24th Michigan Infantry Regiment, Civil War Shirt

The 24th Michigan Volunteer Infantry Regiment was organized in Detroit in less than thirty days, and mustered into Federal Service on August 15, 1862. Two weeks after its formation, the 24th was moved to Washington, D.C., and attached to the Defenses of Washington, D.C.. A month after that, it was attached to the famous Iron Brigade of the 1st Army Corps with the Union's Army of the Potomac, before being moved to Maryland and then Virginia. That December, the 24th advanced on Falmouth, Virginia, and also fought at the Battle of Fredericksburg. In January of 1863, the 24th took part in Maj. Gen. Ambrose Burnside's abortive 'Mud March' offensive. Throughout the rest of early 1863, the 24th was stationed at Belle Plain, Virginia. In early May it fought in the Chancellorsville Campaign, including the Battle of Chancellorsville itself, and also conducted operations at Pollock's Mill Creek. The 24th fought in the Gettysburg Campaign for six weeks in June-July 1863, and suffered more casualties at the Battle of Gettysburg than any other Union regiment. From the Regiment's Monument at Gettysburg, dedicated in 1888: "Went into action with 496 officers and men - Killed & mortally wounded 89 - Otherwise wounded 218 - Captured 56 - Total casualties 363 - Five Color Bearers were killed and all the Color Guard were killed or wounded". Engraved on the stone block position marker for the 24th Michigan Infantry on Culp's Hill: "24th Regiment Michigan Volunteer Infantry Iron Brigade. Of the 496 men who went into battle on July 1, 1863, 99 answered roll call here on the morning of July 2 - 3 1863." The Regiment assisted in the three-week pursuit of Confederate General Robert E. Lee to Manassas Gap in Virginia, and throughout the remainder of the War took part in nearly every single campaign and battle the Army of the Potomac fought in, including the Battles of the Wilderness, Laurel Hill, Spotsylvania, Jericho Mills, Cold Harbor, Bethesda Church, and the Siege of Petersburg, where the 24th Regiment was down to only 120 men remaining. The Regiment was assigned to the Northern Department in Springfield, Illinois, in February, 1865, and was not able to be present at the Appomattox Court House, but would be selected to serve as escort at the funeral of President Abraham Lincoln. The 24th was mustered out of service on June 30, 1865.