6th Regiment, Michigan Heavy Artillery

Brief History
The 6th Regiment, Michigan Heavy Artillery was organized at Kalamazoo, Michigan and was mustered in August 20, 1861. The Regiment was mustered out August 20, 1865 and discharged at Jackson, Michigan, on September 5, 1865. The Regiment was recruited for the Infantry arm of the service serving as such until July, 1863, when General Banks converted it into a Regiment of Heavy Artillery.

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


 * The Civil War Archive section, 6th Regiment Infantry and Heavy Artillery, (accessed 20 July 2012).
 * The Wikipedia article, 6th Regiment Michigan Volunteer Heavy Artillery, (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 2,963 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.

Company A - Many men from Kalamazoo County and Calhoun County - see Roster

Company B - Many men from Berrien County - see Roster

Company C - Many men from Kalamazoo County - see Roster

Company D - Many men from Cass County - see Roster

Company E - Many men from Calhoun County - see Roster

Company F - Many men from Washtenaw County - see Roster

Company G - Many men from Allegan County - see Roster

Company H - Many men from Eaton County - see Roster

Company I - Many men from Calhoun County - see Roster

Company K - Many men from Berrien County and Cass County - see Roster

Unassigned Company - Many men from Jackson County - see Roster

See Rosters, as there were men from many different Counties in these Companies

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.


 * Bacon, Edward. "Among the Cotton Thieves" (Detroit: Free Press Steam Book and Job Printing House, 1867). Digital copy. Digital Copy.. Other Libraries.


 * Lanman, Charles. "The Red Book of Michigan: A Civil, Military and Biographical History". (Detroit: E.B. Smith &amp; Co, 1871) Pages 333-336. Digital copy. . Other Libraries.