second Brigade (Stanley), Second Division (Negley), XIV Corps (Thomas)
Selected Engagements:
Battle of Chickamauga
Battle of Missionary Ridge
Battle of Kennesaw Mountain
Siege of Atlanta
Siege of Nashville
Commanders:
Col. William L. Stoughton
Lt. Col. Melvin Mudge

History:
The Eleventh Michigan Infantry was commanded by Colonel Stoughton and was placed at Crawfish Springs on the afternoon of September 18th. On the night of the 18th many men from the regiment were sent out to chop down and burn girdling’s, which gave away Union movements. Around 3 o’clock in the afternoon on September 19th they were ordered to move to Rosecrans’ Headquarters a Widow Glenn’s. At 4 o’clock a charge was lead against the rebels, The Brigade drove everything in front of them across Brotherton Fields to Lafayette Road. The fire fight continued until dark. 

On Sunday, September 20th when Negley’s Division was ordered to Thomas’ assistance, and Wood’s Division was ordered to fill the space Negley’s Division had left open, Stoughton had realized Wood did not move as directed and left a gap. Stoughton quickly gave the order to about face and charge back to the position they had just left. With enemy pushing on the line it was a race to the barricade the regiment had built the night before. The Eleventh Michigan gained to line but the enemy was still coming. Two more regiments had joined them and the enemy was driven back with heavy losses. The Brigade again started left about 1 ¼ miles. Upon reaching the left of Baird’s Division the Eleventh Michigan and the Eighteenth Ohio extended nearly to Lafayette Road. The enemy began to skirmish and when they arrived within twenty feet of Stoughton’s line, Stoughton gave the order to fire. The enemy fled and the Brigade pursued them through the woods over 330 yards and across McDonald’s field. They captured hundreds of prisoners, one of them being Brigadier General Daniel W. Adams. The Eleventh Michigan was made up of about 250 men.

Author: Renee Giesler, March 16, 2015