4th Michigan Infantry Regiment
The monument to the Fourth Michigan Infantry is on De Trobriand Avenue near with Sickles Avenue at the south end of the Wheatfield. (See map)Dedicated by the State of Michigan on June 12, 1889, it is roughly at the site where Colonel Jeffords was mortally wounded.
The Regiment was commanded by Colonel Harrison H. Jeffords until he was mortally wounded on July 2nd. Advanced into the Wheatfield, the 4th was attacked from both front and flank, and in its sudden retreat the colors were dropped. Seeing them on the ground about to be claimed by advancing Confederates, Col. Jeffords plunged into the melee with a handful of men. The conflicting accounts testify to the chaos of the desperate hand-to-hand fighting, and to this day it is not known whether the colors were captured, saved, or torn to shreds in the struggle. Colonel Jeffords was mortally wounded, one of the few men and the highest ranking individual to die by the bayonet in the war.
Lieutenant Colonel George W. Lumbard took over command of the regiment after Jeffords fell.
< last The Wheatfield Tour next > From the front of the monument: "
4th Michigan Inftry.
2nd Brig. !st Div. 5th Corps.
Participated in 53 skirmishes and general engagements from Bull Run Va. July 21st 1861 to Appomattox Va.
April 8th 1865
From the rear:
Mustered in at Adrian Mich.
June 20th 1861.
Veterans consolidated with
First Mich. Infantry June 30th 1864.
Total enrollment 1325 officers and men
. Killed in action - officers 8 - men 115.
Died of wounds - officers 4 - men 50.
Died of disease - officers 1 - men 95.
Total 273.This monument marks the location held by the regiment July 2nd 1863.
Present for duty - 27 officers - 376 men - total 403.
Killed 1 officer 24 men. Wounded 9 officers 55 men. Missing 1 officer 75 men. Total 165.
Colonel Harrison H. Jeffords fell mortally wounded at this point.
Thrust through with a bayonet in recapturing the colors of his regiment.
'From his bosom that heaved,
the last torrent that was streaming,
and pale was his visage,
deep marked with a scar.
And dim was that eye,
once expressively beaming,
that melted in love,
and that kindled in war.
The Regiment was commanded by Colonel Harrison H. Jeffords until he was mortally wounded on July 2nd. Advanced into the Wheatfield, the 4th was attacked from both front and flank, and in its sudden retreat the colors were dropped. Seeing them on the ground about to be claimed by advancing Confederates, Col. Jeffords plunged into the melee with a handful of men. The conflicting accounts testify to the chaos of the desperate hand-to-hand fighting, and to this day it is not known whether the colors were captured, saved, or torn to shreds in the struggle. Colonel Jeffords was mortally wounded, one of the few men and the highest ranking individual to die by the bayonet in the war.
Lieutenant Colonel George W. Lumbard took over command of the regiment after Jeffords fell.
< last The Wheatfield Tour next > From the front of the monument: "
4th Michigan Inftry.
2nd Brig. !st Div. 5th Corps.
Participated in 53 skirmishes and general engagements from Bull Run Va. July 21st 1861 to Appomattox Va.
April 8th 1865
From the rear:
Mustered in at Adrian Mich.
June 20th 1861.
Veterans consolidated with
First Mich. Infantry June 30th 1864.
Total enrollment 1325 officers and men
. Killed in action - officers 8 - men 115.
Died of wounds - officers 4 - men 50.
Died of disease - officers 1 - men 95.
Total 273.This monument marks the location held by the regiment July 2nd 1863.
Present for duty - 27 officers - 376 men - total 403.
Killed 1 officer 24 men. Wounded 9 officers 55 men. Missing 1 officer 75 men. Total 165.
Colonel Harrison H. Jeffords fell mortally wounded at this point.
Thrust through with a bayonet in recapturing the colors of his regiment.
'From his bosom that heaved,
the last torrent that was streaming,
and pale was his visage,
deep marked with a scar.
And dim was that eye,
once expressively beaming,
that melted in love,
and that kindled in war.