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JULY 1, 1863
The 24th Michigan Infantry, a member of the famed Iron Brigade, engages advancing Confederate forces at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. In savage fighting, the 24th suffered 80 percent casualties—the greatest loss of any northern regiment in the war's most dynamic battle. Other Michiganians distinguished themselves throughout the war. When the First Michigan Infantry arrived in Washington, D.C., in May 1861—the first western regiment to reach the northern capital—President Abraham Lincoln reportedly exclaimed, "Thank God for Michigan." On May 10, 1865, defeated Confederate President Jefferson Davis was captured by Colonel Benjamin Pritchard and the Fourth Michigan Cavalry. By that time, more than 90,000 Michigan men, and at least one woman disguised as a man, had served in the Union armies and approximately 15,000 of them had lost their lives.
- Learn more about Michigan's role in the Civil War:
Contact the Michigan Historical Center.
Updated 06/23/2011
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