≡ Menu

8th Michigan Infantry

Editor’s Note: Do you have information on this unit’s role at the Siege of Petersburg?  Please contact us using the Contact button in the menu at the top of the screen.  We are happy to exchange information with other researchers.

Muster In: Regiment organized at Grand Rapids and at Fort Wayne, Detroit, Mich., and mustered in September 23, 1861.1
Muster Out: Mustered out July 30, 1865.2

Commander(s):
Bvt. Colonel Ralph Ely
RalphEly8thMIv80p40053

Major Horatio Belcher
Commander Image

Major Richard N. Doyle
Commander Image

Captain John S. Freeman
Commander Image

Commander 5
Commander Image

First Offensive Order of Battle: First Brigade | Third Division | IX Corps | Army of the Potomac | Union Army4,5

Second Offensive Order of Battle: First Brigade | Third Division | IX Corps | Army of the Potomac | Union Army7,8

Third Offensive Order of Battle: First Brigade | Third Division | IX Corps | Army of the Potomac | Union Army11,12

  • Commander: Major Horatio Belcher (July 31, 1864)13
  • Unit Strength:
  • Weapons:

Fourth Offensive Order of Battle: First Brigade | Third Division | IX Corps | Army of the Potomac | Union Army14,15

  • Commander: Captain John S. Freeman (August 31, 1864)16
  • Unit Strength:
  • Weapons:

Fifth Offensive Order of Battle: First Brigade | First Division | IX Corps | Army of the Potomac | Union Army17,18

Sixth Offensive Order of Battle: First Brigade | First Division | IX Corps | Army of the Potomac | Union Army20,21

  • Commander: Lieutenant Colonel Ralph Ely (October 31, 1864)22
  • Unit Strength:
  • Weapons:

Seventh Offensive Order of Battle: First Brigade | First Division | IX Corps | Army of the Potomac | Union Army23

  • Commander: Brevet Colonel Ralph Ely (December 31, 1864)24
  • Unit Strength:
  • Weapons:

Eighth Offensive Order of Battle: First Brigade | First Division | IX Corps | Army of the Potomac | Union Army25,26

  • Commander:
    • Brevet Colonel Ralph Ely (January 31, 1865)27
    • Major Richard N. Doyle (February 28, 1865)28
  • Unit Strength:
  • Weapons:

Ninth Offensive Order of Battle: First Brigade | First Division | IX Corps | Army of the Potomac | Union Army29,30,31

  • Commander: Major Richard N. Doyle (March 31, 1865)32
  • Unit Strength:
  • Weapons:
  • Note: This unit is listed in the casualty returns for the Battle of Fort Stedman, March 25, 1865. However, the First Brigade is called out for having not been actively engaged, and the record shows no casualties.33

Dyer’s/Sifakis’ Compendium Info:
Siege of Petersburg Battles34:

  • Before Petersburg June 16-19.
  • Siege of Petersburg June 16, 1864, to April 2, 1865.
  • Mine Explosion, Petersburg, July 30, 1864.
  • Weldon Railroad August 18-21.
  • Poplar Springs Church September 29-October 2.
  • Reconnoissance on Vaughan and Squirrel Level Roads October 8.
  • Boydton Plank Road, Hatcher’s Run, October 27-28.
  • Fort Stedman, Petersburg, March 25, 1865.
  • Assault on and fall of Petersburg April 2.
  • Fort Mahone April 2.
  • Occupation of Petersburg April 3.

Bibliography:

    Siege of Petersburg Documents Which Mention This Unit:

    Sources:

    1. A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion by Frederick H. Dyer (Part 3) ↩
    2. A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion by Frederick H. Dyer (Part 3) ↩
    3. Ralph Ely image.  MOLLUS-Mass Civil War Photograph Collection, Vol. 80, Page 4005.  United States Army Heritage and Education Center, Carlisle, PA. ↩
    4. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XL, Part 1 (Serial Number 80), p. 230 ↩
    5. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XL, Part 2 (Serial Number 81), p. 550 ↩
    6. Volume 13 (Ordnance Returns for the Second Quarter, April-June, 1864); 8th Michigan Entry, Page 92; Summary Statements of Quarterly Returns of Ordnance and Ordnance Stores on Hand in Regular and Volunteer Army Organizations, 1862-1867, 1870-1876. (National Archives Microfilm Publication M1281, Roll 7); Records of the Office of the Chief of Ordnance, 1797-1969, Record Group 156; National Archives Building, Washington, D.C. ↩
    7. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XL, Part 1 (Serial Number 80), p. 230 ↩
    8. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XL, Part 2 (Serial Number 81), p. 550 ↩
    9. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XL, Part 2 (Serial Number 81), p. 550 ↩
    10. Volume 13 (Ordnance Returns for the Second Quarter, April-June, 1864); 8th Michigan Entry, Page 92; Summary Statements of Quarterly Returns of Ordnance and Ordnance Stores on Hand in Regular and Volunteer Army Organizations, 1862-1867, 1870-1876. (National Archives Microfilm Publication M1281, Roll 7); Records of the Office of the Chief of Ordnance, 1797-1969, Record Group 156; National Archives Building, Washington, D.C. ↩
    11. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XL, Part 1 (Serial Number 80), page 260 ↩
    12. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XL, Part 3 (Serial Number 82), page 734 ↩
    13. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XL, Part 3 (Serial Number 82), page 734 ↩
    14. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLII, Part 2 (Serial Number 88), page 617: “Organization of the Army of the Potomac…August 31, 1864” ↩
    15. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLII, Part 1 (Serial Number 87), page 127: “Return of Casualties in the Union Forces (August 1864)” ↩
    16. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLII, Part 2 (Serial Number 88), page 617: “Organization of the Army of the Potomac…August 31, 1864” ↩
    17. Sommers, Richard J. “Grant’s Fifth Offensive at Petersburg: A Study in Strategy, Tactics, and Generalship.  The Battle of Poplar Spring Church, the First Battle of the Darbytown Road, the Second Battle of the Squirrel Level Road, the Second Battle of the Darbytown Road (Ulysses S. Grant, Virginia).” Doctoral Thesis. Rice University, 1970. Print. p. 1301. ↩
    18. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLII, Part 1 (Serial Number 87), page 141: “Return of Casualties in the Union Forces (September-October 1864)” ↩
    19. Volume 15 (Ordnance Returns for the Third Quarter, July-September, 1864); 8th Michigan Entry, Page 87; Summary Statements of Quarterly Returns of Ordnance and Ordnance Stores on Hand in Regular and Volunteer Army Organizations, 1862-1867, 1870-1876. (National Archives Microfilm Publication M1281, Roll 7); Records of the Office of the Chief of Ordnance, 1797-1969, Record Group 156; National Archives Building, Washington, D.C. ↩
    20. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLII, Part 3 (Serial Number 89), page 462: “Organization of the Union Forces” (October 31, 1864)” ↩
    21. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLII, Part 1 (Serial Number 87), page 157: “Return of Casualties in the Union Forces…Boydton Plank Road, Va., October 27-28, 1864” ↩
    22. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLII, Part 3 (Serial Number 89), page 462: “Organization of the Union Forces” (October 31, 1864)” ↩
    23. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLII, Part 3 (Serial Number 89), page 1121: “Organization of the Union Forces” (December 31, 1864) ↩
    24. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLII, Part 3 (Serial Number 89), page 1121: “Organization of the Union Forces” (December 31, 1864) ↩
    25. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLVI, Part 2 (Serial Number 96), page 331: “Organization of the Union Forces” (January 31, 1865) ↩
    26. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLVI, Part 2 (Serial Number 96), page 745: “Organization of the Union Forces” (February 28, 1865) ↩
    27. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLVI, Part 2 (Serial Number 96), page 331: “Organization of the Union Forces” (January 31, 1865) ↩
    28. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLVI, Part 2 (Serial Number 96), page 745: “Organization of the Union Forces” (February 28, 1865) ↩
    29. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLVI, Part 1 (Serial Number 95), page 573: “Organization of the Union Forces” (March 31, 1865) ↩
    30. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLVI, Part 1 (Serial Number 96), page 70: “Return of Casualties in the Union forces at Fort Stedman… (March 25, 1865)” ↩
    31. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLVI, Part 1 (Serial Number 95), page 588: “Return of casualties in the Union Forces commanded by Lieut. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant, March 29-April 9, 1865” ↩
    32. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLVI, Part 1 (Serial Number 95), page 573: “Organization of the Union Forces” (March 31, 1865) ↩
    33. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLVI, Part 1 (Serial Number 96), page 70: “Return of Casualties in the Union forces at Fort Stedman… (March 25, 1865)” ↩
    34. A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion by Frederick H. Dyer (Part 3) ↩

    Tagged as: , , , , ,

    { 0 comments… add one }

    Leave a Reply

    Next post:

    Previous post:

    Search SOPO

    SOPO RSS Feed

    Subscribe to The Siege of Petersburg Online RSS Feed

    Links