The 24th Infantry Regiment left Detroit 29 August 1862 to join the Army of the Potomac and arrived in Washington, D. C., 2 September. It occupied a number of camps and made many long marches during September, October and November as a part of the 1st Brigade, 1st Division, 1st Corps. It crossed the Rappahannock at Fredericksburg, 12 December and during the next two days lost quite heavily in killed and wounded.  

At Port Royal, on 23 April, the Regiment made a skillful attack, capturing a number of prisoners and driving the enemy away, then crossed the Rappahannock on 29 April and drove the enemy from its defensive ground, capturing a number of prisoners; however to the Regiment suffered again from the substantial loss in killed and wounded.

The 24th fought in the Pennsylvania Campaign and gained the name of the "Iron Brigade”, a designation enjoyed to the present time. The 24th Regiment, while attached to the 1st Corps, marched from the Rappahannock through Pennsylvania and arrived at Gettysburg 1 July where it was assisted in capturing a large segment of Confederate General Archer's Brigade. As a part of the 1st Brigade the 24th was drawn into the battle in McPherson's woods where during the first day of the battle the Brigade suffered a tremendous loss of 22 officers killed or wounded, 71 enlisted men killed, and 223 men wounded, a total loss of 316. The Regiment next occupied Culp's Hill the next two days of the battle, then left the battlefield 6 July pursuing the retreating Confederates, and reached the Rappahannock 1 August.

The Regiment's next contact with the Rebels occurred at Mine Run where it captured a number of prisoners, then went into winter quarters at Culpepper. On 3 May 1864 it crossed the Rapidan and took part in the struggle of the Wilderness where it captured the colors and a large number of prisoners of the 48th Virginia Infantry, but at a cost of 18 killed, 46 wounded, and 42 missing.

The loss of men continued almost unabated. After completing a march to Spotsylvania, the Regiment lost 11 killed, 39 wounded; the crossing of the North Anna resulted in 3 killed, 8 wounded and 5 missing; the advance upon Cold Harbor cost the Regiment considerable loss, and then at Petersburg, they again lost another 38 in killed and wounded.

 In the siege of Petersburg the Regiment suffered considerable loss from the enemy's artillery and sharpshooters. Several times it repelled the attacks of the Confederates and determinedly held their own ground, creating great enemy losses in return.

On 27 October in the Battle of Hatcher's Run it took part in several expeditions around Petersburg, and though reduced in number by relentless losses, still fought with spirit and vigor. It fought at Dabney's Mills 11 February 1865, was next ordered to Baltimore, Maryland for special duty, and from there the Regiment was sent to Springfield, Illinois to perform garrison duty. During this time period it was on escort duty at the funeral of President Lincoln.

The Regiment left Springfield for Detroit, Michigan where it was mustered out 30 June 1865.

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