Most regiments consisted of farmers, students, laborers, merchants, lawyers, butchers, doctors, and whomever that could fire a gun. This regiment was just like the others, however, they believed in a slightly different agenda. Most Union regiments were fighting for freeing slaves in the southern states. The 4th Michigan were patriots that were fighting for the truth and tradition. They were wanting to punish Southerners for being traitors.
The 4th Michigan wore Zouave uniforms. They were different than most uniforms that the Union had. This regiment was organized in the southern countries in Michigan, near Adrian. When they got onto the railroads to get to Detroit, over 1000 soldiers and officers were in the regiment. They arrived into Washington D.C. on July 2nd, 1861, and then joined the 2nd and 3rd Michigan regiments.
4th Michigan Zouaves
The 4th had many commanders through the first three year enlistment. Their original commander was Col. Dwight Woodbury. He would only be their commanding officer for a year, because during the Peninsula Campaign between April and July 1862, he would be fatally shot on July 1, 1862. During the campaign, over 250 causalities occurred. Luckily, when Colonel Childs was promoted after Woodbury’s death, the regiment was held in reserves at Antietam in September 1862. However, prior to Fredericksburg, Col. Childs resigns in November. They would fight at Fredericksburg and have fourteen causalities during the four days of fighting in the middle of December. Things would change in 1863 with the new appointed colonel that rose within the ranks of the 4th Michigan.