Howland's Independent Company, Michigan Engineers

Brief History
Howland's Independent Company, Michigan Engineers was organized at Battle Creek, Michigan, September 16, 1861. It was mustered out January 8, 1862.

For more information on the history of this unit, see:


 * The Civil War Archive section, Howland's Company Engineers, (accessed 20 July 2012)


 * The Wikipedia article,Howland's Company Michigan Volunteer Engineers, (accessed 20 July 2012)

For a history of this regiment see Michigan in the Civil War Websitewhich gives a brief history, places served, battles fought, commanders and company rosters.

Companies in this Regiment with the Counties of Origin
The Civil War Soldiers and Sailors database lists 58 men on its roster for this unit. Roster.

Men often enlisted in a company recruited in the counties where they lived though not always. After many battles, companies might be combined because so many men were killed or wounded. However if you are unsure which company your ancestor was in, try the company recruited in his county first.

Many men in this company from Calhoun County - see Roster

Other Sources

 * Beginning United States Civil War Research gives steps for finding information about a Civil War soldier. It covers the major records that should be used. Additional records are described in ‘Michigan in the Civil War’ and ‘United States Civil War, 1861 to 1865’ (see below).


 * National Park Service, The Civil War Soldiers and Sailors System, is searchable by soldier's name and state. It contains basic facts about soldiers on both sides of the Civil War, a list of regiments, descriptions of significant battles, sources of the information, and suggestions for where to find additional information.


 * Michigan in the Civil War describes many Confederate and Union sources, specifically for Michigan, and how to find them. These include compiled service records, pension records, rosters, cemetery records, Internet databases, published books, etc.


 * United States Civil War, 1861 to 1865 describes and explains United States and Confederate States records, rather than state records, and how to find them. These include veterans’ censuses, compiled service records, pension records, rosters, cemetery records, Internet databases, published books, etc.