4,872 Germans in Michigan Regiments.

[major bill]

I have been reviewing letters sent to me over the years and one from Michael A. Peake says that between 3,534 and 4,872 Germans served in Michigan Regiments. This is about 5% of the 90,000 Michigan soldiers. This seems like a rather small number and I have to wonder if Mr. Peake only counted those born in Germany and excluded ethic Germans.

 

[JPK Huson 1863]

I have been reviewing letters sent to me over the years and one from Michael A. Peake says that between 3,534 and 4,872 Germans served in Michigan Regiments. This is about 5% of the 90,000 Michigan soldiers. This seems like a rather small number and I have to wonder if Mr. Peake only counted those born in Germany and excluded ethic Germans.

Does Pat Young have any information on it? Given their unbelievable presence through the war, it does seem very small. Yes- wonder which troops Peake defines as German?

 

[GELongstreet]

@Pat Young

 

[major bill]

Michigan's pre war militia had a very high number of German companies. Many of these German companies joined regiments at the start of the war so it would seem that after the first few months few Germans joined the Army from Michigan. This just seems wrong and it is something I would need to study.