The 17th MI Monument- The 17th MI was located on the extreme left of the Federal line. At 2:00 PM on May 12th Grant had ordered Burnside’s regiment forward. As they were moving forward Lee was in the process of launching his own assault. He would send two brigades, Brigadier General James Lane’s North Carolina Brigade and Mahone’s brigade commanded by Colonel David Weisiger, circling to the right to strike Burnsides men on the left flank. In the bloody hand-to-hand fighting that followed, the 17th Michigan lost its national colors and 189 of the 225 men it carried into battle. Three soldiers from the 17th MI later received the Medal of Honor for actions on this day including: Private Frederick Alber (awarded on July 30, 1896 for rescuing Lieutenant Charles H. Todd of his regiment who had been captured by a party of Confederates by shooting down one, knocking over another with the butt of his musket, and taking them both prisoners); Sergeant Daniel McFall (awarded on July 27, 1896, for capturing Colonel Barker, commanding the Confederate brigade that charged the Union batteries and on the same day rescued Lieutenant George W. Harmon of his regiment from the enemy); and Sergeant Charles Thompson (awarded on July 27, 1896, who after the regiment was surrounded and all resistance seemed useless, fought singlehanded for the colors and refused to give them up until he had appealed to his superior officers).

Next- A Reconnaissance in Force Goes Wrong- The Battle of Harris Farm- May 19, 1864