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Preferred Citation

Civil War Diary of William Johnston, 8th Michigan Infantry, Accession #11149, Special Collections Dept., University of Virginia Library, Charlottesville, Va.

Acquisition Information

The Johnston collection was a gift to the Library from Mr. Rex A. Wood of Lakeland, Florida, on June 3, 1994.

Scope and Content Information

This collection consists of 7 (seven) items: a diary (May 4--June 20, 1864) and letter (October 23, 1864) of William Johnston (December 9, 1839--May 23, 1916) of Waterloo, Michigan, a Union Army soldier stationed in Virginia during the Civil War while a member of Co. K, 8th Michigan Volunteer Infantry. The diary summarizes the regiment's participation in battles and skirmishes during the Union's Army of the Potomac's 1864 spring campaign against the Confederacy's Army of Northern Virginia (the Wilderness, Spotsylvania Court House, North Anna River, Cold Harbor, and Petersburg) which eventually culminated in the siege and capture of Petersburg and Richmond. His letter (with envelope) is addressed to his future wife, Miss Sarah Ann Wicks (May 8, 1841--May 21, 1911), also of Waterloo, in which he discusses camp life and personal matters.¹ Also present are five electrostatic copies of genealogical, marriage and birth information (from a family bible?) concerning the Johnston and related families and, a poem (published) "To The Gallant Eighth, Of Michigan."

The 8th Michigan was formed and organized at Grand Rapids in August 1861 and mustered into federal service at Fort Wayne, Detroit, in September 1861. Subsequent to the events discussed in Johnston's diary it saw combat in Kentucky, Mississippi, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia. During the period covered by the diary the regiment was part of the First Brigade, 1st Division, 9th Army Corps, Army of the Potomac. 2

After June 20, 1864 (Johnston's final diary entry) the 8th Michigan continued to participate in the Army of the Potomac's siege of Petersburg and was among Union forces which finally occupied the city in April 1865. The regiment was mustered out in July 1865. According to the marriage certificate, Johnston and Sarah Ann Weeks were married on February 13, 1865, in Jackson County. Michigan. As of 1892 William Johnston was a resident of Bunker Hill, Michigan. 3

Diary Transcript "The diary of William Johnston during the Civil War. Rex`s great grandfather."

(May 4th 1864)

We left our camp at Warington [Warrenton] Junction Va. to day and marched to Raphanoc Station [Rappahannock] a distance of 12 miles and arrive thier [there] at 3 p.m. was put into the fortifications un tell [until] the army shold [should] get across the river our train and artilery [artillery] went on ahead of the troops and was fired into by some rebels our Brigade was ordered into line and advanced one mile but found nothing and returned for the night had to lay on thiers [their] arms all night

(May 5th 1864)

We left Rapahanoc [Rappahannock] at 7 a.m. and marched 20 miles it being very warm it wored [worried?] us some we crossed Lick Creek [Licking River] on the Dam and it being very narow [narrow] and slipery [slippery] the Cornel [Colonel Frank Graves] and Hors [horse] sliped [slipped] in and came near drowning. 4 halted for Coffe [coffee] near the Rapadon [Rapidan River] Crossed the Raphadan [Rapidan] and stopped for the night forced(?) miles from thier [there] at five P.M. for it was nearly as far as we told ? we heard hard fighting about two miles from us We had orders to lay on our arms that night it was the ground rebels camped on the night before [Battle of the Wilderness]

(May 6th 1864)

We was [ordered] out at 3 a.m. in a hurrah [hurry] not giving us time to get our coffe [coffee] they marched us right to the front where they Shoat [shoot] prety [pretty] carles [careless] we laid their [there] tell [until] 11 a.m. when our Brigade was [ordered] in to make our mark and Regiment Charged over their lines of our men and [took?] two lines of rifle pits from the enemy but cold [could] not hold for the reson [reason] that support did not folow [follow] up and we had to fall back we lost heavy in that charge [lost our?] Cornel [Colonel Frank Graves] 5 one Captain killed one Capt[ain] lost his leg and four Lieutenants [wounded] the total lost of the Regiment is 11 killed, 84, [wounded?] 24 missing we charged three times on the enemy`s works we captured in the first charge one hundred prisoners it has been one of the most hard fought Battles of the war the line of battle was over ten miles long and hard fighting all along the line I saw 13,000 prisoners that was taken on the right in the morning by some other Corps the enemy was drove in every point to day it was a sight to see the [wounded] Come back to the rear but it is the far [fate] of war night closed the tide of Blood [ Battle of the Wilderness]

(May 7th 1864)

The day opens quiet rather a lucky disappointment to the boys our Regiment lay in front of the enemy now firing but skirmishing the [afternoon?] that the enemy is moving in some other direction we get ready to move at sundown did not move till 12 P.M.

(May 8th 1864)

We left the Battlefield last night at 12 P.M. and marched all the rest of the night it was tideous [tedious] and trying to the eyes halted for coffe [coffee] at sunrise for half an hour and then started in the direction of Fredericksburg passed over the old Chancerville [Chancellorsville] Battlefield and rested a while the sight [site] was a hard one the ground was covered with graves and the bodeyes [bodies] was only covered with lieves [leaves] and a light covering of dust and that was roated [rooted] up and the bones was scatered [scattered] all around and it selt [smelt] bad we marched 18 miles to day and [stopped] for the night and drew six days rations & was up all night drawing rations

(May 9th 1864)

We marched at 4 a.m. and marched six miles whare [where] we was halted some signs of the enemy in our front skirmishers was thrown out at 9 a.m. we engaged them and we a very hard Battle bet we clear them captured some prisoners drove the enemy to day about two miles and throwed up Breastworks got up all our [wounded] and kill and laid thirr [there] all night [Battle of Spotsylvania]

(May 10th 1864)

We still in front of the enemy prety [pretty] hard fighting to the right of us all day but nothing but picket firing in our front geting [getting] ready for another fight

(May 11th 1864)

The Regiment advanced half a mile last night with out much [aspirations?] and throwed up rifle pits nothing but picket firing in our front to day the Corps fals [falls] back to draw the enemy and did not draw them much prety [pretty] good news General [Winfield Scott] Hancock toke [took] 7,000 prisoners 42 pieces of canons [cannon] and 20 stand of Colors from the enemy on our right today it has rained all day

(May 12th 1864)

It rained all night and we laid out and takes the Corps moved back and a general engagement was brought on we drove the enemy one and half mile to thrie [their] works but could not drive them any farther we charged on [their] works several times but was repulsed with a heavy loss on boath [both] sides the rebels fight disperate [desperate] for it is thier [their] last hold one Regiment lost six killed 50 wounded and 17 missing we held one and half mile more ground when night Closed the Battle then we did in morning We tok [took] some prisoners it is considered that the hardest Battles has been fought here sens [since] the war begin old [Ulysses S.] Grant is bound to win it has rained all day [Battle of Spotsylvania]

(May 13th 1864)

Every thing is quiet on boath [both] sides we are buisy [busily] taking care of our [wounded] and killed and [driving] stragilers [stragglers] to [their] Regiments it has been the quietest day sens [since] we got to the front it has rained all day.

(May 14th 1864)

Every [thing] is quiet in our [front] only picket firing to let each other know that hostilities ain`t ceased it still continues to rain.

(May 15th 1864)

We are still in front of the enemy nothing but picket firing in our front we throw a shel [shell] once in a while we drew five days rations to day it still continues to rain.

(May 16th 1864)

We still lay in front of enemy we can see each other and shoot at the same we are geting [getting] tired of laying stili I think we shall soon have a chance to show our mussel [muscle] we keep getting good reports but don`t believe them all it rains to day.

(May 17th 1864)

Everything quiet in front of us except picket firing fighting all around us the Boys are in the best of spirits feel as though we wold [would] like a mail ain`t had one for 28 days heard a paper read today of the fourteenth the first we have sean [seen] for as I don`t Know when this is the Bigest [Biggest] fights the world has ever heard of two armys [armies] of so gigantick [gigantic] size fighting for 14 days and know [no] signs of it ending.

(May 18th 1864)

Nothing new to day our canon [cannons] opens prety [pretty] livly [lively] and the rebs reply heavy fighting on our right [Spotsylvania Campaign]

(May 19th 1864)

We moved with the Corps to the right of the armey [army] in a compleat [complete] wilederness [wilderness] of pine trees it is a kind of a flank movement I shold [should] say we are building rifle pits we drew five day rations.

(May 20th 1864)

We are still in the pines we hear good news a[nd] mail at Corps Head Q[uarters] was ordered up at 4 a.m. we expect an attack the regiment was sent out on picket and a[nd] we advance and pickets 80 roads [rods] a[nd] sharp fire kept up on boath [both] sides one man killed while relieving the picket.

(May 21st 1864)

The regiment was relived from picket at 4 a.m. and came in from the front for the first time in 16 days then feel glad to get a chance to wash and rest 8 a.m. got orders to move we packed up and lay thare [there] [till] 4 p.m. when we moved out to the [enemy`s] Right in the direction of Bowling Green and marched all night it was a hard march for the Reg[iment] bing [being] up all [through] night before on picket. [Editorial note: The following sentence has a line drawn through it by the diarist: "We got to Bowling green at 8 a.m. where we got Coffe and then started"]

(May 22nd 1864)

8 a.m. we got to Bowling green [Bowling Green] whare [where] we staped [stopped] for the night cold [could] hear fighting in the distance the day has been sultry and hot.

(May 23rd 1864)

We started at 4 a.m. and marched all day and got up with the enemy to right found them on the south of the Pamunkey [River] nothing but a heavy line of skirmishers on the north [side] and Reg[iment] was ordered to support a Batery [Battery] to night considerable fighting till 9 P. M. [Battle of North Anna River]

(May 24th 1864)

Hard fighting all day across the river [North Anna] not many hurt mostly canonading [cannonading] and men Crossed on the right and left we drew five days rations.

(May 25th 1864)

We are still fighting the Johneys [Johnnies], the Company is supporting a batery [battery] the boys went out beyond the pickets and brought in a cow and Horr [Horse] and some of the fethered [feathered] tribe and we had a splened [splendid] pot pie out of the Johnes [Johnnies] chickens it rained all day.

(May 26th 1864)

Considerable canonading [cannonading] to day all on one side we can`t get the rebs to open thires [their] baterries [batteries] is probly [probably] weakened and they are not going to let us know whare [where] they are we got orders to move at 4 P.M. drew five days rations for 6.

(May 27th 1864)

We moved at five a.m. and quietly with drew our pickets and made another flank movement on the rebs right flank marched all day and tell [until] 12 P.M. when we stoped [stopped] for rest.

(May 28th 1864)

Commenced our march at 6 a.m. and it has been another hot day we passed over the Pammunkey [Pamunkey River] and went into camp for the night at 12 P.M. 15 miles from Richmond.

(May 29th 1864)

We moved into position but found know [no] enemy was ordered out on picket changed positions to the left Considerable firing on our right had another pot pie from the rebs hens the country through hear [here] is pleasant and rich the people has plenty.

(May 30th 1864)

Our Regiment is on reserve heavy fighting in our front 5 P.M. we are put on picket picket firing all night we had to turn [out] three times by the allarms [alarms] of pickets firing.

(May 31st 1864)

The Reg[iment] being on picket was of corse [course] in the advance the lines was ordered to advance and our Reg[iment] had to take the lead of the Charge They drove the rebs into [their] works we lost some killed and some [wounded].

(June 1st 1864)

Was relieved from picket and supported the skirmish line fighting all day 4 P.M. the rebs made a charge on us was repulsed with a heavy loss fighting all night [Battle of Cold Harbor]

(June 2nd 1864)

Our right moves to the left 3 miles the rebs army around to they come on our flank and a disperate [desperate] fight [ensued?] lasted tell [until] 8 P.M. when we repulsed them it rains all night [Battle of Cold Harbor]

(June 3rd 1864)

We made the attack this morning drove them from their pits and held them one Reg[iment] lost heavy in the charge [Battle of Cold Harbor]

(June 3rd 1864)
[second entry for this date]

Our Regiment Charged and crossed a field 100 roads [rods] long and drove the rebs from [their] pits we lost one Major [W. Ely Lewis] 6 and one Capt[ain] [wounded] [Battle of Cold Harbor]

(June 4th 1864)

We are still in the pits and everything is quiet [though] rebs evacuates from our front we have ordors [orders] to move at 4 P.M. moved two and half miles to the left near the Mccanicks Road [Mechanicsville Road] and went into the rear pits two lines being ahead of [ours] everything looks as though we was getting near Richmond the rebs make a slight charge in our front at 6 P.M. was repulsed nicely our men likes to [?] than charge on us when we are in pits the boys thinks we soae [show?] them fast we can hear fighting as far as we can hear

(June 5th 1864)

General Grant Issued ordors [orders] that to day is the first day of the Siege of Richmond we moved to the second line of pits the whole army is fortifying as far as I can learn throwing up protections against the enemy fire the Johnys [Johnnies] makes a heavy Demonstration on our lines last night at 9 P.M. but was repulsed with a heavy loss of 1,500 killed and left on the field in front of our pits [their] [wounded] must have been twice that number

(June 6th 1864)

Capt[ain] was appointed Major [Charles H. McCreery?] 7 and went to Head q[uarters] of the Reg[iment] and he take me with him thier [there] has been fighting all day all along the lines as far as we can hear and still we keep to work fortifying and strength our lines Building forts and mounting siege Guns [there] was a flag of truce granted last night for the rebs to Burry [bury] [their] Dead that killed yeasterday [yesterday]

(June 7th 1864)

We are still in front of the rebs [yet] and expect to be for awhile. firing is kept up all the time 3 P.M. the rebs [sprinkles?] us with considerable shels [shells] but dont do much harm the way our lines runs they have cease fire on us that is on our Corps we lay in the shape of a hors shoe [horseshoe] the boys is in fine spirits for they never have had the Chance to fight behind breast works [breastworks] before and they all say let them come and I think they mean it

(June 8th 1864)

Nothing has occurred more than usial [usual] we are still pecking away at the Johnys [Johnnies] and they at us we are Building a large fort on the right of our Regiment 4 P.M. the Reg[iment] moved into the first line of pits

(June 9th 1864)

Was up last night at 12 P.M. and take a pot of Coffe [coffee] to Capt[ain] he was in Charge of the boys to work of the fort the rebs Charge on the fort while I was thier [there] but did not get in everything is the same to day

(June 10th 1864)

We are still in the same position skermish [skirmish] firing is all [?] [?] we exchange a few Canon [cannon] shots with them

(June 11th 1864)

Nothing has occurred to day more than usial [usual] skermish [skirmish] firing is all that is going on in our front with the exception of a little Canonading [cannonading] on boath [both] sides how much damage we do them I cant say by our Shels [shells] at least they dont doe much damage to us for we have ourselves two well protected even the Cooks Horslers [hostlers?] and Generals and staff holes [hold] themselves on such occations [occasions] as this for we are fighting prety [pretty] close [together] our skermish [skirmish] line ain`t over twelve roads [rods] apart we hear of a mail coming to night we all expect to hear from home I am afraid some will be disappointed the question aires [are] wether [whether] it will be my self the mail is sorted and it a large one I dont get but [few?] feel disappointed [disappointed] dont get one from whore [where/home?] I expected one I reads them and Burnt two of them with disgust the other two I shall answers towmorow [tomorrow] dont feel well to night something about the mail I got [as?] didnot that ails me I dont Know wich [which] I think shall take a heavy dose of [salts] before going to Bead [bed] goes to Bead [bed] [early] thinking I shal [shall] fell [feel] better in the morning I will let you know if I doe [do]

(June 12th 1864)

Gets up early and fell [feels] as [though] I should get around in a few days if I dont get a [relapse]. everything the same in front it is fine wether [weather] and the boys fells [feels] well we have laid hear longer than we have sens [since] we left Annapolis Md. [Maryland]. 8 Come to think about at it is Sunday and when I think how much diferance [difference] between Sunday in the Army and Sunday at home whare [where] everything is quiet and peicable [peacable] whare [where] a person can chose [choose] his on [pleasure] for the day without being Shot at or curtailed by some surely [surly] official or place on Guard as picket or drawed up in line of Battle for to kill his fellow being [or] get his one head side to look seams [seems] as though thier [there] was but one ask ourselves at and that is Home but then when sea [see] the point what we enlisted for we can plainly one and put up and are wiling [willing] to dispense with the other we hear prety good News Old Abe [Abraham Lincoln] is Nominated [June 8, 1864] for the next President the army is [unanimous] on the question they are all going for Old Abe [there] is know [no] use of them looking any further 2 P.M. we get orders to move at 6 P.M. whare [where] we dont know and ain`t supposed to know.

(June 13th 1864)

8 A.M. we stoped [stopped] for Coffe [coffee] within 2 mils of White House [Landing] laid [there] tell [till] 12 P.M. got Coffe [coffee] [?] and started for [Harrison`s Landing] a distance of 18 miles marched tell [until] 12 P.M. when we got ordors [orders] to halt and kill Beef and Cook it it has been a prety [pretty] hard march to day but it is all for the Union

(June 14th 1864)

We again take up the line of march at 3 A.M. Crossed the Chickahominy [River] twice and stoped [stopped] for Caffe [coffee] one hour and then Marched tell [until] 4 P.M. when we stoped [stopped[ for Caffe [coffee] again of 30 minutes and then March tell [until] 7 P.M. whare [where] we Camped for the night near the James River 3 miles below Harrison`s Landing it has been a long march a distance of 26 miles and under a scorching Sun

(June 15th 1864)

Laid still all day and prety [pretty] sill [still] to get ordors [orders] to March at 9 P.M. and we marched at [that?] time we Crossed the James and marched all night up the river a distance of 18 miles it has been one of the hardest mights work I have done in long time

(June 16th 1864)

After Marching all night and tell [till] 8 A. M. we stoped [stopped] for Caffe [coffee] and marched on all day heavy canonading [cannonading] in the direction of Petersburg we got up with the Enemy near Petersburg at 5 P.M. We have marched to day 20 miles and found it hot as usial [usual] and Regiment is place in the front again thier [there] is a big show for a fight hear [here]

(June 17th 1864)

The ball opened last night and our men drove them with a heavy loss to the Johneys [Johnnies] Captured this morning 6 pieces of artillery and 600 prisoners and till we [keep] advancing hard fighting all the Afternoon we lost one Lieut. [First Lieutenant Thomas Campbell] 9 kiled [killed] and Several [wounded] [Petersburg Assault]

(June 18th 1864)

The fighting still goes on we drive the rebs one mile Boath [both] Sides loss heavy we [section of sentence is missing due to document damage, approximately 4 words] their pits [word missing due to document damage] the Petersburg and Northfolk [Norfolk and Petersburg] R.R. [Railroad] and held our Regiment lost heavy in to days fight

(June 19th 1864)

Our Regiment was relieved from the front to day everything is quiet to day Except picket firing wich is Kept up on boath [both] sides

(June 20th 1864)

We still lay in the woods and throw up work to [protect] the men from the Enemy's Shels [shells] not much firing to day 7 P.M. we got ordors [orders] to move to the right one and a half miles we moved and relieved the 2 Corps Considerable firing when we relived the Pickets

[END OF DIARY]

Letter Transcript "Letter from Grandpa Johnston to his lover [Sarah Ann Wicks] while in the Civil War" [envelope] "Miss Sarah Ann Wicks/Present" [small envelope with embossed tassels on reverse]

Head Qrs 8th Mich[igan] V[eteran] V[olunteer] Inft.
Camp Near Poplar Grove C[ourt] H[ouse] 10
Sunday Evening Oct. 23rd/64>lb/>

Good Evening
Dear Anne
Yours of the 13th was received and read with much pleasure to day if found me in the very best of Health and spirits [was?] glad to learn that you was still [gay?] and [fresh?] as Ever

I am this pleasant Sunday evening situated in Camp and everything is bespeaking God`s praises and my mind is wafted Back to home and I dream while writing this that I am thier [there] with the one I Love and it almost becomes real instead of a fancy how pleasant it is to converse with Each other through the medium of the Pen and paper [yes?] call it a [?] Language I shall beg leaf [leave] to [digress?] for I think it is the brightest Language that can be used it not only [illuminates] the mind but it Set the Soul on fire with that Love that neither darkness nor anything but death can [quench]--

We have been in this camp one week we have Everything Stocked up Large cabins and in fact we as comfortable but how long we shall remain so I cant say but I dont suppose it will be long for we have indication of an active movement soon it is [getting] prety [pretty] cool weather now we have had several Frosts hear [here] already and we expect some more [ ? ]

Tell Sister Jane that she must [answer] it or [Else] I shall cast her out of my Books for Ever and [ever] tell Your Father to give my best regards to all the Folks in [New?] York state that I know

I shall beg leave to [be] excused from the invitation next Sunday and [please] Except my thanks for the same also give my regards to all of the company and to Your Self my best wishes that You may have a good time

You said that the Folks was anticipating on having the Soldiers [home?] next spring I hardly think in the spring but I shall be disappointed if we dont get home sometime in the Summer at any rate keep up good courage the time is fast becoming Nigh when we can [enjoy] each others company and wont that [be] a [joyful] day to many but in the meantime let us hope for the best it has been almost a [year] since we parted it dont [seem] but yeasterday [yesterday] or last Night that as Lovers we parted time passes quickly I think half the time has Elapsed that we shall [come?] home to stay from thoes [those] Dear ones we left at home when we look back on the past 10 months and sea [see] the dangers that has [Fraught?] our paths we have [traveled] we almost cry [impossible?] but we Soldiers never look back on the past--

Well Sarah you think you Cant leave Mama to go to [Minnesota] or at least [you] dont give a definite Answers what does the Bible say [you] shall leave Papa and Mama for what I know it dont say anything about going to [Minnesota] that was understood, Now I shall answer this Question you asked me if I intend to go down [there] I do not intend to as yet though I Cant tell what I may [do] in years to come I only [Bought] it for to speculate on and not for to make a farm that was far from my mind at the time I purchased it so I dont think you will have to leave Papa and Mama for so long a [trip?] for I think my self it would be a great undertaking and we so young I just got letters from my cousin in [New] York state She was [married] only short time [ago] she says if I was at home She [would] come and [see] me as She ain't much to do this winter only to visit I also got letters from Mrs Garny [?] as part of one She writes as folowes [follows] ["]Sarah A[nn] is well they dont say anything lately about you and Sarah not much sens [since] you left Some asked me if [I] thought it wold [would] make a good match but She dont say wether [whether] She told them her opinion or not I [rather?] think She didnot ["]

Now Sarah as no one has Said what [their] opinion is I will take the liberties to state that it is my opinion it will if the war dont [bust] the County and [?] us poor Soldiers [?] that is if [?] [?] he saves enough to [buy] some [fiddle string] by boring [borrowing?] enough to pay the Elders[?]--Dear [ ? ] they cant find out can they I dont think anyone knows but [your?] folks not even Mine it has [frazzled/puzzled?] them considerable if it had of been some of the whole of Waterloo [a city in Jackson County, Michigan] [would] have known it before this time

Well Anne you wanted to Know [?] what was doing I am [2 unintelligible words?] H ? at 350 dollars per week I just stated it to day it is the camp Mess I have been running all summer only I have taken it by the [job?] to finish Everything I can to have one man to help me so I have had all the time things as prety [pretty] high as [?] cold [could] make a nice profit by it I shall make some any way--

Well Anne as I shall Long to Close for this time pleas [please] give my regards to yr. [your] folks and the rest and ever hoping soon to meat [meet] bee [be] a good Girl and write often to the one the will ever bee [be] [true?] to that Nights [promise?] before we parted [Safe?] [?] for the End is nigh is the words of your faithful Lover

pleas dont
say anything
to Mrs. Garny
what I wrote
for she might
not like it

William Johnston
Comp. K. 8th Mich. V. V. Infantry
1st Brig. 1st Div. 9th A. C. Washington D. C.

Notes

1 Frederick H. Dyer, A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion , (New York: Thomas Yoseloff, 1959), vol. III, 1285; Adjutant-General`s Office, Official Army Register of the Volunteer Force of the United States Army for the Years 1861, '62, '63, '64, '65, 9 Parts (Washington; Adjutant-General's Office, 1967; reprint, Gaithersburg, Md.: Ron R. Van Sickle Military Books, 1987), part 5, Ohio, Michigan, 305-306.

2 Wells B. Fox, What I Remember of The Great Rebellion (Lansing, Michigan: Darius D. Thorp, 1892), 13; Mark M. Boatner III, The Civil War Dictionary (New York: David McKay Company, Inc., 1959), 192.

3 Dyer, Compendium, vol. 3, 1285; Fox, What I Remember of The Great Rebellion, 237.

4 This incident is confirmed in Fox, What I Remember of The Great Rebellion, 53.

5 Official Army Register, part 5, 306; Fox, What I Remember of The Great Rebellion, 54-55.

6 Official Army Register, part 5, 306.

7 Official Army Register, part 5, 305.

8 The 8th Michigan was stationed at Annapolis for reorganization until April 23, 1864. Boatner, Civil War Dictionary, 192; Dyer, Compendium, vol. 3, 1285.

9 Official Army Register, part 5, 306.

10 Mathews County, Virginia? Calder Loth, ed. The Virginia Landmarks Register, 3rd ed. (Charlottesville: University Press of Virginia, 1986), 269. The 8th Regiment participated in the battle of Poplar Grove Church on October 27, 1864. Fox, What I Remember of The Great Rebellion, 149.