USA > Michigan > Annual report of the Adjutant General of the State of Michigan for the year, Vol. I > Part 15
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It was very proper that orders were made to deposit these flags with the State authorities. Torn and tattered into mere strips though they be, yet each piece will be most sacredly preserved by each succeeding State Administration, and upon all great National occasions when they are brought forth, they will call together not only those who, under their folds battled for the preservation of the Republic, but lovers of liberty from all parts of the State; and they will continually remind the people of the
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priceless heritage which has been secured to themselves and to coming generations. Only those who carried them through the frightful scenes of suffering and death can fully realize the terrible ordeals through which our great nation has been preserved, yet all will be reminded how great is the boon of Constitutional freedom; and the warning they will exhibit to treason will be sufficient to stay its hand and compel obedience when inclination would direct acts of rebellion.
By depositing these flags with the State authorities, in each State, the authorities of the Government have placed therein a monument in memory of its glories which will be most cherished, and whenever beheld by the people will far surpass, in the feelings of veneration which they will call forth, all the pillars of marble or granite which human genius could build. It will be remembered that they have passed through the scenes of strife, and that they have been carried by the hands of the brave men them- selves, who fought and died for our National liberties; it will be seen that on them is inscribed the names of the battles passed through, where the fate of liberty was staked and decided; and with what feelings of rever- ence will these strips of bunting be looked upon by the father, mother, brother or sister, whose son or brother marched to victory or glorious death under their folds. Whilst all patriots on viewing these battle flags will remember and mourn the loss of life and regret the vast expenditures which have been made to preserve our liberties, yet all will rejoice over the glorious results which have been achieved.
Permit me to congratulate, through you, the people of Michigan, for the brilliant and conspicuous part performed by Michigan regiments in the late war for the Union. I believe there is no blot upon their record, but all is bright, conspicuous and glorious, whilst an extraordinary number of personal distinctions shine upon the pages.
Expressing my sensibility of the fortunate honor in being the instrument of the Government, for delivering to the State these sacred colors,
I remain
Your most obedient servant, JOHN H. KNIGHT, Brev. Major U. S. Army, Chief Mustering Officer, Michigan.
MILITARY PROGRAMME.
DETROIT, June 19th, 1866.
For the information of officers and soldiers of Michigan volunteers in- tending to take part in the Procession, and other ceremonies attending the "Presentation of Colors" on the 4th of July next, the arrangements of the day, so far as relates to them, are hereby published.
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A programme of the exercises of the day and evening, under the direc- tion of the Committee of Arrangements, and including the civic proces- sion, will be published hereafter.
The officers and soldiers will form by companies, batteries, regiments and divisions, as directed in the circular of the Adjutant General of the State, dated June 11, in the following places, viz:
THE FIRST DIVISION
will form in Jefferson avenue, west of Woodward avenue and north of Street Railroad track, right resting at Woodward avenue, in the following order, viz:
General Officers and General Officers by Brevet, who have been appointed from Michigan Regiments, and all others from the State who have served as officers in the regular or volunteer service in the army or navy, not otherwise assigned by the order of the Adjutant General.
1st Regiment Engineers and Mechanics.
1st, 2d, 3d, 4th, 5tb, 6tb, 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th Regiments Cavalry.
Companies H, I and L, Merrill Horse.
1st Regiment Light Artillery.
Batteries A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, K, L and M, and 13th and 14th Batteries Light Artillery.
Ist Regiment Sharp-Shooters.
Companies C, I and K, Ist U. S. Sharp-Shooters.
Company B, 2d U. S. Sharp-Shooters.
Michigan Companies that have served as such in Regiments of other States.
Soldiers belonging to this State who have served in Regiments of other States, not in Michigan Companies.
Michigan soldiers and sailors, who have served in the regular or volun- teer army and navy.
THE SECOND DIVISION
will form in Jefferson avenue, east of Woodward avenue, and south of Street Railroad track, right resting at Woodward avenue, in the following order, viz: 1
1st (3 months, ) Ist (3 years,) 2d, 3d, 3d (reorganized,) 4th, 4th (reor- ganized, ) 5th, 6th, (Heavy Artillery, ) 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th Regiments Infantry.
THE THIRD DIVISION
ยท will form in Jefferson avenue, east of Woodward avenue and north of Street Railroad track, right resting at Woodward avenue, in the following order, viz:
11th, 11th, (reorganized,) 12th, 13th, 14th, 15th, 16th, 17th, 18th, 19th, 20th Regiments Infantry.
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THE FOURTH DIVISION
will form at the left of and at Division distance from the Third Division, in the following order, viz:
21st, 22d, 23d, 24th, 25th, 26th, 27th, 28th 29th and 30th Regiments Infantry.
Ist Regiment (102 U. S.) Michigan Colored Troops.
Disabled officers and soldiers in carriages.
The interval between Regiments will be three paces, and between Divis- ions six paces.
Markers, with flags bearing the number of the Division, will be posted at 9 o'clock on the morning of the Fourth, at the points where the right of each Division will rest.
The procession will move precisely at 10 o'clock, and it is expected that every officer and soldier will be in line at a quarter before 10.
Special trains on all Railroads will be run to arrive in this city about 7 o'clock, A. M., and will be the latest trains by which persons from the interior can arrive to take part in the procession.
A detail of officers, in uniform, and wearing marshals' badges, will be at the Depot of each Railroad, on the arrival of the special train, for the purpose of giving any information desired.
It is desirable that officers and soldiers from the interior arrive here by Companies or Regiments, as far as practicable. Also that estimates be made, as reliable as circumstances will permit, of the number of officers and soldiers, and of citizens, intending to visit this city on that day from various stations on the line of railroads, in order that Railroad managers may be able to provide adequate transportation, and that the general arrangements may be made accordingly.
The field officers of all the Regiments, and commissioned officers of sep- arate Batteries and Companies will meet at the office of the Adjutant Gen- eral of the State precisely at 8 o'clock on the morning of the Fourth, for the purpose of determining the commanding officers of each, as required by the circular of the Adjutant General before referred to, and to arrange any other necessary preliminaries.
Disabled officers and soldiers are requested to report at the office of the Adjutant General of the State at 9 o'clock on the morning of the Fourth, in order that seats in carriages may be assigned to them.
As soon as possible after arriving upon the ground of formation, the officer commanding each Regiment, separate battery or company, will send color-bearers with a commissioned officer to the office of the Adjutant General for the colors.
On arriving at the place appointed for the presentation, the troops will be massed closely as possible in front of the speaker's stand, (leaving room for the line of color bearers, ) and the color bearers, with the colors, will be
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formed in one line immediatey before the stand in the order of original formation from right to left.
The commanding officer of each Regiment will take position directly in rear of his colors.
Immediately after the presentation by Gen. Willcox, the color bearers and the commanding officer of each Regiment, will advance and place the col- ors in succession from right to left, in sockets prepared for them, and then return to their places in line.
After the ceremonies at the stand, the officers and soldiers will be es- corted to the new depot of the Michigan Central Railroad Company, where a lunch will be provided for them by the citizens of Detroit.
Gen. Stoughton, commanding the troops for that day, will cause this order to be distributed as thoroughly as possible. He will by correspond- ence and such other means as he may deem most effective, encourage offi- cers and soldiers to organize into Companies and Regiments wherever suf- ficient numbers of the old organizations reside in the same neighborhood. He will also obtain the information desired, of the estimated number to come in from various localities, and report to the undersigned on or before the 28t inst.
JAMES E. PITTMAN, Chief Marshal.
CIRCULAR.
DETROIT, June 20th, 1866.
By reference to the enclosed circulars you will see that arrangements have been made for the presentation of the colors of the Michigan Regi- ments to the State on the coming fourth day of July. No pains have been spared on the part of the State authorities to make the ceremony appro- priate and imposing. The presence of as many of the returned officers and soldiers as possible is earnestly desired. Let the brilliant record of the Michigan troops be closed by returning to the custody of the State their colors, riddled and torn, it may be, by the storm of battle, but crowned with unfading glory and honor. It is suggested that all officers take immediate steps to call meetings in their respective neighborhoods, and, as far as may be, organize companies and detachments, and report the probable numbers to the undersigned, at his temporary headquarters at the Adjutant General's office, in Detroit.
Any information desired will be promptly given. The troops are re- quested to report promptly on the morning of the Fourth, as the proces- sion will move precisely at the hour indicated.
Very respectfully, WM. L. STOUGHTON,
Brevet Brig. General.
To
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ADJUTANT GENERAL.
PRAYER OF BISHOP M'COSKRY.
O God, who art the blessed and only Potentate, the King of Kings, the Lord of Lords, the Almighty Ruler of nations: We adore and magnify Thy glo- rious name for all the great things which Thou hast done for us. We render Thee thanks for the goodly heritage which Thou hast given us-for the civil and religious privileges which we enjoy, and for the muitiplied mani- festations of Thy favor toward us. Especially we bless and magnify Thy great and glorious name that we have been enabled, by Thy Almighty hand, to put down all sedition, privy conspiracy and rebellion, and restore to this nation the blessings of peace. May we remember with gratitude and love all those who stood forth in our defense. We implore Thy richest blessing to rest on them, and on those who have been bereaved by the calamities of war. We beseech Thee, give us grace to improve these great mercies to Thy glory, the honor of our country, the prosperity of Thy Church, and the good of mankind. May wrath and malice, envy and hatred, be put away from us, and may we be kind, tender hearted and for- giving. Let truth and justice, brotherly kindness and charity, concord and unity, so prevail among us that they may be the stability of our times, and make this nation a praise in the earth. Continue, O Lord, to prosper our institutions for the promotion of sound learning, the diffusion of vir- tuous education, and the advancement of Christian truth. Change, we beseech Thee, every evil heart of unbelief, and shed the quickening influ- ence of Thy Holy Spirit on all the people of this land. Save us from the guilt of abusing the blessings of prosperity to luxury and licentiousness, to irreligion and vice, lest we provoke Thee in just judgment to visit our offenses with the rod, and our sins with scourges. May we, O Lord, for- ever remain a united and happy people, whose God is the Lord, and we shall ascribe all the honor and glory to Thee, our Father and cur God, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
WELCOMING ADDRESS OF MAYOR MILLS.
Governor CRAPO, Officers of the State, Gentlemen Dignitaries, Our Guests -Citizens and Soldiers:
In behalf of our people, as Mayor, I welcome you to our city and the courtesies of the day. To you, sir, our high Executive officer, the repre- sentative of the iaws, the dignity, and the power of our noble State, I ten- der the warm welcome due from American citizens to rulers of their choice.
To you, officers and soldiers of the Union armies, I offer the largest, the broadest and the fullest welcome that we can possibly give-the welcome due to our heroes. More than this, the noblest and fairest of Detroit's daughters await to welcome you to our hospitalities this day. You bring to us the flags entrusted to your care more beautiful thau when you re- ceived them, for they plainly show that they have been most gallantly
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borne-that they had not been kept as idle toys, or held as things of beauty, but wherever duty called, wherever the combat was fiercest, there they have been. They are tattered and torn, pierced by rebel bullets, soiled and begrimmed with the smoke and debris of more than a hundred battle-fields, stained with the life-blood of many scores of gallant color bearers.
You have permitted no rebel hand to tear them from your grasp, and bear them trophies to the foes of our Union. But, with Spartan fidelity, true to the trust confided, you have returned them home again, now to be placed in the archives of the State, there to remain mournful relics and mementos of our cruel and bloody strife, a warning to all; and we have yet to learn that our State, or a single Michigan flag, has ever been dis- honored upon a battle-field. You have now forsaken the tented field for the peaceful pursuits of citizen life. You now rest from your dangers and your toils. You have the proud consciousness of knowing that you are among the defenders and preservers of our Union. You have the satisfac- tion of again seeing the old flag, the flag of our fathers, wave defiantly and triumphantly over every foot of our national domain. Your prowess and your victories have rejoiced every patriot heart in the land. A nation's gratitude is yours. The orphans of your brave comrades are entitled to your paternal care. They must be ranked as children of the State. Amid our happiness and our rejoicings upon this glorious anniversary of our country, we cannot forget that our countrymen-our erring and misguided countrymen of the South, are still smarting under the blows that justice and patriotism compelled you to inflict. Shall we not show to the peni- tent that we are as magnanimous in peace as we have been irresistable in war? Shall we not imitate the examples of your most illustrious generals, Grant and Sherman, that brave men do not trample upon a fallen foe ? Shall we ignore the meek and lowly teachings of Him who died upon the Cross ? God forbid.
State troops of Michigan, we have a welcome for you upon this occasion. I am pleased to see you again, with your filled-up ranks, your bright uni- forms, and your soldierly bearing. I do not doubt but that you are ready now, as you always have been, to respond to any and every call of your country, and were the tocsin of war to be sounded in our midst to-day, your battle-cry would be, "Up, guards, and at them ! " It is not necessary for me to refer to the past usefulness of your organization. A long line of living heroes are witnesses to this. The memories of Roberts, Fairbanks, Brodhead, Mauch, Sherlock, Elliot, Buhl, and others, whose names are wreathed with immortal fame, show this. The bones of your brave comrades who lie mouldering in a Southern soil, prove this.
The officers who sprang from your ranks formed the nucleous of armies. Their heroic deeds and brilliant achievements are a proud record for you, for us, and for themselves. With us, large standing armies, in times o!
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peace, are not only unnecessary, but are naturally repulsive to our people. A well organized citizen soldiery should ever be the right arm of America's defense. I trust the day is not far distant when we shall have a new and more liberal enrollment of this character. I would have it at once high toned, chivalric and efficient, and it will open a brilliant path to honor and distinction.
I will not longer trespass upon your patience and fatigue of the day. Again I welcome you, thrice welcome, to our fullest hospitalities.
SPEECH OF GEN. WILLCOX.
I stand here to-day to speak for the soldiers of Michigan. I thank your Excellency for such an honor, and in the name of all the gallant officers and men, I thank the State, and particularly the citizens of Detroit, for such a cordial and magnificent reception. On this occasion our city at once evinces her zeal in behalf of the soldiers and her interest in the honor of the whole State. Well may Detroit feel proud of Michigan, and well may Michigan feel proud of her commercial metropolis. The hand of time on the dial plate of history this day marks the 90th anniversary of the independence of our Republic. The glorious associations of the day are beaming around us as if in living sunlight reflected from the eyes - of living heroes, and glancing from these war stained banners. These soldiers have nobly contended to rekindle and perpetuate the ancient fires of independence, and the 4th of July still lives. We claim that no troops have done better in the war for the Union than the troops of Michigan. I grant that individual regiments from other States have performed brilliant exploits; but while this is also true of many of our own regiments, the. highest uniformity of good conduct throughout the war is justly the meed of praise awarded to Michigan soldiers as a body. Of all our regiments and batteries that took the field, there is not one for which you have just cause to blush.
Much of this is due to the character of our people. Michigan has been ever prompt to meet her quotas, careful in the selection of her officers, and liberal in the outfit of her men-a noble State inspires to noble deeds, -and Michigan expected every man to do his duty. For every blow struck for the Union, another blow, warm from the heart, was struck for the fair fame of the old Peninsular State.
And truly may we make boast of this Commonwealth! Where is there a more generous soil; where a greater quantity of rich resources and em- ployments; where such liberal advantages for free education, from the common school to the crowning free University; where a more ingenious population ? But Michigan is no more prolific of culture than of hardy sinew. Stamp your foot and soldiers spring from the soil, accustomed to the plow and the flail, accustomed to delve in our mines of iron and cop- per, to wield the axe in our mighty forests of pine, to fling the spear and
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drag the net in our fisheries, to wrestle with the storm over 1,200 miles of main, or to tame the war horse "whose neck is clothed with thunder." Such a State could not bring forth a race of pigmies, fools or cowards. And hence, while in proportion to our population, a greater number could read, write and spell the word Liberty than came from any other State, not even excepting Massachusetts, we produced the best cavalry in America, and the tallest infantry in the world.
In Michigan the East fairly ends and the West fairly begins. We were not populous. The great tide of emigration passed beyond us, but we sent one-eighth of our people to the field, and our soldiers combined the intelligence and discipline of the East with the energy and self-reliance of the West. Cast your eye briefly along the course of the war. When the tocsin of alarm came booming from Fort Sumter, and the first call was made for troops, Michigan, outstripping Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, and even Ohio, was the first State west of the Alleghanies that marched a reg- iment to the gates of the threatened capital. Nor did they flock there like some, without arms, equipments or uniforms, but so perfect was their outfit, and so martial their aspect, that the sight of them excited the envy and wonder of the States through which they passed, and it was said of them in Washington that they looked more like regulars than volunteers.
With thevan of the grand army our men crossed the Potomac, seized the first city and took the first prisoners captured by that army, and forthwith dictated terms to the rebels in the shortest proclamation of the war, which was printed on the spot by men detailed from the ranks. Thus showing to the world that our Western hordes were neither unlettered savages, nor dressed themselves in bear skins when they went out to see their neighbors.
Then followed the battle of Bull Run, the panic of which extended from the banks of that little stream to the shores of the Pacific ocean. For a moment the land shuddered as if an earthquake was careening within its borders, and we thought that all our soldiers were killed, captured, or cowards, and that the cause was hopelessly lost. It was, at least, a con- solation soon to learn that the sons of Michigan had behaved well, and left their dead at the most advanced point of the field gained and lost that day.
From that day Michigan soldiers began to take rank among the most reliable troops. The praises of the 1st, 2d, 3d, 4th; 5th and 7th infantry, and 1st cavalry, were celebrated through the Peninsular campaigns of Virginia, while the 6th infantry carried our fame to the Gulf by its heroic fight at Baton Rouge; and the Sth to the sea by its rifle practice before Fort Pulaski; and the lustre of the 2d, 3d and 4th cavalry, the 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th, 13th, 14th and 15th infantry, and our magnificent artillery loomed up from the campaigns of Kentucky, Tennessee and Mississippi, like the Northern Lights on Lake Superior.
-
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In the middle and later periods of the war, the 16th, 17th, 20th, 24th, 26th, 27th Infantry, and Ist Sharp-shooters, together with the 5tb, 6th and 7th Cavalry, marched to the East; while the 18th, 19th, 21st, 22d, 23d, 25th, 28th and 29th Regiments of Infantry, and the 1st Engineers and Me- chanics, together with the 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th and 12th Cavalry, marched toward the valley of the Mississippi. Our gallant 9th Corps Regiments fought in both Eastern and Western armies. The 30th Infantry stood guard on our borders, and the 102d Colored Regiment went to South Carolina.
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Our batteries all fought in the West. We lent independent Companies of Sharp-shooters to New York, Illinois, and the United States; and some of our Cavalry, impatient to get into the service, rode off to Missouri, and there took the name of the Merrill Light Horse. But East or West, our troops shone conspicuously, and by their exploits, the prowess of Michi- gan manhood gave us a distinct reputation, even in Europe. The charge of the 17th at South Mountain, the recapture of cannon at Williamsport, (cannon that had been lost at Bull Run, ) the passage of the 7th at Freder- icksburg, led by a drummer boy, the repulse of John Morgan's 5,000, by the 25th, at Green River, with Col. Moore's immortal words, " The Fourth of July is not the day to entertain a proposition to surrender !" the em- phatic westernism of Col, Innis, at Lavergne, "We don't surrender much," and the achievements of our cavalry under Custer in the East, and Minty and Pritchard in the West, culminating in the capture of Jeff. Davis, the Head Center of the rebellion. All these and many other feats of war, gave us name and fame abroad.
And yet this brief summary does not begin to do justice to our arms, or to individual regiments, officers and men. I regret that time, on this occasion, will not allow me to mention more. Many of the most heroic actions are not recorded at all. In this respect the Eastern troops, with the press at their heels, were not often wanting. But as it is, there was not a great campaign, or scarcely a great battle, in which some troops from this State were not conspicuous; nor many brilliant actions with which some Michigan name was not associated .. Nor is this all. The unheralded career of single regiments, such as the 2d Infantry, which fought its way from Blackburn's Ford under Richardson, through the Pe- ninsula under Poe, thence westerly to Campbell's Station and Knoxville, Tenn., under Humphrey and Byington, and back again to the East under Mauch and Schneider through the wilderness to Petersburg, where it was among the first to raise the stars and stripes above the stars and bars, would fill volumes of eulogy.
And who can view our wounded and mutilated comrades here without emotion? Every lost limb-nay, every scar, deserves honorable mention. The heart is touched; let thoughtful silence muse their praise.
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