As the new host of 4thMichigan.Com, I would like to take this opportunity to thank David Prince for the untold hours that he has spent in creating and maintaining this website for the past seven years. His devoted effort to telling the story of the Fourth Michigan Volunteer Infantry has brought this website to the forefront of those sites dedicated to Civil War regiments.
In November of 2007, Dave allowed me, George Wilkinson, the honor to continue on with that great privilege and responsibility. As both a collector and historian of the Fourth Michigan Volunteer Infantry, I know the importance of sharing the history of this great regiment. A history that is not only a memorial to those men who bled under her banner on war-torn battlefields, but also to those who, bedridden in disease, perished before glory could call on them. Lest we forget the future they fought for, we in the present, should look back to the past.
In order to uphold the integrity of that history in an honest account, I have solicited the talents of many of my good friends who have agreed to join the ranks as members of the board of consultants that will serve this site.
Our Staff
George Wilkinson, web-host, historian and owner of an extensive collection of original Fourth Michigan Infantry items, military image consultant
David Prince, living historian, website technician, and historical consultant
Marty Bertera, living historian, author of three books pertaining to the Fourth Michigan, expert with regard to the history and roster of the Fourth Michigan Infantry
Janine Delcamp, living historian, very knowledgeable of the Fourth Michigan Infantry and the burial sites of her men, uniform and period clothing consultant, and collector of Fourth Michigan reunion items
Dale Niesen, military image researcher and historical consultant
Meri Schoof, genealogist, website editor, uniform and period clothing consultant, and devoted researcher of the flags of the regiment
4th Michigan company D on Picket Duty
George Wilkinson Collection
(This photo cannot be reproduced without permission from George Wilkinson)
History of the Fourth Michigan Volunteer Infantry
4th Michigan Volunteer Infantry Battle flag
Michigan State Archives "Save the Flags" Collection
"On 21 June 1861 the regiment received its first flag from the ladies of Adrian who had sewn the legend "The Ladies of Adrian to the 4th Regiment--Defend It" on the flag. "While I have the honor to command these brave men, while my life shall be spared, the flag shall never be surrendered to the foe," promised Colonel Dwight Woodbury. At Malvern Hill, 1 July 1862, Woodbury was killed and this flag reduced to tatters. The netting shows the shape of the original flag" - from Michigan Historical Museum Website
Chancellorsville, Virginia
The recorded conversation between Generals Meade and Griffin at Chancellorsville concerning the "4th Michigan Infantry Volunteer Regiment".
Gen. Meade: "Have you placed your regiments in position general?"
General Griffin: " I have!"
Gen. Meade: " But are they troops on whom you can depend?"
Gen: Griffin: "General they are Michigan Men!"
Gen. Meade: "But will they hold their ground?"
Gen Griffin: "Yes General!, THEY WILL HOLD IT AGAINST HELL!"
as noted in the diary of Pvt. John Houghton
4th Michigan Infantry Co. K
Bentley Historical Library Collection
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Fourth Michigan Infantry Soldier's Photographs
Below is one of our newest additions
William Harvey Thomas
4th Michigan Co. A (Re-organized)
(William Thomas Collection)
The State Archives of Michigan has given' me permission to publish several original photographs of the "4th Michigan Volunteer Infantry". ( These photographs have been provided for personal and scholastic use and cannot be used for any commercial endeavors. Please contact the State Archives of Michigan for any other usage)
New Memorabilia
John Ransom Moore
4th Mi. Co. I
(Died in the Battle for the Wheatfield July 2, 1863 - Gettysburg, Pa.)
John Ransom Moore's Photograph, War Pension, & Death Voucher
(Anita Crabtree Collection)
Albert Boise's Brown Book cover sheet
(Notice the organizations that he belonged to.)
George Wilkinson Collection
Added 07/22/07
New book about the 4th Michigan
All proceeds go to the Hudson Historical Museum in Hudson, Mi. The museum houses one of the largest collections of 4th Mi. memorabilia.
The purpose of this site is to honor those brave souls & their heirs who fought with the 4th Michigan Infantry Regiment during the War Between the States or the United States Civil War.
I have also started on this historical adventure because the histories of the Michigan Regiments that participated in The Civil War have been greatly ignored. Michigan sent one of the largest contingent's of regiments to serve the Union during the Civil War. By war's end over 46 regiments from Michigan would fight in the Civil War. Over 90,000 men from Michigan fought for the Union. This was 50% of the eligible male population of the State of Michigan at the time of the United States Civil War. This was the largest percentage of men from any one state, Union or Confederate to fight in the Civil War! The 4th Michigan Infantry Regiment was the only Regiment in the Civil War to have more men die from actual battle than from disease. 4th Michigan Volunteer Infantry has over 40 photographs of identified 4th Michigan infantry troopers. please click on our photograph page to view these Cabinet cards, C.D.V.S, ambrotypes, and photographs. There are several additional photographs throughout the website.
The 4th Michigan.com has been listed in the updated and revised edition Of "The Civil War on the Web". I would like to thank all of those who have contributed to the 4th Michigan Infantry Regiment. You've made it one of the top 400 civil war websites on the web. To the authors of "The Civil War on the Web", Alice E. Carter and Richard Jensen, I'm honored by your recognition.
Recently we have added several new pages to 4th Michigan Volunteer Infantry . Com. Their links are below;
4th Michigan in Periodicals 1861 - 1866
New updates 07/22/07
4th Michigan Volunteer Infantry Rolls
Updated 11/26/2007
Images of the Fourth Michigan Volunteer Infantry Troops 1861-1866
Updated 011/21/07
I would like to take a moment to give a special thanks to all those who have shared their heritage and love of history making the 4th Michigan .Com what it is today. Some these individuals are Marty Bertera author of 4th Michigan Infantry at Gettysburg, Karen Jania of the Bentley Historical Library, Steve Roberts who is a descendant of the Seages, Lynn Bryant, George Wilkinson historian working with the city of Dexter, MI., Linda Cruz descendant of Chester Plummer, Hope Mc Gokey descendant of Harrison Daniels, Dale Niesen scholar on Michigan soldiers who fought in the Civil war, Janine Delcamp friend and supporter, Meri Schoof another friend and confidant, Don Harvey of Michigan in the War, my wife Camille and children Matt, Katie, and Allison without their patience this endeavor wouldn't have come about, the 4th Michigan Co. A Reenactment Group, several others un-named, and all those individuals I have the opportunity to reenact the civil war with. Please recognize the amount of work these individuals have done. Again thank you all for your contributions to this site - Dave Prince
This is an informational website not a commercial site. All the information that is provided by the 4thmichigan.com is for educational and reference purposes. The history of the 4th Michigan Infantry needs to be told. The 4thmichigan.com is ever working towards that goal. These letters, diaries, and pictures are protected by all copyright laws. These documents are being published with the permission of the owners and any commercial use of these written documents and the contents of this page and website is strictly prohibited without written permission from these individual and institutions.
(Please remember several individuals have kindly allowed these pictures to be added to this site. They have worked very hard identifying these pictures. It is also an extremely expensive endeavor, so please don't copy any of these photos without permission from the individual owner.)
( Each page has a midi file attached to it. If you don't want to listen to it just hit your escape button and it will stop playing)
Built and Maintained by George Wilkinson with consultation from David Prince
Contact George Wilkinson at; 4thMichigan.com
Last update November 26th, 2007