Near Boonsboro in Washington County, Maryland — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Stonewall Regiment
More than 90,000 Michigan men served in the Union Army and Navy during the Civil War. The 17th Michigan Volunteer Infantry Regiment was mustered at the Detroit Barracks in August 1862 under the command of Colonel William H. Withington. The regiment consisted of raw recruits from field, workshop and schoolroom. One company was composed almost entirely of students from Ypsilanti Normal School, now Eastern Michigan University. With less than a month of military training, the 17th left for Washington DC, on August 27, 1862. From there it was sent to the Maryland campaign. On September 14, a little more than two weeks after leaving the state and just three days before the Battle of Antietam, the regiment engaged in battle here.
The 17th Michigan Volunteer Infantry Regiment was among the units of General Ambrose E. Burnside's 9th army corps that were engaged in battle here on September 14, 1862. The fight began around 9:00 A.M. just south of this site. Around noon a Confederate battery opened fire on the regiment, which was supporting Cook's Massachusetts Battery. The 17th held its position for several hours. At 4:00 P.M. the command was given for an assault along the entire Union line. The Confederates came out of the woods to meet the charge at a fence line in the middle of the field, then moved back to the stone walls along the crest of the hill. The 17th advanced and captured the stone walls. Of the 500 men of the "Stonewall Regiment" engaged in battle here, 27 were killed and 114 wounded, many mortally.
Erected 1986 by the 17th Michigan Volunteer Infantry Regiment, and the Bureau of History, Michigan Department of State. (Marker Number S580C.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil. In addition, it is included in the Michigan Historical Commission series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1862.
Location. 39° 28.25′ N, 77° 37.026′ W. Marker is near Boonsboro, Maryland, in Washington County. Marker is at the intersection of Reno Monument Road and the Appalachian Trail, on the right when traveling west on Reno Monument Road. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 21605 Reno Monument Rd, Boonsboro MD 21713, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Maj. Gen. Jesse L. Reno (within shouting distance of this marker); Near Here in Wise’s Field (within shouting distance of this marker); Welcome to Historic Wise's Field (within shouting distance of this marker); The Battle for Fox’s Gap (within shouting distance of this marker); Deaths of Two Generals (within shouting distance of this marker); The "Wiregrass" Georgians (within shouting distance of this marker); The Maryland Campaign of 1862 (within shouting distance of this marker); The Lost Orders (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Boonsboro.
More about this marker. Marker is in Wise's Field across the road from the Reno Monument. • This is a State of Michigan Historic Site located in Maryland.
Also see . . . They called them the "Stonewall Regiment". (Submitted on May 14, 2011.)
Additional commentary.
1. My Grandfather, George Norton, served in G company of this regiment.
George Norton survived the war and served later in the U.S. Cavalry in the west. He is my mother’s father. I served as a 20 year old machine gun sergeant in WW2 under General George S. Patton and published my memoirs in a book titled “George S.Patton’s typical Soldier.” I visited this battleground on May 4th, 2011.
— Submitted May 5, 2011, by Thomas W. Clarke of York, Pa..
Additional keywords. Battle of South Mountain (Fox's Gap)
Credits. This page was last revised on October 6, 2021. It was originally submitted on June 16, 2006. This page has been viewed 2,948 times since then and 62 times this year. Last updated on October 21, 2020, by Bradley Owen of Morgantown, West Virginia. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on June 16, 2006, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. 4. submitted on October 21, 2020, by Bradley Owen of Morgantown, West Virginia. 5. submitted on February 22, 2008, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. • J. Makali Bruton was the editor who published this page.