Letters

Col. Humphrey

Battle of Seven Days

"In pursuance of orders from brigade headquarters the Second Regiment Michigan Volunteer Infantry under command of Major Dillman took up its line of march from Camp Lincoln early in the morning of June 29th, marching to the rear of the camp, down the saw mill road until we reached an open field that had been occupied by General Couch’s Division as a camping ground. Here the regiment was halted. Two companies, E and H, were then thrown forward to a light breastwork at the edge of the woods, and covering the road down which we had marched from our camp. Three companies were sent back to the saw mill to act as vedettes on the roads leading from our old camp to the position we then occupied, also to throw out scouts to watch the movements of the enemy. The other five companies where held in reserve. After 2 p.m., the companies C, F, and K, at the saw mill, were ordered to draw in their vedettes and scouts, and join the regiment, which in turn was ordered to join the brigade, then stationed behind the earthworks to the rear of us. As soon as these orders were executed the regiment moved on the road towards Jordan’s Ford, but before reaching the forks of the road where Kearny’s and Hooker’s Division where to separate, the artillery broke the column, dividing the regiment, four companies A, B, D, and G, taking the road to the right towards the ford, which they crossed about 4 p.m., and were soon after engaged in a warm skirmish with the enemy’s pickets, who were found pretty strongly to dispute the passage of another ford (name not known) beyond Jordan’s. It was soon deemed impracticable to attempt to force a passage, and the troops were ordered to recross Jordan’s Ford. The companies of the Second Regiment, A,B,D, and G, were ordered to hold the enemy in check until the recrossing of the ford was accomplished by the rest of the troops, when they were to fall back and bring up the rear of the division, which order was fully executed. The other six companies took the road to the left, followed it as far as the saw mill in front of Crittenden’s Ford, when finding they were on the wrong road, they retraced their steps, took the road towards Jordan’s Ford and reached it just as the division was recrossing. They at once joined the column and marched with it across and some two miles beyond Bracket’s Ford and encamped for the night. June 30th. – This morning the companies of the regiment reunited, and the regiment joined the brigade, and all were marched to a position some distance to the front of where we had encamped for the night. Soon after we changed our position to the left and rear, on the expected battlefield, and at once formed in column of division, to the right of the open field; soon we were ordered to a position further to the right. From here we marched to the front, and were placed in position to support the Twentieth Indiana Regiment, who were holding a slightly constructed rifle pit, formed by hurriedly throwing together loose rails. We joined the Twentieth Indiana in the pit about 3 p.m. and with them held it under a galling fire from our front and left flank until the battle ended. As soon as the firing ceased and the enemy had drawn from the field, we received orders to throw out pickets in front of the rifle pits to observe the movements of the enemy. The line was at once formed and a sharp lookout kept by all, for the enemy was observed to be on the alert, and about midnight quite a force was seen filing along their lines towards our right. From a number of colors seen this force consisted of at least twelve regiments. From their cries for their comrades, we ascertained that the wounded from at least twenty-four of the enemy regiments lay on the battle-field within talking distance of our position. July 1st.—At 2 a.m. we were ordered to call in our pickets and march at once. We were soon on the road and about 5 a.m. reached Haxall’s Landing on the James river. After a short rest we were marched up to the right and front of the line, then being formed to meet a threatened attack of the enemy. On reaching the ground we, with the rest of the brigade, were placed in position to support our batteries, that were now playing on the enemy’s advancing columns, or replying to a fierce fire from his batteries. We reached this position about 9 a.m. and remained here until 12 m. During the whole of this time the shot and shell from the enemy’s guns were incessantly flying over our heads and through our ranks. At 12 m. we were drawn back under shelter of the hill, where we remained until again ordered to march. July 2nd. – A little past midnight and we were again marching and taking the road down the river, reaching the camp (Harrison’s Landing) of the army about 9 a.m. I omitted to mention in the proper connection that Major Dillman was carried to the rear at 12 m., July 1st. He was obliged to go, from the excessive labor and fatigue of the last few days. By order of Brigadier General Berry I at once assumed command of the regiment.

Battalion Order No.30

"Headquarters Second Michigan Infantry, Lebanon, Ky., April 25th, 1863. Battalion Order, No. 30 I. Having been commissioned by the Governor of the State of Michigan as Colonel of the Second Michigan Infantry, I hereby assume command of the regiment from this date. II. Fully aware of the responsibility of the position, it is only assumed with a firm trust in the ready and hearty support and co-operation of all, both officers and men, in the measures adopted for the maintenance and increase of the present superior efficiency and discipline of the regiment. And this trust will not be misplaced. Officers and men who have stood without reproach the fiery ordeal of Yorktown, and Williamsburg, and Fair Oaks, and Glendale, and Malvern Hill, and Bull Run, and Chantilly, fields that have made our Kearny immortal, enshrined his name in the hearts around our home hearthstones, will not disappoint the high hopes their uniform valor has inspired. Soldiers of the Second, your past history is unsullied, your present standing high; your future conduct must add new luster to your past. Then when this war is ended and you shall have returned to the enjoyment of your homes it will be with an honest pride that you can say, I, too, was of the Second Michigan Regiment. WILLIAM HUMPHREY Colonel Second Michigan Infantry" Official: Wm. Noble, Adjutant.

Concerning Battle of Jackson Miss.

" At 5 a.m. I was ordered by Colonel Leasure, commanding the brigade, to deploy my regiment as skirmishers on the left of the skirmish line of the First Brigade --- to keep my connection with it perfect --- to be guided in the movement of my line strictly by those of the regiment on my right, and to advance until I drew the fire of the enemy’s artillery. I at once deployed my regiment as directed, and moved forward, meeting with only slight opposition from the enemy until about six o’clock, when he opened a brisk fire along my whole line. We had come up to the enemy strongly posted in front of my right on a deep water course and on my left in a heavy woods. For an hour a brisk skirmish was kept up. The enemy made a determined resistance, but was gradually forced back towards his support. At 7 a.m. the order came down the line from the right to ‘Forward! double-quick!’ The men at once advanced with a cheer, drove in the enemy’s skirmishers through their camps and into their reserves, strongly posted in a deep ravine, charged and broke the reserve and drove it up out of the ravine into it’s main support, drawn up in line of battle on the top of the south bank of the ravine, charged under a hot fire of musketry and artillery up the steep bank against the main body, broke this line, and drove the enemy within his works. We waited now for our support to come up, but on sending for it were surprised to find we had none. The regiment on my right, for some reason unknown to me, advanced but a short distance, then fell back to the line left by it a few moments before. By some mistake the three companies (C, F, and H), on my left did not advance with the rest of the regiment in this charge, which was made with about 170 men. Fifty of these, almost one-third, had fallen. The enemy was being reinforced and we were entirely without support, with no connection on the right and no troops on our left. Thus situated, to hold for any length of time the ground we had so dearly won would be impossible. I therefore put my men under cover of the bank of the ravine through which we had advanced, within twenty yards of the enemy’s works, and held the position until the wounded were carried to the rear, and then following the movement of the regiment on my right, fell back to the line from which we had advanced an hour before. Headquarters Second Michigan Infantry, In front of Jackson, Miss., July 13th 1863

Battalion Order No.__ (Jackson Miss.)

"Headquarters Second Michigan Inantry, In front of Jackson. Miss., July 13th, 1863. Battalion Order, No. __ With a grateful pride I congratulate the officers and men of the regiment who participated in the engagement of the morning of the 11th inst. Opposed by a greatly superior force, strongly posted and strongly supported, you obeyed with alacrity the order to "forward, double quick," and though deployed as skirmishers, your daring, audacious impetuosity carried you against and broke the solid line of battle of the enemy, and drove him in confusion behind his works and under cover of his artillery. This achievement you may well claim as among the most brilliant of the war. For a skirmish line, entirely without support, with no connection either on the right or left to charge an enemy drawn up in line of battle, drive him into his works, and charge those, is an unparalleled undertaking and undertaking as audacious in conception as it was brilliant in execution. A State, proud of the many gallant deeds of her gallant sons, will thank you for this added lustre to her already brilliant page in the war history of the Union. For comrades fallen we mourn. But they fell nobly, in the front, with their faces to the foe, leaving a bright example of daring deeds worthy of our highest emulation. WILLIAM HUMPHREY Colonel Commanding Regiment."

Concerning Troop Transfer from the 27th to 2nd Mich.

2nd Mich Inftry Mount Clemens March 31 64 Sir: Yours of yesterday was rec'd last evening and contents noted. Your proposition in regard to filling up my regiment I understand to be as follows: Capt E.L. March is to be Lieut. Colonel Capt P. Perrine to be Major Then four (4) full companies are to come into my regiment--fully officered except the captaincies of two of them to be assigned to your Regt and the vacancies to be filled by two of my Captains. Further you propose to bring in with the unassigned men a number of second lieutenants. In consideration of the above you guarantee to me five hundred (500) recruits with strong prospects of six hundred (600). That is, you turn over to my regt all the men that have been recruited in the state under your supervision with the exception of those already assigned to your reg't. With the above understanding of your proposition I accept it. I shall have however to consolidate my own regiment into 6 companies. When this is done there will be three (3) vacant second lieutenancies. .... Please write to me at Annapolis on the receipt of this that I may make the necessary arrangements.... Col. Humphrey

To see the origian click on Page 1 or Page 2 This is a letter from Humphrey to Fox on the same subject of receiving over 500 men from the 27th in accordance and as an exchange men from the 27th Michigan would get commisions. Both these came direct from the regimental files in the military history branch of Nat'l Archives in Washington DC.

To see the origian click on Page 1 or Page 2This is a letter from Fox to Humphrey on the same subject of receiving over 500 men from the 27th in accordance and as an exchange men from the 27th Michigan would get commisions. Both these came direct from the regimental files in the military history branch of Nat'l Archives in Washington DC.

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