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Michigan Cavalry Brigade Formed
The Michigan Cavalry Brigade was formed in Washington D.C. It originally consisted of the 5th, 6th and 7th Michigan Cavalry regiments. The 1st. Michigan Cavalry was added to the command at a later date. -
Gettysburg Campaign
The 1st Michigan Cavalry were added to the brigade in central Maryland under George Armstrong Custer. -
Battle of Hanover
The Michigan Brigade saw its first combat action. There, Custer's men were deployed as a strong advance skirmish line south of town. -
Battle of Hunterstown
Norville Churchill, rescued fallen Custer, who was pinned in the road under his slain horse. -
Batlle of Gettysburg
The Michigan Brigade was posted east of Gettysburg along Hanover Road. With the 5th and 6th serving as dismounted skirmishers near John Rummel farm on the left of the battlefield, the 7th and then the 1st Michigan Cavalry charged into a growing mounted melee in the center of the field. Custer's brigade lost 257 men at Gettysburg, the highest loss of any Union cavalry brigade. -
Battle of the Wilderness
With his strategic efforts Custer and his Michigan Cavalry were able to defend the Confederates. It was a very important battle for Custer and his regiment, because they were granted to become a division command. -
Battle of Opequon ( The Third Battle of Winchester)
During the Third Battle of Winchester, September 19, 1864, Custer led his brigade south on the Valley Pike to attack the Confederate left flank at Fort Collier, part of the enormous cavalry charge that broke the Confederate line. -
Retreat of General Lee and his Confederate Army
The Wolverines were active in the pursuit of Confederate General Lee's retreating army after the fall of Richmond. -
Appomatox Court House
On April 9th, 1865, Confederate General Robert E. Lee surrenders at Appomatox Court House. Custer was present at the surrender at Appomattox Court House and the table upon which the surrender was signed was presented to him as a gift for his wife by General Sheridan, who included a note to her praising Custer's gallantry. -
Home Bound!
The Brigade was improperly retained in service until March 10, 1866, when after many protests that the men were being held illegally in Federal service, after they had already been mustered out, were allowed to return to their homes.
