The Michigan Brigade, also known as the Wolverines, the Michigan Cavalry Brigade, or Custer's Brigade, was a group of cavalry soldiers in the Union Army during the second half of the American Civil War. It was mainly made up of the 1st Michigan Cavalry, 5th Michigan Cavalry, 6th Michigan Cavalry, and 7th Michigan Cavalry. This unit participated in all major battles of the Army of the Potomac, starting with the Battle of Gettysburg in July 1863 and ending with the Confederate surrender at Appomattox Court House in April 1865.

The brigade became well-known during the Gettysburg campaign, led by young Brigadier General George Armstrong Custer. After the war, some soldiers from the brigade joined the 7th U.S. Cavalry Regiment and later fought again under Custer in the frontier regions of the Old West.

Service record

The Michigan Cavalry Brigade was formed on December 12, 1862, in Washington, D.C. It originally included the 5th, 6th, and 7th Michigan Cavalry regiments, led by General Joseph T. Copeland. In early 1863, during the Gettysburg campaign, the 1st Michigan Cavalry and Battery M, 2nd United States Artillery were added to the brigade in central Maryland. This change was part of a major reorganization of the Army of the Potomac’s Cavalry Corps, led by General Alfred Pleasonton.

The larger brigade was placed under the command of General George Armstrong Custer, who took leadership near Westminster, Maryland. The Michigan Brigade fought its first battle as a unit at the Battle of Hanover in southern Pennsylvania on June 30, 1863. There, Custer’s troops were positioned as a strong advance line south of the town. Two days later, on July 2, the brigade fought at the Battle of Hunterstown. During this battle, a soldier named Norville Churchill from the Michigan Brigade rescued General Custer, who had been pinned under his fallen horse.

At the Battle of Gettysburg on July 3, the Michigan Brigade was stationed east of Gettysburg along the Hanover Road. On the third day of the battle, the brigade fought in different sections of the battlefield. The 5th and 6th Michigan regiments acted as dismounted skirmishers near the John Rummel farm, while the 7th and later the 1st Michigan regiments joined a mounted fight in the center. Custer’s famous shout of “Come on, you Wolverines!” became the brigade’s rallying cry.

As the Army of Northern Virginia retreated from Gettysburg, the Michigan Brigade continued fighting Confederate forces. They engaged in battles at Falling Waters and Amissville, where they skirmished with Confederate troops as the Army of Northern Virginia crossed the Potomac River.

For the rest of 1863, the Michigan Brigade performed scouting, patrolling, and protecting the sides of the Army of the Potomac. The brigade fought Confederate forces led by General J.E.B. Stuart during the Bristoe Campaign and the Mine Run Campaign.

At one point, the 1st Vermont Cavalry was assigned to the Michigan Brigade.

In February 1864, the Michigan Brigade took part in General Judson Kilpatrick’s large cavalry raid on Richmond, Virginia. The goal of the raid was to free Union prisoners, cut Confederate supply lines, and cause panic among civilians and government officials. The soldiers carried only two days of food and relied on foraging for supplies. Although they cut rail lines between Richmond and the Army of Northern Virginia, they did not enter the city or free the prisoners.

During the Overland Campaign in May 1864, the Michigan Brigade fought in General Philip H. Sheridan’s raid at the Battle of Haw’s Shop on May 28. Because of the dense forest, Custer ordered the brigade to dismount and fight like infantry. However, Custer stayed mounted as he led his men forward, waving his hat to inspire them. Confederate troops mistook a Union move for a retreat and charged, only to be captured by the Michigan Brigade. Forty-one Michigan soldiers were killed, but their charge forced Confederate troops to withdraw.

At Trevilian Station on June 11 and 12, the brigade was heavily involved in fighting. Custer positioned the brigade behind Confederate forces, captured a train depot, and seized supplies. However, enemy movements surrounded the brigade, and Custer had to fight his way out.

In July 1864, the brigade traveled to Washington, D.C., then to the Shenandoah Valley, where Confederate General Jubal A. Early’s forces threatened Union troops. The Michigan Brigade fought at Winchester, Virginia, on August 11 and in several other battles through September, including the Battle of Opequon, where they captured three Confederate battle flags. The brigade also fought at the Battle of Fisher’s Hill.

On September 26, 1864, Custer was promoted to divisional command, and Colonel James H. Kidd of the 6th Michigan took over the brigade. The brigade remained in the Shenandoah Valley, fighting Confederate cavalry, including the decisive victory over Jubal Early at the Battle of Cedar Creek.

In February 1865, General Sheridan launched a major attack against Early’s remaining forces in the Valley. The Michigan Brigade fought at Louisa Court House, where they defeated Confederate cavalry under Thomas L. Rosser and captured the village and its supplies.

After Early’s defeat at the Battle of Waynesboro, Sheridan’s forces moved to the Richmond area to support General Ulysses S. Grant’s final push against Confederate General Robert E. Lee. The Michigan Brigade participated in the Battle of Five Forks on April 1, 1865, and later fought at the Battle of Sayler’s Creek on April 6. They helped block Lee’s escape route, leading to the surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia at Appomattox Court House.

Under Colonel Peter Stagg, the Michigan Brigade joined Sheridan’s forces in moving south to Petersburg, Virginia, and then to North Carolina to help General William T. Sherman’s army. However, General Joseph E. Johnston surrendered before Sheridan arrived. The brigade returned to Washington, D.C., for the Grand Review of the Armies on May 23, 1865.

After the review, the brigade was ordered to the Western frontier in the District of the Plains, Department of Missouri. The brigade arrived at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, with 2,300 soldiers but only 600 horses. The 5th Michigan was officially discharged, as were parts of the other regiments whose enlistments had ended. The remaining soldiers served in the Dakota Territory under General Patrick Connor until December 1865.

In late 1865, the remaining members of the brigade were combined into the 1st Michigan Veteran Cavalry and served in the Montana Territory. Despite their enlistment ending, they remained in service until March 10, 1866, when they were finally discharged and returned to Michigan. Some soldiers chose to stay on the frontier and joined Custer’s 7th U.S. Cavalry; a few fought at the Battle of Little Big Horn in 1876.

Many veterans of the Michigan Brigade joined groups like the Grand Army of the Republic. Some returned to Gettysburg for the 25th anniversary of the battle in 1890 and again for the 50th anniversary in 1913. Today, a modern group called the Michigan Cavalry Brigade Association acts as living historians and reenactors.