The Iron Brigade were defeated at Antietam in early September 1862. Of the soldiers that fought at Antietam, about 348 of the 800 men became casualties. One in every four Union soldiers and one in every three Confederates became casualties at Antietam. The Iron Brigade was shattered in numbers and need new soldiers to join their brigade. As September turned into early October, new soldiers would be arriving.
From Washington D.C. and their encampment training, the 24th Michigan was on the move. As they traveled westward through Maryland towards Antietam, they passed through Middletown, Maryland, on October 7th.
On October 8, a day later, they joined the Iron Brigade. The 24th Michigan Infantry brought approximately 1030 soldiers into the brigade. They were commanded by Col. Henry A. Morrow and joined the ranks of the “black hardy hats” brigade. Training continued through October and they sensed a new battle upcoming as they marched towards Fredericksburg. At Fredericksburg between December 11th to December 15th, the 24th Michigan was still the new regiment with barely no experience. Their job was successful however as they captured a nuisance horse artillery battery south of town. This attack of some sort is not mentioned or shown in any battle maps for Fredericksburg. However, it was costly as well. Looking at the Roll of Honor for the 24th Michigan, it seems there were a few killed and wounded taking that nuisance battery. At least six soldiers from the regiment were killed in the attack. Let’s remember them here:
- Company B – Private David Reed – (1842-1862) – Buried at Fredericksburg National Cemetery
- Company I – Private Louise Hattie – (1844-1862) – First in the regiment to be killed
- Company K – James R. Erving – (1844-1862) – Buried at Fredericksburg National Cemetery
- Company K – 2nd Lieutenant David Birrell – (1838-1862) – Decapitated by a Confederate shell
- *Company K – Private John Litogot – (1835-1862) – Buried at Fredericksburg National Cemetery
- Company K – Sergeant Wright W. Wallace – (1844-1862) – Decapitated by a Confederate shell
There is a cool connection from the Civil War to present day activities with Private John Litogot’s family. He enlisted with his brother Barney on August 14, 1862, shown above. Barney survived the battle, but John passed away at Fredericksburg. John is buried at Fredericksburg National Cemetery. Private Barney Litogot would continue to fight with the 24th Michigan and made his way to Gettysburg losing a few fingers, but surviving the battle. He was mustered out in June of 1865 as a sergeant and returned home to Southeast Michigan.
John and Barney had a younger sister named Mary. Their sister married a wealthy farmer in Greenfield, Michigan in 1861. That farmer was no other than William Ford. Their oldest son was born in 1863 and never met John Litogot. Mary Litogot Ford had a son and his name was Henry. Yes, you guessed it, Henry Ford. This lad was the bright and enterprising young man that became world famous producing the automotive industry.