USA > Michigan > Ottawa County > History of Ottawa County, Michigan with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 32
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SECOND CAVALRY.
This regiment, organized by Hon. F. W. Kellogg, left Grand Rapids Nov. 14, 1861, for St. Louis, with about 1200 men and offl- cers. Its first operations were against New Madrid and Island No. 10. It was very actively engaged, and in its turn is credited withi 70 battles and skirmishes, the chief of which are Point Pleasant, Mo., March 9, 1862; Tiptonville, New Madrid, Island No. 10, Mon- terey, Farmington, Siege of Corinth, Boonville, (twice), Perryville, Spring Hill (1863,) Columbia, Triune, Chickamauga, Anderson Cross Roads, Sparta, Nashville, Franklin, Spring Hill (1865,) Pulaski, Corinth, Talladaga, Ala., April 23, 1865. On March 29, 1864, 328 veterans reenlisted and had 30 days furlough. This regiment was in 1st Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, Army of Cumberland.
COMPANY E., SECOND MICH. CAVALRY,
although organized at Grand Rapids, was chiefly raised in Muske- gon. The first captain was B. Whitman, who enlisted Sept. 2, 1861, and resigned May 12, 1862, now residing near Berlin in Ot- tawa County. H. F. Nicholson was the second captain, but Harry Vance, now of Saginaw, was the most popular captain. Captain Nicholson was over the company from June 1, 1862, to March 1864, and then promoted to be Major. The company was mus- tered out Aug. 17, 1865.
We give below from the diary of George Bradford, 1st Orderly Sergeant, the Company roll:
Captain, Benj. S. Whitman; 1st Lieutenant, Henry W. Sears; 2d Lieutenant, Harmon F. Nicholson, 1st Sergeant, Geo. Bradford; 2d Sergeant, S. F. Dickerson; 3d Sergeant, Henry Vance; 4th Sergeant, Wm. Bingham; 5th Sergeant, Charles Bar- ton; 6th Sergeant, Alvin Mapes. Corporals, 1st Corporal, Wm. H. Harrison; 2d Corporal, Edson Burrows; 3d Corporal, A. M. Kocker; 4th Corporal, L. R. Fenton; 5th Corporal, Franklin Perkins; 6th Corporal, Jas. Lee; 7th Corporal, Daniel Moody; 8th Corporal, E. H. Landbach. Buglers, Wm. E. Murray (deceased,) and John F. Chubb. Farriers and Blacksmiths, A. McNaughton and Truman Young. Saddler, Peter Ryan. Wagon Master, Calvin S. Rogers.
Privates, John Allen, Andrew Allen, John W. Barry, Christian Brown, Val Beach, Washington Brown, Robert H. Barton, Henry Barton, Gabriel Carlyle, Jas. F. Cole, Geo. T. Carlyle, Amos B. Cook, John Olney, Jacob Davis, John D. Edmonds, Jno. Eaton, Geo. Eccles, Lewis R. Fenton, John Fitzmorris, Antoine Gabriel, Napoleon B. Harrison, Daniel Harrison, Hoag Wenderlin, George Hilton, Chas. Hutchinson, David Herren, Geo. R. Jones, Eph. Keller, James Keating (deceased), Decatur Knickerbocker, Nathan Lovell, Chas. Leland, Frank Murray, Lawrence Millet, Charles Mathon, Oliver B. Mason, Arch. McMillan, Jas. McKee, Alex Mc- Donald, Jas. S. Monroe, Wm. H. Millard, Duncan McNaughton, Thos. Newcomb, Nelson Oleson, Jolin Olney, Thos. O'Brien, Elson Omans, Wm. W. Pierson, Francis M. Perkins, Martin Pettit, Wm. Post, Philip Post. Jacob Post, Lansing Post, Jno. B. Robinson, Thos. Ryan, Thos. Rowling, John Rowling, Wm. H. Russell, Dennis Rafferty, James Root, Wm. P. Smith, I. A. Mapes, Jos. Scoles, I. M. Sines, John N. Snider, Volney Trask, Warren Trask, Thos. Terry, Jas. Tompkins, John J. Water, Thos. Wall, Fernando W. Willet, Lewis Willys.
THIRD CAVALRY.
This regiment was organized simultaneously with the Second Cavalry, at Grand Rapids, leaving Nov. 28, 1861, with 1,163 names. It was at Benton Barracks during the winter, and participated in 1861 in the engagements at New Madrid, Farmington, Iuka, Corinth, Hutchie, Spangler's Mills, Bay Springs, Holly Springs, etc., to Cof- feeville on Dec. 5, also in the sieges of Island No. 10, and Corinth. Besides what they had taken while co-operating with other regi- ments, they had by themselves captured 3 Lieut. Cols., 2 Majors, 13 Captains, 19 Lieuts., and 1,249 privates, and on Nov. 30th the regiment numbered 971, with John K. Mezner, Colonel.
The adjutant general, speaking of this regiment, says: "From Nov. 1, 1862, to Nov. 1, 1863, it has captured 1,100 prisoners, mak- ing with the former year 2,100 prisoners, and during the year it has marched 10,800 miles, exclusive of marclies by detatched compan- ies." It would be too long to give all the details of its glorious marchies, suffice it to say that from Nov. 1864 to Feb. 1865, it did duty at Brownsville, Ark., where it made such improvements that the place was named "Michigan City" instead of Brownsville Sta- tion. In the spring of 1865 it was transferred to the Department of the Mississippi, and took part under Canby against Mobile, and
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MILITARY HISTORY.
afterwards this regiment was selected by Gen. Canby as his escort on receiving the surrender of Gen. Dick Taylor. It was finally stationed at San Antonio, Texas, for protection of the Rio Grande frontier, being in the First Brigade of First Cavalry Division, Military Divis- ion of the Gulf. Disbanded at Jackson, March 10, 1866.
THE FIFTH CAVALRY.
This regiment was organized by Col. J. T. Copeland, of the First Cavalry, and mustered into service Aug. 30, 1862. The com- mand, with the Ninth Battery, proceeded to the seat of war and was attached to the Army of the Potomac, with which it continued ser- vice until transferred to the Army of the Shenandoah. Its record of battles contains 67 names, beginning with Hanover, Va., June 30, 1863, and ending with the Appomattox Court House, April 9, 1865. Consolidated with the First and Seventh Michigan Cavalry, the en- tire command was ordered to Fort Leavenworth, and mustered out there June 22, 1855, and reported at Detroit for discharge eight days later.
WHITE RIVER.
The country around White Lake felt the pulsations of that pat- riotic wave which swept over the Northern States at the opening of the war with as deep heart throbbings as any other part of the com- munity. Noah Ferry, of the saw mill at the Mouth, entered heart and soul into the raising of a company of cavalry from his own em- ployes and others, which was afterwards enrolled as Company F, of the Fifth Michigan Cavalry, raised at Grand Rapids. It was organ- ized in 1862, mustered in at Detroit, drilled for three months, and went to Washington and thence to Fairfax Court House. Captain Ferry was promoted before he left Detroit, and when his lamented death took place, at Gettysburg, he was holding the rank of Major.
Captain Dicey also organized a company of Sharpshooters around White Lake.
SIXTH CAVALRY.
This regiment was organized at Grand Rapids, mustered into service Oct. 13, 1863, with 1,229 officers and men. Left its ren- dezvous on Dec. 10th for Washington, going into the Army of the Potomac with Geo. Gray, Colonel, R. A. Alger, Lieut. Col., Thad- deus Foote, E. D. Waters, and S. D. Brown, as Majors, D. G. Weare, Surgeon, H. F. Hale, Adjutant, C. H. Patten, Quartermaster, J. Chapman, Commissary. S. N. Greely, Chaplain. The following is a list of the battles and skirmishes of this regiment: Hanover, June 30, 1863, Hunterstown, Gettysburg, Monterey, Cavetown, Smithtown, Boonesboro, Hagerstown, Williamsport, Falling Waters, Snicker's Gap, Kelley's Ford, Culpepper, Racoon Ford, White's Ford, Jackshop, James City, Brandy Station, Buckland's Mills, Richmond, Wilderness, Cold Harbor, etc., to Appomattox Court House April 9, 1865, and Little Laramie, D. T., Aug. 6, 1865.
On Sept. 17, 1865, the men whose term of service did not ex- pire before Feb. 1866, were consolidated with First Michigan Caval- ry, and sent to Fort Leavenworth and there mustered out Nov. 24, 1865, and arriving at Jackson on the 30th were there disbanded.
SEVENTH CAVALRY.
This organization left Grand Rapids Feb. 20, 1862, with two battalions, the remaining companies joining them in May, Col. G. Gray commanding. At the close of 1863 it was in 2nd Brigade, 3rd division, cavalry corps of the army of the Potomac, and its colonel was W. D. Mann. At the close of 1864 we find this regiment in 1st Brigade, 1st Division Cavalry Corps, of middle military division. This regiment has a history somewhat similar to that of the Sixth Cavalry, as in many engagements they fought side by side. Their first engagement was at Thoroughfare Gap, May 21,1863; their last at Little Laramie, Aug. 6, 1865. Their last march was to the Rocky
Mountains to fight the Indians, a march of 700 miles west of Fort Leavenworth. About the first of November came an order for all whose term extended beyond March 1, 1866, transferring them to the First Michigan Cavalry, and ordering them to report at Denver City to be mustered out. By this order 250 were mustered out, and on arriving at Denver were ordered to Fort Leavenworth to be mus- tered out, which took twenty-seven days marching across the plains with snow on the ground, and only one wagon for 300 men, insuf- ficient to carry their provisions for three days, and across a country destitute of supplies or wood. Permission was granted the men to hire mules at a cost of $25 each, to carry provisions! The regiment was disbanded at Jackson on Christmas day.
TENTH CAVALRY.
Organized in 1863 at Grand Rapids, leaving with 912 men under Col. Thaddeus Foote, on Dec. 1st, for Camp Nelson, where it lay until Jan. 25, 1864, and was assigned to Second Brigade, 4th Divis- ion, 23rd corps, Armyof the Ohio. In 1864 Col. John H. Standish, now of Muskegon, ranked as Major, and Luther S. Trowbridge as Colonel, July 25, 1864. The regiment was in a great many engage- ments and bravely did its duty from its first skirmish at House Mountain, Tenn., Jan. 1864, to its last at Newton, N. C., April 17, 1865. It is credited with 55 battles and skirmishes. Mustered out at Memphis, Nov. 11, 1865.
FIRST ENGINEERS AND MECHANICS.
This regiment was organized at Marshall and left Dec. 1861, for Louisville with 1,032 men, and as most of valuable services were per- formed by detachments the regiment was more or less separated from the first. One of those detachments under Gen. Mitchell was the first to enter Bowling Green after its evacuation by the rebels. This regiment was employed in repairing and opening railroads between Nashville and Chattanooga, Nashville and Columbia, Corinth and Decatur, etc. During June 1862, it built seven bridges on the Mem- phis & Charleston R. R., aggregating 2,758 feet. After Pittsburg Landing for eight weeks it was engaged with but one day's rest.
On Oct. 31, 1864, the term of enlistment having expired, the officers and men whose term was out were allowed to leave, but so great was the number of re-enlistments that the regiment maintained its full strength and organization entire. After stirring times in active service, the regiment rendezvoused at Jackson, Michigan, on Sept. 25, 1865, and on Oct. 1, was disbanded. They had taken part in the following battles and skirmishes:
Mill Springs, Jan. 19, 1862; Farmington, Miss., May 9, 1862; siege of Corinth, May 10-31, 1862; Perryville, Oct. 8, 1862; La- vergne, Tenn., Jan. 1, 1863; Chattanooga, Oct. 6, 1863; siege of of Atlanta, July 22, to Sept. 2, 1864; Savannah, Dec. 11-21, 1864; Bentonville, N. C. Mar. 19, 1875.
ARTILLERY.
There were raised at Grand Rapids three batteries, the Second (Ross'), the Third (Dees'), and the Thirteenth.
Ross' left Dec. 17th, 1861, and at Pittsburg Landing, being cut off from infantry support, it lost four of its six pieces, and sixty offi- cers and men. After being connected with a Missouri battery, it was supplied with new guns, and operated in West Tennessee.
Dees' Battery left the same day as Ross', and was engaged at the siege of Corinth, at Iuka, and on Nov. 30, 1862, had 108 men, who were assigned to West Tennessse under Capt. Geo. Robinson. It is credited with sixteen battles and skirmishes, from Pittsburg Landing, April 6, 1862, to Bentonville, N. C., March 21-22, 1865, having marched " with Sherman to the sea."
The Thirteenth Battery was mustered in on Jan. 20, 1864, with 160 names. On Feb. 3d it left for Washington, and after drilling
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MILITARY HISTORY.
was ordered to Fort Slemmer, D. C. On July 11th and 12th it as- sisted in repelling the attack of Early on Fort Stevens.
GRAND HAVEN.
In Grand Haven and Ottawa County generally, a sustained feeling of the most ardent patriotism existed throughout the contest with the Southern Confederacy. and many were the noble and gen- erous deeds that might be recorded. Senator Ferry, the late C. B. Albee, and many others, were liberal of their means, and attentive to the wants of the soldier and those near and dear to him.
Capt. Elmer H. Dicey, then a machinist in the city, and now of Chicago, raised a company at the opening of the war, Co. B of the 1st Michigan Sharpshooters, which left sixty strong and rendez- voused at Kalamazoo, entering the Army of the Potomac, in Burn- side's 9th Corps. On the 30th of June, 1864, at the explosion of the mine before Petersburg, all the commissioned officers of the com- pany were either killed or wounded, and Orderly Sergeant D. P. Sanford became the leading officer, and the company was the first to enter Petersburg.
Co. G, 21st Michigan Infantry, rendezvoused at Ionia under Capt. Horace Albee, Isaac Hunting, of Grand Haven, Major, and this company was raised chiefly at Grand Haven, Alderman Isaac H. Sanford, the clothier, and others, taking an active part in organ- izing it, and also a company in the 3d Michigan Infantry.
There was one company of the 14th Michigan Infantry, com- posed chiefly of men from Grand Haven and vicinity; and there were many Ottawa men in the Mechanics and Engineers.
Grand Haven never was behind in the tally of men required, and when the war was over, the city had overpaid its quota by 106 years service, which, divided by three, would give nearly 35 men over, as the term of enlistment was for three years. The city was always liberal in entertaining and banqueting the men in passing through the city. Although the majority was always democratic, they were war Democrats.
There were a number of Grand Haven men in Loomis' Battery, among others John Miller, one of the youngest in the battery, which was raised in Coldwater.
H. C. Akeley was in the 2d Cavalry, as was also Lieut. G. H.
Osgood. James A. Stephenson was in the 3d Cavalry. Among the other veterans, either from the city or now residents, may be mentioned Major B. D. Safford, Capt. S. C. Moore, Capt. Glover, John Thornton, Senator Farr, Major N. H. Ferry, and three of the Sandford family, G. D., H., and D. P.
GRAND ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC.
In the County of Muskegon there are two "posts " of this benevolent and patriotic order, which is intended to keep alive in the breasts of the survivors the memories of their stirring campaigns, to aid their needy comrades, to assist their widows and orphans, and to broaden and deepen the patriotic feeling in the hearts of all.
In Montague there is a post known as the " Major N. H. Ferry Post " No. 3, G. A. R., which was organized May 27, 1877, with the following charter members: Dallas Johnson, L. F. Thompson, Dr. J. H. Johnson, H. M. Bigelow, F. Yeomans, Samuel Durham, J. W. Austin, G. H. Carr, J. Bordwell, and George Burdick. The officials for 1881 were T. S. Watson, Colonel Commandant, and Dallas John- son, Adjutant. The first Colonel Commandant was Dallas Johnson, and the first Adjutant, H. M. Bigelow. They meet monthly in summer, and semi-monthly in winter. There are about thirty mem- bers. Initiation fee, $1; annual dues, $2. The organization does not allow politics to be discussed, or in any way to be brought into play in its workings. It demands of its members their clear record in the army or navy.
PHIL KEARNEY POST, No. 7, Deparment of Michigan, has been for a number of years in successful operation in Muskegon City, and in January, 1882, had the honor of entertaining the State Grand Commandery. Their hall is in Gustin's Block, and they meet twice a month. Their first Post Commander was Major W. L. Ryan, and the next was Capt. Samuel D. Murray. Those actively engaged in organizing the society were Messrs. Ryan, Murray, Moon, H. J. Bradford, L. Kanitz, J. G. Campbell, L. A. Waldron, D. G. Crotty, W. Jones, Sheriff Waters, etc. The present officers are: Post Com .- L. D. Lochlin; S. V .- A. Eddy; J. V .- D. G. Crotty; Sur- geon-F. Olney; Chaplain-James Sprague; Officer of the Day- T. Cady; Quartermaster-S. D. Murray; Delegates-L. J. Warner and W. F. Wiselogel.
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