A young man who was living in Dexter, Michigan, learned that the Michigan regiment was forming near his hometown. In April 1861, he was practicing law, and he had read in the newspapers of the Civil War beginning at Fort Sumter. He would enlist as a First Lieutenant commander of Company K, at the young age of 24 years old. The nickname for the Company was the “Dexter Union Guard” under the command of Captain Alexander D. Crane.
Harrison Jeffords would view the commanding officer of the 4th Michigan be given a regimental flag by the ladies of Adrian. Between 1861 and the beginning of 1863, the flag was was shot at during battle and was littered with bullet holes and was damaged. On March 12, 1863, Captain Harrison Jeffords was promoted to Colonel of the 4th Michigan. Between March and May of 1863, Colonel Jeffords was on furlough and he went back home to Michigan. When he was there, he saw the ladies that gave the regimental flag before they left for Washington D.C. Jeffords was able to obtain a new regimental flag for the 4th Michigan and he promised the ladies to fend for the flag with his life.
When the unit was moving from Maryland to Pennsylvania, Col. Jeffords’s diary stated that the entire regiment gave a “Wolverine” cheer as they crossed the border. On July 2nd, the Michigan regiments would see their soldiers battle the Confederates near the Peach Orchard and Wheatfield. The 4th Michigan would be no exception.
The 3rd Michigan had fought earlier in the afternoon, but fell back as the skirmishers were pushed back by the Rebels. The 1st Michigan retreated with Tilton’s Brigade towards the wood-line between Trostle’s Farm and the Wheatfield. Colonel Philippe DeTrobriand’s brigade was the resistance and the 5th Corps was pushed back from the enemy’s soldiers. A new Confederate assault was being started and the 2nd Corps under commander Union general Caldwell. Union commander found a 5th Corps brigade commanded by Colonel Jacob Sweitzer. He had three regiments underneath him, and they were forming a new battle line along the similar position as earlier in the afternoon. One of them was the 4th Michigan and they fought for their lives against the Confederate advancing forces.