USA > Michigan > Genesee County > History of Genesee County, Michigan, Her People, Industries and Institutions, Volume I > Part 37
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On the morning of Sunday, November 29, 1863, a force of the enemy consisting of two veteran Georgia brigades of McLaw's division, made
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a furious and persistent assault on Ft. Saunders; but they were repelled and finally driven back in disorder with a loss of eight hundred in killed, wounded and prisoners and three stands of colors. With the force inside the fort during this assault were Companies A, F, G and H, of the Second Michigan. Their loss, however, was inconsiderable, being only five killed and wounded. From that time the regiment saw no fighting at this place other than slight skirmishes, and on Friday night, December 4, the enemy withdrew from before Knoxville, after a siege of eighteen days' duration.
The Second marched from Knoxville, December 8, and moved to Rut- ledge. On the 16th it moved to Blain's Cross-Roads, which was its last march in 1863. During the year that was then about closing, the regiment had moved a distance of more than two thousand five hundred miles. It remained at Blain's for about a month, during which time it was "veteran- ized;" the number re-enlisting as veterans was one hundred and ninety-eight. About the middle of January, 1864, it moved to Strawberry Plains, thence to Knoxville and to Erie Station, remaining at the latter place until Febru- ary 4; it then moved under orders to proceed to Detroit, Michigan, and reached there twenty days later. Here the veteran furlough was given to those who had re-enlisted, and Mt. Clemens was made the place of rendezvous. At this place the regiment received orders on the 4th of April to proceed to Annapolis, Maryland, to rejoin the Ninth Army Corps, which had in the meantime moved from Tennessee to Virginia to reinforce the Army of the Potomac. The regiment left Annapolis on the 22nd, pro- ceeded to Washington, and thence into Virginia, where on the 5th of May it crossed the Rapidan and joined the army which was then moving into the Wilderness. For six weeks following this time the Second was, with its companion regiment of the brigade, so constantly employed in march, skirmish or battle, that it is hardly practicable to follow the intricacies of the movements; but the following statement of casualties during that time shows where and how it fought. The statement, which includes only the killed and wounded (and not the missing), is taken from the report of the regimental surgeon, Richard S. Vickery: In the Wilderness battle, May 6, killed and wounded, 38; at Spottsylvania Court House, May 12, killed and wounded, II; at Oxford, North Anna, May 24, killed, I; skirmish of May 24, killed, I; Pamunkey River, May 31, 2; skirmish, June 1, 5; skirm- ish, June 2, 2; battle of Bethesda Church, June 2, 38; Cold Harbor and other actions, from June 4 to June 10, 9.
The regiment crossed to the south side of the James river on the 15th, reached the enemy's works in front of Petersburg on the 16th, and took
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part in the attack of the next two days with the following losses in killed and wounded: In battle of June 17, 91; in battle of June 18, 83.
Recruits to the number of five hundred or more had joined the regi- ment since the veteran re-enlistment-otherwise such losses would have been impossible.
On the 30th of July the Second took part in the engagement which followed the explosion of the mine and sustained a loss of twenty killed and wounded and thirty-seven missing. Having moved with the Ninth Corps to the Weldon railroad, it there took part in repelling the enemy's assault on our lines August 19, losing one killed and two wounded. On the 30th it crossed the Weldon railroad and, moving towards the enemy's right flank, participated in the engagement of that date at Poplar Grove Church about a month at Peebles' Farm, but moved, October 27, in the advance on Boydton Plank-Road, losing seven wounded in that affair. It then remained at Peebles', engaged in picket duty and fortifying, till November 29, wher it moved to a point about ten miles farther to the right on the City Point & Petersburg railroad, and there remained in the trenches during the winter. On the 25th of March it fought at Ft. Steadman and sustained severe loss. It again lost slightly at the capture of Petersburg, April 3. It then moved to the South Side railroad, eighteen miles from Petersburg, and remained nearly two weeks, but in the meantime the army of Lee had surrendered and the fighting days of the regiment were passed. It moved to City Point and embarking there on the 18th, was transported to Alexandria, Virginia, from whence it moved to a camp at Tenallytown, Maryland. On the 27th of May it was detached for duty in Washington City and remained there for about two months. On the 29th of July, having on the previous day been mustered out of the service, it left by railroad for Michigan, and on the Ist of August it reached Detroit and was soon afterward paid and dis- banded. In a published account of the regiment's return, it was stated that of all the original members of Company F, Orlando H. Ewer, of Flint, was the only one who remained in its ranks to be included in the final discharge "after four years and a quarter of honorable service."
Headquarters First Brigade, Burn's Division, Opposite Fredericksburg. Va. December 5th, 1862.
Special Orders, No. 19.
II. Private Frank Thompson, Company F, Second Michigan Volunteers, is detailed on special duty at these headquarters as postmaster and mail carrier for the brigade. (Signed) O. M. POE,
Official : James Reid, Lieut, and A. A. A. C. Colonel Commanding Brigade.
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In Company F, Second Michigan, there enlisted at Flint, Franklin Thompson (or Frank, as usually called) aged twenty, ascertained after- ward and about the time he left the regiment to have been a female, and a good looking one at that. She succeeded in concealing her sex most admir- ably, serving in various campaigns and battles of the regiment as a soldier, often employed as a spy, going within the enemy's lines, sometimes absent for weeks, and is said to have furnished much valuable information. She remained with the regiment until April, 1863, when it is supposed she appre- hended a disclosure of her sex and deserted at Lebanon, Kentucky, but where she went remains a mystery.
At the reunion of the regiment held at Lansing, October 1I, 1883, the mysterious disappearance of Frank Thompson was cleared up, and in May, 1900, Colonel Schneider published a complete history of Frank Thompson, or Mrs. Seelye, who died at Laporte, Texas, September 5, 1898, and was buried under the auspices of Houston (Texas) Post of the Grand Army of the Republic, of which she had been an honored member.
THE OLD FLAG OF THE SECOND MICHIGAN INFANTRY.
During the preliminary organization of the Second Infantry, nearly every company was presented with a flag by the citizens of the locality where it had been recruited, and upon arriving at the rendezvous in Detroit, the Niles company having been designated as the "color company," the flag brought by them was used as the regimental colors. In February, 1862, this flag, being of very light silk, had become unserviceable. Col. O. M. Poe, commanding the regiment, obtained from the war department a set of regulation infantry colors, which he presented, with a stirring speech, to the regiment, and the original flag was returned to its donors. This second flag was carried in thirty-four engagements, and under its folds eleven officers and one hundred and ninety-four men were killed in action or mortally wounded. On the 24th of November, 1863, at Knoxville, Tennessee, the regiment, under command of Major Byington, charged the enemy's rifle pits. Eighty-four were killed and wounded out of one hundred and fifty engaged, including Major Byington, who was mortally wounded, four officers and the color serg- eant killed, and six sergeants who lost a leg each, the flag staff being hit three times. On July 30, 1864, during the attack which followed the blowing up of a fort within the enemy's lines, near Petersburg, Virginia, known in the list of engagements as "The Crater," the regiment was in the advance of the charge made by the Ninth Corps. At every step the fire of the enemy in front
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and on each flank concentrated upon them and plowed their ranks with great slaughter. The charge was checked on the side of the crest; there was a halt, and finally the whole line of the brigade, wavering under terrible odds, recoiled; nearly surrounded through lack of proper support, the regimental commander among the dead, fifty-seven men killed and prisoners, and seeing escape hopeless, Color Sergeant Jesse Gaines ran to the rear as far as possible, and cast the flag over the parapet towards our lines, trusting it would be seen and saved by some of our men; he was almost instantly a prisoner, with others of the color guard. The flag was found and taken by the enemy and carried a trophy to Richmond.
A Richmond paper, narrating the events of this desperate battle, said, in substance : "Among the flags taken was that of the Second Michigan Infan- try, an organization well known in our army since the first Bull Run battle. It bears the names of many prominent engagements with both the eastern and western armies. This regiment must have been nearly annihilated, or it would never have lost its colors." And Sergeant Gaines, in his interesting sketch, pithily says: "It is true the flag was lost, but it was never surrendered." When Richmond was taken it was found in the rebel capitol, removed to Washington, and later, by an order of the war department, sent to the regi- mental association, and is now among the war relics in the capitol at Lansing.
As a proof that no dishonor was attached to the regiment for its loss under such trying circumstances, General Mead, commanding the Army of the Potomac, ordered a new flag to be presented to the regiment, which was done. Upon general orders of army headquarters, the following most prom- inent battles and sieges, in which the regiment had borne a creditable part, were printed upon this last flag, as far as practicable, all minor engagements being left out for want of space on the flag: Blackburn's Ford, Bull Run, siege of Yorktown, Williamsburg, Fair Oaks, Glendale, Malvern Hill, Chan- tilly, Fredericksburg, siege of Vicksburg, siege of Petersburg, Crater, Weldon Railroad, Ream's Station, Poplar Springs Church, Hatcher's Run, Fort Steadman, Capture of Petersburg and Appomattox.
Of scenes long passed ; mid battle's strife, Where it gained a halo of glory, This dear old flag, each star and stripe, Could tell many a touching story.
At the annual meeting of The Association of Survivors of the Second Michigan Infantry, at Kalamazoo, October 16, 1888, a committee consisting of Capt. John V. Ruehle, Jr., Capt .. John C. Hardy and Capt. William J. Handy, was appointed to report upon a design for a regimental badge. At the
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reunion held at Saginaw, August 29, 1889, this committee reported as fol- lows: "A design for a badge has been considered and a sketch is herewith submitted : Material of badge and bar to be of gold. The cost will be $ -- , the badge to be a seven-pointed star, in general form and dimensions similar to the one adopted by the Kearney Division Association; a circle of leaves enclosing the diamond or lozenge of the Third Army Corps in red enamel, the same resting upon the cannon and anchor of the Ninth Army Corps in blue enamel; around the corps badges the words 'Blackburn's Ford, 1861, to Ap- pomattox, 1865'; below in a scroll '2d Mich. Infty'; the badge to be suspended from a bar pin by a red ribbon. The committee also suggests that the issue of badges shall be confined to the following persons only: First, to those who were identified with the regiment and served in it during any of the following campaigns, and were honorably discharged from the regiment: The Penin- sular campaign, under McClellan; in Virginia, under Pope, Virginia, under Burnside, Kentucky under Burnside, Mississippi under Grant, Mississippi under Sherman, Tennessee under Burnside, or the final campaign against Richmond under Grand; second, to the nearest surviving heir of any member of the regiment who was killed, died of wounds or disease in the service or died since mustered out (if honorably discharged), the intention being that every member who served creditably with this regiment may hereafter be represented by this badge, and none others." This report was adopted and the same committee made a permanent one to carry out its provisions.
OFFICERS AND MEN OF THE SECOND INFANTRY FROM GENESEE COUNTY.
Adj. Richard M. Mahon, Genesee Co .; private Co. K; pro. to com .- sergt., Nov. 7, 1861; pro. to 2d lieut. Co. K; pro. to 1st lieut. and adj., March 6, 1862; resigned Aug. 30, 1862.
Quar .- Master Sergt. James Bradley, Flint; pro. to 2d lieut. Co. 1; 1st lieut. and capt. Co. F.
Quar .- Master Sergt. Goundry Hill, Flint; pro. to 2d lieut. Co. F; pro. to 1st lieut. and quar .- master, Dec. 3, 1862; must. out Sept. 30, 1864.
Sergt .- Maj. Joseph Van Buskirk, Flint; pro. to 1st lieut. Co. D.
Company F.
Capt., William R. Morse, Flint ; enl. April 25, 1861; wounded at Williamsburg, Va., May 5, 1862; res. Aug. 22, 1863, to accept appointment in invalid corps.
Capt. James Bradley, Flint; enl. Dec. 3, 1863; was qr .- mr .- sergt. ; pro. to 2d lieut. Co. I, Aug. 25, 1862; pro. to 1st lieut. Co. F; died of wounds received in action near Petersburg, Va., June 17, 1864; buried at Arlington National Cemetery, Va. Now buried at River Run, Mich.
First Lieut. Wm. Furver, Flint: enl .. April 25, 1861; res. July 29, 1862.
Second Lieut. James Farrand, Flint; enl. April 25, 1862; pro. to 1st lieut. Co. G, March 6, 1862; pro. to capt. Co. C, Aug. 1, 1862; killed in action near Spottsylvania Court House, May 12, 1864.
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Second Lieut. Goundry Hill (qr .- mr .- sergt.) ; 2d lieut. Co. F; enl. Aug. 9, 1862; 1st lieut. and qr .- mr. Dec. 3, 1862; must. out Sept. 30, 1864.
Second Lieut. Nelson Fletcher (sergt.), Flint; 2d lieut. Dec. 1862; killed in action near Oxford, North Anna river, Va., May 24, 1864.
Sergt. George R. Bisbey, died at Camp Winfield Scott, Md., July 11, 1861.
Sergt. William B. McCreery, Flint; pro. to capt. Co. G.
Sergt. Sumner Howard, Flint; pro. to 2d lieut. regular army, August, 1861.
Sergt. Goundry Hill, Flint ; pro. to qr .- mr .- sergt. March 7, 1862.
Corp. Edwin C. Turver, enl. May 25, 1861; disch. for disability, Sept., 1861.
Corp. James Bradley, enl. May 25, 1861; pro. to qr .- mr .- sergt. Aug. 1, 1862.
Corp. Damon Stewart, enl. May 25, 1861; disch. to accept commission in Twenty- third Infantry.
Corp. Joseph Van Buskirk, enl. May 25, 1861; pro. to sergt .- maj. Sept. 16, 1862.
Corp. William L. Bishop, enl. May 25, 1861; killed in battle at Yorktown, Va., April 16, 1862.
Corp. Nelson Fletcher (sergt. ), enl. May 25, 1861; pro. to qr .- mr .- sergt. Dec 1, 1862.
Privates-William H. Allen, must. out June 28, 1865; David Anderson, Vienna, must. out July 28, 1865; William J. Allen, Vienna, must. out June 25, 1865; William L. Bishop, corp., died at Yorktown, Va., April 16, 1862; George R. Bisbey, sergt., died of disease at Camp Winfield Scott, Va., July, 1861; Joseph N. Bradley, disch. for disability, Dec. 2, 1862; Adin C. Billings, sergt., Flint Tp., pro. to 1st lieut. Co. K; Andrew A. Baxter, disch. for disability, July 14, 1862; James Benson, Flint Tp., killed at Wilder- ness, Va., May 6, 1864; George Beemer, died in action at Knoxville, Tenn., Nov. 24, 1863 : Milton S. Benjamin, Vienna, disch. for wounds, Jan. 28, 1865; George Carmer, died in action at Williamsburg, Va., May 5, 1862; Charles B. Collins, disch. to enlist in regular service, Dec. 5, 1862: S. Bradford Cummings, disch. for disability, Feb. 19, 1863: Thomas Chapin. Jr., disch. at end of service, June 21, 1864; Clark F. Chapman, Flint Tp., disch. for wounds, Feb. 26, 1865; James Coe, must. out July 28, 1865; John Deitz, disch. for disability, Jan. 5, 1863; George Davis, disch. at end of service, May 25, 1864; Cornelius De Hart, disch. at end of service, Dec. 25, 1864; Charles E. Deioster, disch. at end of service, Dec. 25, 1864: Daniel J. Ensign, died June 3, 1862, of wounds received at Fair Oaks, Va .; Orlando H. Ewer, Flint Tp.,. must. out July 28, 1865; Charles L. Gardner, died of disease at Camp Lyons, Va., Oct., 1861; Joseph H. George, disch. for disability, Sept., 1861; John R. Goodrich, disch. for disability, Oct. 23, 1862; William Houghton, disch. for disability, Sept., 1861; Julius Heine, disch. for disability, Jan. 5, 1863: Frederick Holtz, Clayton, died at Knoxville, Tenn., Dec. 12, 1863, of wounds; Francis Haven, Flint; died in action near Petersburg, Va., June 17, 1864; Virgil Hadstalt, missing in action at Knoxville, Tenn., Nov. 24, 1863; Henry W. Horton, trans. to Vet. Res. Corps, March 15, 1864; Richard H. Halstead, disch. at end of service, June 21, 1864; Charles Hartner, disch. to re-enlist as veteran, Dec. 31, 1863; James V. Hornell, absent, sick, not must. out with company; Sheldon B. Kelly, died in action at Fair Oaks, Va., May 31, 1862; John Kane, disch. for disability, Sept., 1861; Philip Kelland, disch. for disability, July 19, 1862; Elisha Kelly, musician; disch. to re-enlist as veteran, Dec. 31, 1863; Charles E. Kingsbury, Fort Tp., must. out July 28, 1865; George Lee, Grand Blanc Tp., must. out July 28, 1865; Charles D. Moore, died June 6, 1862, or wounds received at Fair Oaks, Va .; Dellion McConnell, died in action at Fair Oaks, May 31, 1862; John B. Miller, died in action at Chantilly, Va., July 1, 1862; David McConnell, disch. to enlist in regular service, Dec. 5, 1862; Peter McNally, Vienna Tp., must. out May 26, 1865; Samuel L. Ploss, died of disease at Washington,
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Aug. 29, 1861; Hamilton Ploss, died of disease at Washington, Aug. 29, 1861; James F. Partridge, musician ; disch. for disability, Dec. 8, 1861; Wallace L. Parker, Genesee Tp., veteran, must. out July 28, 1865; Charles Rankin, died of disease at Arlington Heights, Va., Sept. 20, 1861; Cornelius E. Rulison, disch. at end of service, June 21, 1864; Nathan M. Richardson, Flint; must. out July 28, 1865; George Ruddiman, Flint; must. out July 28, 1865; Jacob C. Sackrier, died June 24, 1862, of wounds; James S. Smith, disch. for disability, Sept., 1861; Arba Smith, disch. for disability, Sept., 1861; George Sawyer, disch. for disability, Oct., 1861; James Scarr, disch. at end of service, June 21, 1864; Lyman Stow, disch, at end of service, June 21, 1864; Albert L. Sawyer, disch. at end of service, June 21, 1864; Franklin B. Smith, disch. Jan. 27, 1863; Her- cules Stannard, veteran, must. out July 28, 1865; George Sheldon, disch. to re-enlist at veteran, Dec. 31, 1863; Albert Schultz, disch. to re-enlist at veteran, Dec. 31, 1863; Charles H. Stone, Flint; died of disease near Alexandria, Va., Oct. 6, 1864; John G. Sanford, Vienna Tp., died of disease near Alexandria, Va., Oct. 20, 1864; Mathias Schermerhorn, must. out May 20, 1865; Edwin C. Turver, corp., disch. for disability, Sept., 1861; John or Joseph W. Tompkins, must. out Aug. 5, 1865; Hiram Tenney, disch. at end of service, May 25, 1864; Edgar Tibbals, disch. at end of service, May 25, 1864; John H. Tibbals, disch. at end of service, Nov. 9, 1864; John Walter, disch. at end of service, June 21, 1864; James Willett, disch. at end of service, May 25, 1864; William E. Williams, disch. for disability, Oct., 1861; Emory A. Wood, disch. for dis- ability, Aug. 4, 1862; John A. Weller, trans. to Vet. Res. Corps, Nov. 15, 1864; Don A. Williams, must. out July 28, 1865; Robert H. J. Warner, Vienna Tp., must. out June 19, 1865.
Company G.
William B. McCreery, Flint; capt. Sept. 10, 1861; wounded at Williamsburg, Va., in three places severely, May 5, 1862; pro. to lieut .- colonel 21st Regt. Mich. Inf., Nov. 20, 1862; colonel, Feb. 3, 1863: taken prisoner at Chickamauga, Tenn., Sept. 20, 1863: wounded in three places severely : escaped from Libby Prison, Feb. 19, 1864; resigned on account of wounds, Sept. 14, 1864.
James Farrand, Flint; 1st lieut. March 6, 1862; pro. to capt. Co. C, Aug. 1, 1862; killed in action near Spottsylvania Court House, Va., May 12, 1864.
George Sheldon, Fenton; com .- sergt .; sergt. Co. K; pro. to 1st lieut. Co. C; must. out as sergt.
Hercules Stannard, Flint (sergt.) ; pro. to 2d lieut .; must. out as sergt.
Privates-Ward Berry, Argentine, Co. E, died of wounds, June 19, 1864, near Petersburg, Va .; Henry Dorman, Grand Blanc, Co. C, must. out July 28, 1865; Myron Green, Atlas, Co. B, died June 17, 1864, of wounds; James M. Hill, Atlas, Co. B, miss- ing in action, July 30, 1864; Lafayette Hill, Atlas, Co. B, must. out Aug. 2. 1865; Walter P. Jones, Fenton, Co. B, must. out July 28, 1865; Charles E. Lason, Atlas, Co. H, must. out July 28, 1865; Read Larde, Argentine. Co. E, must. out July 28, 1865; Robert F. Meddleworth, Argentine, Co. E, died near Petersburg, Va., June 19, 1864. of wounds; Abram D. Perry, Atlas, Co. E, died at Washington, July 17. 1864, of wounds; Orrin D. Putnam, Argentine O., died at Washington, June 2, 1864, of acci- dental wounds; Thomas Perry, Fulton, Co. I, must. out July 28, 1865: Charles H. Snook, Argentine, Co. E, died July 6, 1864, of wounds; Asa Shepard, Argentine, Co. G. must. out July 28, 1865; George W. Tharrett, Davison, Co. H, must. out July 28. 1865; Joseph B. Varnum, Atlas Tp., Co. H, must. out Aug. 11, 1865; Charles Webber, Fenton, Co. B, must. out Aug. 2, 1865.
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EIGHTH INFANTRY.
The Eighth Regiment was formed in the summer and fall of 1861. Its organizer and commanding officer was Col. William M. Fenton, of Flint, previously major of the Seventh Infantry, from which he was pro- moted to this. The nucleus of the Eighth Regiment was a Genesee company called the "Fenton Light Guard" which had been organized at the armory in Flint, May 10, a few days after the departure of the Flint Union Grays to join the Second Regiment at Detroit. It had been expected that the Light Guard would take the field as a part of the Seventh Regiment, and in fact it had been designated as E Company in that organization; but as the Seventh was able to muster its full complement of ten companies without this, it was transferred to Colonel Fenton's command, not only with the con- sent but in accordance with the wishes of the officers and men. Another Genesee company which entered the Eighth was named the Excelsior Guard, and representatives of the county were found in all of the eight other companies of the regiment. These last-named companies, however, were principally made up of men from the counties of Shiawassee, Clinton, Gratiot, Montcalm, Kent, Ingham, Jackson and Barry.
On the 12th of August the several companies were designated and ordered to rendezvous at Grand Rapids on the 21st. Under these orders the Fenton Light Guard, one hundred and seven strong, under Capt. Russell M. Barker, and the Excelsior Guard, Capt. Ephraim N. Lyon, left Flint and moved to Fentonville, and thence by the Detroit & Milwaukee railroad to Grand Rapids, where the regimental camp was pitched in the fair grounds and named "Camp Anderson." Here the regiment remained for four weeks engaged in drill, organization and the filling of its ranks to the maximum number. On the 18th of September it moved to Detroit, and thence to a camp at Ft. Wayne, below the city, where, on the 23d, it was mustered into the United States service for three years by Capt. H. R. Mizner, United States Army, its strength when mustered was nine hundred. Its field officers, besides Colonel Fenton, were Lieut .- Col. Frank Graves and Maj. Amasa B. Watson.
In the organization of the regiment the Fenton Light Guard was desig- nated as A Company and it was mustered under the following named com- missioned officers : Captain, Simon C. Guild, promoted to captaincy in place of Captain Barker, who resigned at Camp Anderson on account of ill-health; first lieutenant, George E. Newell; second lieutenant, George H. Turner.
The Excelsior Guard was designated as G Company, and its first com-
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missioned officers were: Captain, E. N. Lyon; first lieutenant, Horatio Belcher ; second lieutenant, N. Miner Pratt.
Orders for the departure of the regiment were received on the 26th of September, and on the 27th it embarked on the steamers "Ocean" and "May Queen" and, moving down the river and lake, arrived at Cleveland the follow- ing morning. From there it moved by railroad through Pittsburgh, Harris- burg and Baltimore to Washington, where it arrived on the 30th and en- camped on Meridian Hill; its camp was named "Camp Williams." In due time the men received arms and equipments. On the 9th of October the regi- ment moved to Annapolis, Maryland, and there occupied the grounds of the Naval Academy.
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