The Civil War officially started with the bombing of Fort Sumter in April 1861. However, South Carolina succeeded from the Union in December 1860. Knowing this, the northern states started to let their governments know that they may have to raise regiments for war. In January 1861, the newly appointed Michigan governor, Austin Blair, vowed strong action to maintain the Union and punish session. With the Confederate attack on United States troops at Fort Sumter, multiple scenarios became reality.
President Abraham Lincoln signed Proclamation 80, which called for a Federal Union Army to fight the Confederacy on April 15th, 1861. The initial number was 75000 soldiers. The 1st Michigan Infantry was created on May 1, 1861. This regiment was the only three-month regiment from Michigan. It was commanded by Colonel Orlando Willcox, Lieutenant Colonel Loren L. Comstock, and Major Alonzo Bidwell.
Overall throughout the Civil War, over 30 regiments and 11 cavalry units were from Michigan. One of the regiments was the original 1st Michigan Colored Infantry Regiments then renamed the 102nd United States Colored Infantry Regiment had 1600 soldiers. The first battle that the 1st Michigan Infantry participated in was the battle of First Bull Run. With the repeated charges that the regiment made, two members of the 1st Michigan received the Medal of Honor: Colonel Orlando Wilcox and Captain William Withington.
The Honor Roll for Michigan throughout the Civil War is approximately 14855 soldiers. About 4450 soldiers died during combat. The others were from diseases.
Some of the most famous regiments within the Civil War from Michigan are the following:
- 16th Michigan
- Michigan Cavalry under George Custer
- 24th Michigan
Michigan was unique among the Northern States as instead of forming new units the state would send recruits to their units already in the field to be under the command of veteran officers and enlisted instead of the entire regiment being green.