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Michigan Second Regiment Infantry
November 24, 1863
The
regiment is mentioned in connection with the operations at Knoxville
on the 24th in the "Rebellion Record" as follows:
November
24th Skirmishing commenced early and briskly on our left front this
morning. The rebels had gained a hill and thrown up rifle pits near
the round house during the night. The 48th Pennsylvania and 21st
Massachusetts, during the morning, charged the pits and driving the
rebels out at the point of the bayonet, covered the trenches and
returned to their own with a loss of two killed and four wounded. On
our left, for some hours, the fire of the sharp shooters was quite
hot from a house above the rebel trenches. The 2d Michigan charged
there also in the most gallant manner and drove the rebels back. A
fierce and bloody engagement ensued with great loss on both sides,
our boys remaining in possession of the works which they obliterated,
and fell back.
From the New York Tribune:
"About
8 o clock AM, November 24th, General Ferrero, acting under orders,
sent forward the 2d Michigan to charge the enemy's rifle pits and
drive them out. The regiment was sustained by our batteries as long
as it was safe to fire over the heads of our men. They went down the
long slope ,over the fallen trees, and through the debris in front,
upon the double quick, attacking, driving out the rebels from their
pits and occupying them for about half an hour, fighting hand to hand
with the rebels over the impalement. They met, however, a whole
brigade, and being overpowered sent back for reinforcements. Meantime
Adjutant Noble and Lieutenant Galpin were killed, and Major Byington
was badly wounded, Lieutenant Zoellner mortally besides a large
number of men. The Major, seeing that the effort to hold the place
was fruitless. ordered his men to retire. He was immediately made a
prisoner."
The
extreme suffering from cold and hunger of Burnside's army at
Knoxville was without a parallel in the whole war. Following is a
memorandum of an inspection of one brigade which unquestionably
represented the condition of Burnside's entire army at that time:
Regiments in the brigade: Second Michigan Infantry, One Hundredth Pennsylvania, Tewentieth Michigan Infantry, Seventh Michigan Infantry, Provost Guard
Without
undlothing: 374
No
shoes: 386
No
blankets: 65
No
overcoat: 471
No
tents: 218
No
socks: 657
No
pantaloons: 295
No
coats: 186
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