The Twenty-sixth was organized at Jackson and mustered into service Dec. 12, 1862, with an enrollment of 900 officers and men.

The field, staff and line officers at organization were as follows:

Colonel, Judson S. Farrar, Mt. Clemens. Lieutenant Colonel, Henry H. Wells, Detroit. Major, William O. Donnell, Saginaw. Surgeon, Ennis Church, Marshall. Assistant Surgeon, Mahlon H. Raymond, Grass Lake. Second Assistant Surgeon, Odney D. Brooks, Muskegon. Adjutant, Charles D. Fox, Lyons. Quartermaster, Charles E. Crane, Adrian. Chaplain, Jonathan Blanchard, Ann Arbor.

1. A. Captain, L. Edwin Knapp, Grand Traverse. First Lieutenant, George H. Holden, Grand Rapids. Second Lieutenant, Sewell S. Parker, Monroe.
2. B. Captain, Stephen B. Burch, Pinckney. First Lieutenant, Washington W. Burch, Ann Arbor. Second Lieutenant, Lucius H. Ives,. Pinckney.
3. C. Captain, James A. Lothian, Muskegon. First Lieutenant, Henry Dopson, Muskegon. Second Lieutenant, Chauncey Gibbs, Muskegon.
4. D. Captain, Lafayette Church, Arcadia. First Lieutenant, Nathan Church, Arcadia. Second Lieutenant, William S. Turck, Alma.
5. E. Captain, John C. Culver, Hamburg. First Lieutenant, Edwin Hadley, Ann Arbor. Second Lieutenant, Charles E. Grisson, Hamburg.
6. F. Captain, Lemuel Saviers, Franklin. First Lieutenant, Edmond Richardson, Adrian. Second Lieutenant, Morris Roberts, Tecumseh.
7. G. Captain, Asa G. Dailey, Niles. First Lieutenant, William L. Cady, Dayton. Second Lieutenant, Lawrence D. Burch, Ann Arbor.
8. H. Captain, John H. Sayers, Mason. First Lieutenant, Eli P. Loran- ger, Williamstown. Second Lieutenant, Henry V. Steele, Mason.
9. I. Captain, Earl W. Avery, Lowell. First Lieutenant, Joseph Wilson, Lowell. Second Lieutenant, Leonard H. Hunt, Lowell.
10. K. Captain, Franklin Johnson, Jackson. First Lieutenant, Frank Standish, Jackson. Second Lieutenant, David H. Patterson, Grass Lake.

The regiment left Jackson for Washington, D. C., the day after it was mustered into service and upon arrival was assigned to provost duty at Alexandria, Va.

In April, 1863, the Twenty-sixth proceeded to Suffolk, Va., and from that point joined in several expeditions against the enemy, in which it gave evidence of its future splendid record. The regiment returned to Yorktown July 11, and was then ordered to duty in New York City during the excitement and riots attending the draft.

Having performed this important duty to the entire satisfaction of its officers, the Twenty-sixth joined the Army of the Potomac in October and was assigned to the First brigade, First division, Second corps. The brigade was then commanded by General Miles and the corps by General Hancock.

The regiment took part in all the movements of the Army of the Potomac and gained the reputation of being the best skirmish regiment in the army, and was often selected to precede the division to come in contact with the enemy, and thereby took part in many hazardous advances.

After its engagement at Mine Run the regiment returned to Stevensburg in December, 1863, and then went into winter quarters.

It crossed the Rapidan with General Grant’s army May 4, 1864, and was soon engaged in a series of battles that followed from the Wilderness to Petersburg. The Second corps, of which the Twenty-sixth formed a part, was in the severest and deadliest engagements of the campaign.

On the nth of May the Twenty-sixth made a reconnaissance across the Po river and gallantly attacked the enemy, losing three killed and fifteen wounded in the sharp encounter. The next day it participated in the historic charge near Spotsylvania upon the confederate works, which were carried at the point of the bayonet in a hand-to-hand struggle, the Twenty- sixth being one of the first regiments to plant its colors on the rebel works. Jumping over the works, a battery of two guns, with the gunners, were captured, but the regiment swept along the enemy’s lines for a mile, taking a large number of prisoners, guns and colors, but suffered severely from the terrific fire of the enemy. The loss in this engagement was 27 killed, 98 wounded and 14 missing. Most of the missing were afterward ascertained to be killed. This charge was made by the Twenty-sixth after an all night’s march in a storm, reaching its position in the line to make the assault just as the Union lines moved forward in the charge. It was near where the Twenty-sixth fought that an eye-witness certifies that a tree 22 inches in diameter and 61 inches in circumference was cut down by minnie balls, and the tree fell within the Confederate lines, injuring several men.

After the battle of Spotsylvania the Twenty-sixth moved to and crossed the North Anna river over Jerico bridge on the 24th, where it was attacked with heavy loss, though the regiment drove the Confederates into their works. The march of the Twenty-sixth carried it across the Pamunka on the 28th to Hawe’s Shop and then to Tolopotomy Creek, and it arrived at Cold Harbor June 2.

The regiment made a desperate charge on the Confederate works at Gaine’s Mills across an open field, meeting with severe loss. It was continually under fire for ten days, meeting with many casualties, but arrived at James river the 14th, where it crossed at Wilcox’s Landing, and arrived before Petersburg the 16th and immediately joined in the assault upon the Confederate works and carried the enemy’s rifle pits, but with considerable loss.

The regiment took part in the siege of Petersburg, being constantly under fire of the enemy, and fought gallantly at Deep Bottom, July 27, and 28, and the brigade of which the Twenty-sixth was a part, captured four pieces of artillery and a large number of prisoners. It was engaged, during the siege, at White Oak Swamp, Weldon R. R., Ream’s Station and at Forts Steadman and Hancock.

When General Grant commenced his flanking movement around Petersburg and Richmond, the Twenty-sixth with the Second corps took an advanced and active part and was on the skirmish line when General Lee surrendered to General Grant at Appomattox. It was through the lines of the Twenty-sixth that the flag of truce was sent by General Grant to General Lee when the terms of surrender were made. In this movement from Petersburg to Appomattox Court House the Twenty-sixth was engaged with the confederate forces at Hatcher’s Run, Boynton Plank Road, White Oak Road, Amelia Springs, Deatonsville, Sailor’s Creek, High Bridge and Farmville. During this march the regiment captured more than 400 prisoners while the regiment had only 250 men when the movement commenced, 60 of whom were killed or wounded before General Lee surrendered.

The regiment was complimented several times in general orders by its brigade, division and corps commanders for the gallant work it did, and had the distinction, when the confederates laid down their arms, of being detailed to remain on the field while the army of General Lee was being paroled, and assisted in parking the captured artillery.

May 3d the regiment proceeded to Richmond, Va., and then to Washington, D. C., when it arrived on the 13th and took part in the grand review of the Army of the Potomac May 23. The regiment was mustered out of service at Bailey’s Cross Roads, near Washington, June 4th, and started for Jackson, Mich., where it was paid and disbanded June 16, 1865.

The regiment was engaged with the enemy at the siege of Suffolk, Va., April 22 to May 14, 1863; Windsor, Va., May 22, 1863; Mine Run, Va., November 29, 1863; Wilderness, Va., May 5, 6, and 7, 1864; Corbin’s Bridge, Va., May 8, 1864; Ny river, Va., May 9 and 10, 1864; Po river, Va., May 11, 1864; Spotsylvania, Va., May 12, 13, 14, and 18, 1864; North Anna, Va., May 24, 1864; Tolopotamy, Va., May 30 and 31, and June 1, 1864; Cold Harbor, Va., June 2, 3, 1864; Petersburg, Va., June 16 and 17, 1864; Weldon Railroad, Va., June 22, 1864; Deep Bottom, Va., July 27 and 28, 1864; Strawberry Plains, Va., August 14, 17, 1864; White Oak Swamp, Va., August 16, 1864; Ream’s Station, Va., August 25, 1864; Peeble’s Farm, Va., March 25, 1865; Hatchet’s Run, Va., March 29, 1865; Boydton Road, Va., March 30, 31, 1865; White Oak Road, Va., March 31, 1865: Sutherland’s Station, Va., April 2, 1865; Amelia Springs, Va., April 5, 1865; Deatonsville, Va., April 6, 1865; Sailor’s Creek, Va., April 6, 1865; High Bridge, Va., April 7, 1865; Farmville, Va., April 7, 1865; Appomattox Court House, Va., April 9, 1865; siege of Petersburg, Va., from June 17, 1864, to April 3, 1865.