THE WAY IT WAS...
...Michigan in the Civil War
by Al Eicher

About a year ago my son, David, and I decided to produce a video History of Michigan in the Civil War. We thought we had a good head start as we had collected Civil War information from 20 towns in Michigan when we created their Town History on video. Our project required statewide information, so we decided to send an e-mail to 131 libraries to check on what they have in local Civil War documents. The response was rather immediate in that we had about 25 replies by the next day and 40 or more by the end of the week. We decided to e-mail 30 or more Historical Societies, which would be a good representation of the larger towns in the 1860s. Their response proved we were on to something good in creating a video history of Michigan getting into the Civil War. The Detroit Library, Burton, Bentley and the State library also offered their support and the collection process began. From this we have created a Video History and a lecture with visual presentation. The following are a few highlights of our findings, which we offer in a timeline of events, as “That’s The Way It Was.”

In the 1830s, Michigan was becoming a haven for runaway slaves. Michigan station masters of the newly formed Underground Railroad helped many black people get to freedom in Canada. Sojourner Truth moved to Battle Creek in 1857, as a freed slave. She traveled the country speaking out against slavery. Abraham Lincoln came to Kalamazoo on August 27, 1858, to speak to the newly formed Republican Party. The Party was opposed to any form of slavery in the North. On March 10, 1859, John Brown and some 20 slaves came to Detroit in a railroad freight car on the Chicago & Rock Island Line. Frederick Douglas, an escaped mulatto and well-known Black Abolitionist, was lecturing that evening in Detroit and the two men got together for a meeting. Two days later John Brown delivered into Windsor, Canada, his party of now freed slaves.

On Wednesday, January 16, 1861, newly elected Michigan Governor Austin Blair and the State Legislature were in session discussing slavery and tariff issues. At this time Michigan’s Military had a total of 1,241 men, spread out in 28 communities. Each community unit paid their own expenses and bought their own uniforms. They were poorly equipped and with no Regimental organization. The State Legislature appropriated annually $3,000 for military support.

On March 4, 1861, Abe Lincoln was inaugurated as our new president. Earlier in February, Lewis Cass, who served in President Buchanan’s Cabinet, resigned in protest regarding the “do nothing policy” on slavery and cessation issues. In early April, Richmond, Virginia, was named the new capitol by the Confederacy and on April 12, Fort Sumter was attacked. That same day President Lincoln issued a proclamation calling for 75,000 men, from the northern states, to put down the insurrection. Governor Blair received a telegram from Lincoln requesting one regiment of 1000 men to report to Washington. Fort Wayne now becomes the rallying point for the formation of the 1st Michigan Infantry Regiment. It will take some time to get the troops equipped and soon President Lincoln sends more telegrams requesting more troops.

In late April, troops stationed on Mackinac Island, at the fort, are ordered to leave and also report to Washington. One soldier, Ordinance Sgt. William Marshall is the only man left at the fort. During the war, a few special Confederate agents were held as prisoners at the fort on the island. Reports indicate, these so-called prisoners were occasionally seen in the island village mingling with the locals.

In late April 1861, a telegram was sent to the Port Austin telegraph office to be delivered to George Meade, who was a government engineer, working on surveying the lake depths of Saginaw Bay and Lake Huron. He received the message in Caseville and was ordered to report to Washington immediately. At this time, Governor Blair selected a Head Recruiting Officer in David H. Jerome. The officer traveled around the state setting up recruitment centers. Prominent men in many Michigan communities also became instant recruiters and formed companies of 100 men. For this effort many recruiters received a commission as an officer. Here is a short list of enlisted men and boys to form a Company: James Terrell of Lapeer, Dr.N.B. Eldredge at Whigville; Eben Ayres of Port Austin; Lawyer Huston at Vassar; Noah Hart, a lawyer from Lapeer; George Jenks, Harbor Beach; Sheriff, Benjamin F. Partridge forms the 1st Michigan Lancers in Bay City; Austin George of Ypsilanti forms the “Singing Company,” William Fenton of Genesee County forms the 8th Regiment and later becomes Colonel of this regiment.

Be sure to look for the conclusion in next month’s issue.

Al and Dave Eicher provide television production services to corporations, ad agencies and nonprofit organizations. They also create Michigan town histories and offer lecture services on a variety of Michigan History Events. You may contact them at 248-333-2010; E-mail: info@program-source.com; Web site: www.program-source.com; Address: PSI, P.O. Box 444, Bloomfield Hills, MI 48303.