The 6th Michigan Volunteer Infantry contains numerous photographs, and inevitably some had to be excluded, for various reasons. Here are the ones I am able to share, including (where available) the captions I intended for them.
The Great Republic was the world's largest sailship at the time of her construction. But the Michiganders boarded her immediately after she was soiled transporting horses, and her rudder had been damaged in a recent storm. Even worse, she drew too much water to readily clear the sandbar at the Mississippi River's Southwest Pass. (Library of Congress)
Alpheus Starkey Williams (Library of Congress)
Brigadier General Abram Duryée (Library of Congress)
The 5th New York Infantry, Company E. The 6th Michigan's fascination with Zouave uniforms was likely kindled by their close proximity to these New Yorkers during General Lockwood's Eastern Shore campaign. (Library of Congress)
The Mississippi River's Southwest Pass was a bustle of activity during the New Orleans campaign. Many of the Union vessels, including the Great Republic, struggled to clear the pass's sandbar—the river was low at the time, and the routine dredging of the channel had ceased with the advent of the war. (Harper's Weekly)
The nearly bloodless capture of New Orleans—the South's largest and wealthiest city—was a boon to the Union cause. Soule, upon his first glimpse of the city, commented that "everything which might fall into the hands of the dreaded Yankee has been put to the torch, and millions in value are destroyed, wreathing the city with a thick, dark smoke like a funeral pall." (Harper's Weekly)
The ironclad USS Essex would be the Union army's only hope if the CSS Arkansas attacked Baton Rouge in coordination with the Rebel army—which is exactly what the Confederates had in mind. Henry Bostock was excited to hear of Essex's arrival, but in the sweltering midsummer heat, "I couldn't think of going down, even to see such a sight." (Library of Congress)
The death of General Williams. (Library of Congress)
The Citadel (upper left), a strong point at the far right of Port Hudson's fortifications, sat atop a steep bluff and was defended by troops under Colonel William R. Miles. The 6th Michigan confronted this point in the works almost continuously for nearly an entire month, being relieved from the front line for just a fraction of one day in all that time. General Dwight ordered the regiment to assault this position on June 14, 1863, and again on the nights of June 29 and 30. (Library of Congress)
The interior of the Citadel. Repeated Federal bombardments inflicted little harm; the Confederates would simply take cover and wait out artillery barrages. Edward Bacon likened that experience, from the Union point of view, to watching prairie dogs pop in and out of their holes. (Library of Congress)
The 1st Indiana Heavy Artillery at Port Hudson. (Library of Congress)
After surrendering Port Hudson, the Confederates were amazed at the sight of this tunnel dug under their works by freedmen. The Federals, hoping to breach the Citadel, planned to detonate thirty barrels of explosives within. "It is a matter of doubt," admitted Milton Chase, "that we would have hurt them by it." A similar scheme would fail spectacularly at Petersburg, Virginia, one year later. (Library of Congress)
