USA > Michigan > Calhoun County > History of Calhoun county, Michigan : a narrative account of its historical progress, its people, and its principal interests, Volume I > Part 56
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71
From the nature of the case Michigan could not participate in the War of the Revolution, nor to any appreciable extent did the territory take part in the second war with Great Britain. The Toledo and the Black Hawk wars while they served to show the spirit of our people, were fortunately, as far as Michigan was concerned, bloodless affairs.
In the war with Mexico, in the war for the Union and in the Spanish American war the state of Michigan bore an honorable and in the latter two, relatively, a conspicuous part. In all three of these wars Calhoun county assumed and faithfully carried its full proportionate share of the burden. To date, no chapter in this or any other history pertaining to Michigan has, or will have, the abiding interest to so many people as that pertaining to the Civil war. This, because of the importance of the issues involved, the permanent and beneficial results achieved, the num- ber of the participants from the state, the patriotism and the heroism manifested and the sacrifices made.
No other chapter has caused the editor so much painstaking work as this. More than sixty volumes have been carefully consulted. Errors in previous publications have been run down and corrected and great care has been exercised to avoid mistakes; still, it will not be surprising if in the review of so many thousand names there may not be some errors and omissions.
In so far as Calhoun county's part in the Civil war is concerned it is believed to be the most complete of any single publication hitherto issued. It has been the purpose of the editor not so much to give a history of the war or even of the Michigan regiments participating therein, as to give space to Calhoun county and Calhoun county soldiers. In the years to come any soldier credited to this county can easily be traced by means of this volume to a more extended personal history and through that to the regiment, brigade, division, corps and army in which the soldiers' service was performed. Had space permitted, it would have been a pleasure to present in these pages a more extended record of the
480
481
IHISTORY OF CALHOUN COUNTY
many sons of Calhoun whose gallant deeds are at once the glory and pride of the county.
The war with Spain, like the war for the Union, is so presented that those who wish, will find in this book a correct start with a sign board pointing the way to further information if desired. In this connection I wish to acknowledge the services of Captain William M. Hatch. The article prepared by him will have permanent valne as a part of the military history of our county.
THE MEXICAN WAR
In the war with Mexico, Michigan, played a comparatively incon- spienons part. Governor Ransom in his message of January 3, 1848, says: "On the 19th of May, 1846, a requisition was made by the War Department upon the executive of the state for the enrollment of a regi- ment of volunteer infantry of ten companies to be held in readiness for. active service when called for by the president." February 13, 1847, the legislature by joint resolution appropriated ten thousand dollars to be applied at the discretion of the governor in fitting ont any troops that might be called for to serve in the war with Mexico.
In October, 1847, a call came from the president for the mustering of ten companies from Michigan into the United States service. These companies were mustered into service the latter part of 1847 and during the months of Jannary and February, 1848, and organized into what was known as the First Regiment Michigan Volunteers. The regiment did faithful service principally on garrison duty at different points in Mexico.
While not seriously engaged in battle it suffered from disease, and many resultant deaths, incident to the climate. In this regiment Cal- houn county had one company reernited largely from Marshall and Battle Creek. The company was officered by Captain John Van Armen; first lieutenant, James S. Kingsland ; second lieutenant, James D. Pierce, who was a youth of eighteen when commissioned, contracted disease while in Mexico which eansed his death in the following November.
THE CIVIL WAR
The shots that echoed across the waters of Charleston harbor in the gray dawn of the morning of April 12, 1861, awoke the nation from the repose of peace to the perils of war, and when at high noon on the 14th the flag of our country was lowered over the walls of Fort Sumter at the behest of those whose avowed purpose was to sever the Union of the states and destroy the government founded by Washington and his com- patriots, the blood of patriotic men and women was stirred as it had not been within the memory of men. In that momentous hour one supreme question challenged every loyal American, "The Federal Union, shall it be preserved?" U'pon the issue involved in that question Lincoln made his appeal to the country. How well the people responded, the history of our restored Union will forever make answer, and will be read with interest and pride by patriotic AAmericans so long as the re- public endures.
Vol. 1-31
482
HISTORY OF CALHOUN COUNTY
The part the state of Michigan took in that war, the sustained pa- triotism of her people at home and the heroism and sacrifice of her sons in the field attests her unfaltering devotion to the Federal Union.
It is not our purpose in these pages to do more than attempt to show the spirit of our people as revealed by their declarations and aets and to make record, imperfect and incomplete though it must necessarily he, of the part Calhoun county played in the memorable conflict.
The impression is sometimes erroneously made that war is simply a matter of campaigns and battles, of courage and of heroism on the field of combat. It should not be overlooked that soldiers must be enlisted, and rendezvoused ; they must be fed and clothed and drilled and disciplined and equipped; they must be transported to the supposed theater of ac- tion, they must be sustained while in the service and be paid their sti- pend, small though it be, that those at home dependent upon them, may, in part at least, be cared for while they are absent. When men become soldiers they cease to be producers and become expensive consumers, hence it is, that money plays not only an increasingly important but an indis- pensable part in modern warfare.
Fort Sumter surrendered on Sunday the 14th day of April. Presi- dent Lincoln issued a call for 75,000 troops on Monday the 15th and Governor Austin Blair on Tuesday, the 16th, called for ten companies, making a full regiment, as Michigan's quota of the 75,000. It was estimated that $100,000 would be at once required for this purpose, hut the state treasury was comparatively empty and therefore unable to meet the immediate and pressing necessity for money. At a largely attended meeting of patriotic citizens in Detroit whither Governor Blair had gone on the 16th, it was decided to ask the citizens of the state to advance a loan of $100,000 by popular subscription, that the financial emergency might be tided over.
FIRST WAR FUND SUBSCRIBERS
It was at this time and under these circumstances that the financial side of the patriotic men of Calhoun county was first manifested. The following is the honorable list of those who responded to this call for money which came simultaneously with the call for troops. From Battle Creek subscriptions were made by : Charles S. Gray, B. F. Graves, John F. Hinman, W. H. Raymond, T. B. Skinner, L. C. Kellogg, C. Buckley, William Andres, Barrett and Wakelee, Coob and Pettie, Sutton and Company, Stone and Hyall, L. B. Clapp, V. P. Collier, T. W. Ilall, Thomas Hart, James D. LaBar, William Wallace, M. Neal & Company, W. C. Hamlin, S. Reed, W. H. Skinner, Erastus Hussey, T. B. Sand- erson, J. P. Buckley, O. S. Morton, G. W. Wakefield. R. F. Titus, B. F. Hinman, H. F. Hinman, E. W. Pendill, C. M. Rash, John Barbour, Alonzo Noble, Charles Coy, J. P. Markham, K. Whitcomb, Ed. Packer, William Meeritt, Alex Rowley, W. and F. W. Brooks, and A. L. Clark.
From Marshall the following named persons came forward with sub- scriptions : J. C. Frink, G. B. Murray, W. H. Brown, S. A. Tyler, E. L. Crocker, M. D. Strong, Ira Nash, S. W. Dodge, Charles Killam, M. Har- rigan, Seth Lewis, D. S. Beach, C. II. Cook, C. P. Dibble, A. Y. Vary.
483
IIISTORY OF CALHOUN COUNTY
Philo Dibble, J. D. Wooley, S. S. Lacy, M. II. Crom, E. L. Badger, Samuel Thomas, Josiah Lepper, S. V. R. Lepper, Z. M. Lester, George II. Barber. E. Carning and Company, A. Brosie, P. Mitchell, J. L. Evans, and II. J. Perrin.
It seems that Battle Creek and Marshall were the only towns in the country whose citizens contributed to this fund. It is probable the others were not called upon. By means of the generous contributions made by the citizens of the state the first three months' regiment from Michigan was well equipped and left the state on the 13th of May under command of Colonel Orlando B. Wilcox. It stirs the pride of every loyal son of the state to read the encomiums pronounced upon this our first regiment enroute to and after its arrival in Washington.
The Cleveland Plaindealer said: "A great many of our citizens visited the Michigan troops and expressed admiration of the men and the very admirable manner in which they had been armed and equipped for service by their state."
FIRST WESTERN REGIMENT AT THE FRONT
The Baltimore American said: "The Michigan regiment attracted general attention and commendation by their soldierly appearance and well disciplined movements, a la Hardee. It was composed almost entirely of young, steady and intelligent looking men, and it appeared to be capi- tally officered. They were exceedingly well equipped, thanks to the liberality of the state of Michigan, which had furnished them with an entire outfit from head to foot, and were armed with new minute guns."
A correspondent of the New York Post, writing from Washington under the date of May 17th, said: "The Michigan rifle regiment came into town about ten o'clock last night, marching from the depot up the avenue to Eleventh street. They were preceded by a splendid band of music which soon aroused our citizens and long before they had reached the quarters assigned them, hundreds of people were out to give them welcome. The enthusiasm of the crowd was irrepressible for this was. the first western regiment which had arrived at the capital."
Calhoun county furnished one company (I) in this historic regiment, officered by Captain De Ville Hubbard ; first lieutenant, Seldon II. Gor- ham, and second lieutenant, Hiram S. Warner. All of whom were from Marshall as were most of the men who composed the militia company of that city, known as the "Marshall Light Guard."
This was but the beginning of preparation for a conflict which few foresaw would continue and grow in intensity for four years, and be fraught with consequences, unanticipated by the contestants on either side. It is a source of great satisfaction that Michigan never faltered in her devotion to the Union. The state was fortunate in having a man like Austin Blair for its governor. An ardent patriot. an eloquent orator and withal a man of good practical sense and excellent judgment. Ile gave to the service of his state and the country four years of his life. in the prime manhood and with intense zeal. almost without money and without price-for the state at that time paid its governor but one thou- sand dollars a year. Ile retired from office a poor man, but with clean
484
HISTORY OF CALHOUN COUNTY
hands and stainless honor, bearing with him to private life the esteem of the people at home and the love and gratitude of the soldiers in the field.
In his first message to the legislature on the first day of January, 1861, he gave utterance to these ringing words which sent a thrill of delight through every loyal heart: "I recommend that at an early day you make manifest that Michigan is loyal to the Union, the constitution and the laws and will defend them to the uttermost : and to proffer to the President of the United States the whole military power of the state for that purpose."
On the second of February the legislature responded to the governor's appeal in these words: "Resolved. That Michigan adheres to the govern- ment as ordained by the constitution and for sustaining it intact hereby pledges and tenders to the general government all its military power and material resources."
The people of the state were soon called upon to make good the patri- otie declarations and pledges of Governor Blair for on May 3. 1861. President Lincoln issued another call for troops which was confirmed by act of Congress, approved Angust 6, 1861. Under this second call for 500,000 men Michigan's quota was 21,357. The temper and deter- mination of the people were revealed in the fact that under this call 26,499 sons of the commonwealth volunteered for three years or during the war. Again in July, 1862, there was a call for 300,000 more, of which the state's quota was 11,686 and it furnished 17,656. October 17, 1863, and February 1, 1864, calls were made which aggregated 500,000 men; of these Michigan's quota was 19,553 and she furnished 19,330. March 14, 1864, there was a call for 200,000 men for three years service. Under this call Michigan furnished 7,667 or within 144 of the full num- ber required. July 18, 1864, 500,000 additional men were called for, but credit being given for excess in previous calls, Michigan's quota was but 12,098, and she furnished 12,532. The last call made by President Lin- coln was on December 19, 1864, for 300,000, but before most of the states had completed their quotas the necessity for more men had ceased to exist. Under this last call Michigan furnished 7,860. During the entire war the state furnished a total of 89,787. Reduced to a three-year basis the aggregate was 80,111. The population of the state according to the Federal census of 1860, was 749,113. Out of every eight and one- third of her population, men, women and children, she sent a fighting unit to the war.
TROOPS RAISED IN STATE AND COUNTY
During the war the following number of organizations were raised in the state and mnstered into the service of the United States for various periods. The organizations do not, however, represent all the men fur- nished, for large numbers were sent as recruits to fill and strengthen old organizations already in the field :
Cavalry-For three years service and over, a total of twelve regiments and two companies.
Heavy Artillery-For three years service and over, one regiment.
485
HISTORY OF CALHOUN COUNTY
Light Artillery-For three years service and over, one regiment ; for three years service, eleven batteries, or a total of one regiment and eleven batteries.
Engineers-For three years service and over, one regiment; for three years service, one company. Total, one regiment and one company.
Sharp Shooters-For three years service, one regiment and two com- panies; for one years service, two companies. Total, one regiment and four companies.
Infantry-For three years service and over, thirteen regiments; for three years service, seventeen regiments and two companies; for three years service, one regiment of colored troops; for one years service, two regiments; for three months service, one regiment. Total of infantry, thirty-four regiments and two companies. Total of all arms, fifty regi- ments, nine companies and eleven batteries. When it is understood that it was Michigan's policy to fill the ranks of the old regiments with recruits rather than create new organizations, this is a most ereditable showing.
Of the 89,123 soldiers furnished by Michigan, Calhoun county was credited with 3,878, or one soldier in every 23 furnished by the state in the war for the preservation of the Union.
Any one who thinks this large proportion of the citizenship of the state was enlisted as soldiers without effort is grievonsly mistaken and to suppose there was not more or less prevalent an anti-war sentiment would be a serious error. Governor Blair in his message to the legislature in January, 1862, defined the issue so clearly that no one could be mis- taken when he said, "He who is not for the Union, unconditionally in this mortal struggle, is against it." The spirit of opposition was so pronounced at one time in the city of Detroit that a publie meeting, called on the Campus Martius in that city, for the purpose of stimulating enlistments, was surprised by a mob of men who furiously interrupted the deliberations and entirely broke up and dispersed the meeting, driv- ing the officers from the stand and compelling some of them to seck shelter and safety in the Russell house, which at that time stood near by.
The adjutant general of the state in his report for 1862 gives a brighter view of the general sentiment when he says, "The response of the people of the state to the President's call was patriotic and prompt almost beyond expectation. Individuals of every degree of prominence forthwith began to interest themselves in the business of filling the regi- ments. Communities gave to it their time and their almost exclusive attention, while, better than all the substantial masses of the people offered themselves in person. War meetings were held in almost every village and township in the state. Representatives of all classes con- verted themselves either into recruits or recruiting officers and among the most efficient of the latter were ministers of the gospel, some of whom led the men they had enlisted into the field."
PRESS AND CHURCH FOR THE UNION
Among the forces that made for Union Sentiment and the prosecu- tion of the war to a successful issne was the loyal press throughout the
-
486
HISTORY OF CALHOUN COUNTY
state. Its services in "strengthening the hands of public officers, in moulding public opinion, in favor of loyalty to the government, in encouraging patriotism among the masses and inspiring those at the front with a heroism leading to gallant deeds, cannot be overestimated."
During the entire war the Christian church of the state without regard to denomination, "generally proved by its pronounced patriotism and manifest devotion to the cause of the country an element of immense success. From the time that Sumter was fired upon until Lee and John- son laid down their rebellious arms and Davis fled for his life, it encour- aged and nerved by word and deed the soldiers in the field, aided much in the recruitment of men by its approval of the eanse and its openly avowed abhorrence of rebels and those who sympathized with them and opposed the war."
This sustained devotion to the Union by the press and church and people at home was surpassed only by the heroism and valor of the soldiers in the field. Their conduct at Antietam, Gettysburg, Vicksburg, Stone River, Chickamauga and many other fields of conflict added im- perishable lustre to the fame of the commonwealth of Michigan. As the end of the war drew near and the triumph of the Union arms became assured manifestations of praise, of appreciation and of gratitude to the soldiers took many forms of expression.
Governor Blair, the steadfast friend of the soldiers from the begin- ning to the end of the war, in his last message to the legislature, January 4, 1865, said, "Again, and for the last time, I commend the Michigan troops to your continued care and support. They have never failed in their duty to the country or to the state. Upon every great battlefield of the war their shouts have been heard and their sturdy blows have been delivered for the Union and victory. Their hard-earned fame is the treasure of every honsehold in the state. In every situation their bravery has won the approval of their commanders and their heroic endurance of hardships has added Instre to their name."
THE GRAND MUSTER-OUT
The armies of the Confederacy having surrendered in the spring of 1865, the muster-out of the troops and the disbanding of the Union armies followed as rapidly as circumstances would allow. By July 10th, the Michigan regiments had nearly all reached the state. On the 14th of the same month, four years and three months, to a day, from the lowering of the flag over Sumter, Governor Crapo, who had succeeded Austin Blair in the executive chair, welcomed by proclamation the Michigan soldiers baek to their state and homes. Among other things he said: "In the honr of national danger and peril when the safety, when the very existence, of your country was imperiled, you left your firesides, your homes and your families to defend the Government and the Union. But the danger is now averted, the struggle is ended, and victory, absolute and complete victory, has perched upon your banners. You have conquered a glorious peace and are thereby permitted to return to your homes and to the pursuits of tranquil industry to which
487
IHISTORY OF CALHOUN COUNTY
I welcome you. And not only for myself, but for the people of the state do I tender you a most cordial greeting."
One of the greatest, if not the greatest day Detroit and Michigan ever saw was July 4, 1865, when amidst a mighty coneourse of soldiers and citizens the state received back the flags she had entrusted to her soldiery-these flags now, 1912, rest secure in air-tight receptacles in the state military museum in the capitol building in Lansing and constitute the most interesting feature of a large collection of treasured mementoes. Major General Orlando B. Wileox-who as colonel commanded the first regiment the state sent to the war-in his presentation address said, "Of all these flags there is scareely one which has not waved in the thickest of the fight ; scarcely a color which has not seen its heroic bearers one after another struck down in battle. Many a hand that vigorously grasped these flag staffs, and led the van now lies crumbling in the grave : and not eolor bearers alone, but 15,000 others who fought beside them-the flower of Michigan-return not to receive your thanks and the plaudits of their grateful countrymen." In conelnding his remarks General Wilcox said, "It only now remains for me, in the name of the Michigan soldiers, to surrender to the state these flags, tattered but not stained, emblems of a war that is past. We shall ever retain our pride in their glorious associations as well as our love for the old peninsula state." Governor Crapo in receiving them on behalf of the state in the concluding sentence of his address said, "Let us, then, tenderly deposit them as sacred relies in the arehives of our state there to stand forever, her proudest possession, a revered incentive to liberty and patriotism and a constant rebuke and terror to oppression and treason."
MONEY FOR THE WAR
In the long struggle which so severely taxed the people of the state at home and her soldiers in the field, Calhoun county bore her full share. By only four counties in the state was she outnumbered in the aggregate enlistments for the war. To aid in procuring volunteers and to prevent the necessity of drafts Calhoun county raised and paid through its various townships, cities and wards the sum of $354,432.32, and in addi- tion to this sum it raised and paid for the relief of soldiers' families under the provisions of the soldiers' relief law the munificent sum of $200,193.66. In addition to these funds, there were constant contribu- tions through various organizations, as for example the Michigan Sol- diers' Aid Society, the Michigan Soldiers' Relief Association, the Chris- tian Commission, the Ladies' Soldiers' Aid Societies having branch or- ganizations in every township and ward; local organizations gathering together in the aggregate large amounts of necessary supplies and send- ing them to the sick and wounded in hospitals and to the well in the camps at the front. Everything thought useful and needful for the soldiers whether sick or well were sent forward. The value of these in money amounted to many thousands of dollars for which no accounting was made. It was a labor of love on the part of the people at home
488
HISTORY OF CALHOUN COUNTY
and they found compensation in the thought that they brought comfort and good cheer to the soldiers whether in the hospitals or the camps.
HISTORICAL AUTHORITIES RELIED UPON
Calhoun county furnished sixteen companies distributed among ten different regiments, besides the Merrill Horse, and many enlistments in other regiments and in batteries. We will endeavor to speak briefly of these different commands in which the county had a distinct organiza- tion. Such treatment must of necessity be brief, but will be sufficiently extended to show our readers the kind of officers and soldiers sent to the army. For our authority we have relied mainly upon the official "Rec- ords of the Union and Confederate Armies: War of the Rebellion. Pre- pared under the direction of the Secretary of War and published by authority of the Government." We once asked General Longstreet which he regarded as the best history of the war from the Confederate point of view. He replied : "We hav'nt any best history ; none that will stand the test of comparison with the reports published in those volumes," pointing to a set of "War of the Rebellion Records" on the shelves in his library. "Every true history of the war," he said, "must square with the reports in these books for they contain the correspondence, orders and reports of the actual participants, made at that time."
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.