Service
The 17th Michigan Infantry was organized at Detroit, Michigan, between August 8 and August 22, 1862. Most of the soldiers in the regiment were from south-central Michigan, and Company E was composed largely of students from Michigan State Normal College, today known as Eastern Michigan University. They trained at Fort Wayne under their first commander, Colonel William H. Withington, until August 27, when they left for Maryland.
At the Battle of South Mountain, Maryland, on September 14, 1862, the regiment saw its first major action. Although they took heavy casualties, the 17th performed well for an untried unit and earned the nickname "Stonewall Regiment". Three days later, they participated in the Battle of Antietam as part of the 1st Brigade, 1st Division, IX Corps.
The regiment was mustered out of service on June 3, 1865.
Eight men from the regiment were awarded the Medal of Honor:
- Private Frederick Alber, Company A, Battle of Spotsylvania Court House, May 12, 1864
- Private Joseph E. Brandle, Company C, Lenoire Station, Tennessee, November 16, 1863
- Corporal John A. Falconer, Company A, Fort Sanders, Knoxville, Tennessee, November 20, 1863
- Private Andrew J. Kelley, Company E, Knoxville, Tennessee, November 20, 1863
- Sergeant Daniel McFall, Company E, Battle of Spotsylvania Court House, May 12, 1864
- Corporal Irwin Shepard, Company E, Knoxville, Tennessee, November 20, 1863
- Lieutenant Colonel Frederic W. Swift, Lenoire Station, Tennessee, November 16, 1863
- Sergeant Charles A. Thompson, Company D, Battle of Spotsylvania Court House, May 12, 1864
Captain Christian Rath of the 17th Michigan acted as the executioner at the hanging of four people convicted of involvement in the assassination of President Lincoln: George Atzerodt, David Herold, Lewis Powell, and Mary Surratt.
Read more about this topic: 17th Michigan Volunteer Infantry Regiment
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