 Assistant Surgeon Milton Chase called the assault—ordered by habitually drunk division commander William Dwight (and remembered as the “whiskey charge”)—“a wicked loss of life.” The 6th Michigan, ravaged by battle losses and disease, mustered just 160 men and officers present for duty as of July 4.Port Hudson surrendered on July 9, and the 6th Michigan was converted into the 6th Michigan Heavy Artillery soon after.New recruits quickly outnumbered the few remaining veterans, and the character of the unit’s service was transformed into inactive garrison duty.