"For with a common shriek, the general tongue Exclaimed To Arms,' and fast to arms they sprung. And valor woke that Genius of the land! Pleasure, and ease, and sloth aside he flung, As burst th' awakening Nazarite his band, When 'gainst his treacherous foes he clenched his dreadful hand." PREFACE. The publication of the history of the services of Michigan troops in the war of the rebellion has long been a desire of the compiler, and while it has been apparent to all and universally admitted that such a work should be accomplished, yet the subject has so far failed to receive the full attention its merits demand. This has induced him to attempt its production, although in undertaking it he is fully aware that much more responsibility has been assumed than is successfully or satisfactorily met, and he is very sensible of the fact that the subject is worthy of a more capable compiler. No attempt is made to place Michigan in advance of any other State in the general effort to save the union, no more being assumed for her in this respect than to assert an equality with all the other States, and certainly no superior claim is set up for the part taken by her troops in the war over others. The only effort made has been to give in as truthful a manner as possible a history of their service, there leaving the matter. But Michigan may justly claim in all candor unquestionable and universal loyalty, persistent and constant determination to maintain the life of the nation and the honor of the flag. No troops in all the armies gave stronger proofs of true courage or were more efficient or patriotic. Much time has been devoted to reach a truthful record of their services, and although it has required arduous and continuous labor, yet in its accomplishment there has been a degree of pleasure which has encouraged and greatly strengthened the desire to arrive at final success. The work has in the main been made from the records of the State Military Department, the written reports of commanding officers on file, while recourse has also been had to correspondence written from the field at the time to the Detroit Tribune and Free Press and other papers of the country, while extracts have been made from various histories of the war, all of which have proved of great value in making up the work. The authority given by the Legislature for the compilation contemplated a reference to Official reports on file in the War Department at Washington, but this has not been done, as that department declined to furnish copies or permit them to be made, notwithstanding application was duly forwarded to the Adjutant General of the army for that purpose. Although debarred from this valuable source of information, resulting undoubtedly in the omission of many items of interest, yet from the fullness of the reports of the State Military Department, which have been acknowledged to be at least as complete as those of any other State, it is expected that the history of the services of the Michigan troops in its make-up will maintain a favorable position, especially as the Michigan reports, in a critical comparison with those of other States, have received at the hands of the public press and other reviewers most commendatory notices, placing them equal with any and superior to most. As an instance of this are inserted the following extracts from a review of the various State reports published in 1869 by Henry B. Dawson, editor of the "Historical Magazine," at Morrisania, New York city, a most severe but a just and impartial critic: "We are indebted to General Robertson, the Adjutant General of the State for the foregoing very complete series of the war record of Michigan-a record of which Michigan may very justly be proud, both because of its substance and of the admirable manner in which it has been presented to the world. "The Adjutant General's reports for 1860 and 1861 are brief; yet the latter contained a sketch of the organization of the older regiments of the line and a roster of their officers. The report for 1862 continues the general narrative of the labors of the Department, and, in addition, commences a series of historical sketches of the several regiments from that State, in which are displayed their services, losses, lists of their commissioned officers, their condition at the dates of their last returns, the changes in their officers during the year, etc. A supplement is appended to this report in which are noticed all the casualties of every kind among the troops from that State-a terrible record of the stubborn defense of their country by the men of Michigan. The reports for 1863, 1864, and 1865-6, continue the grim record, in steadily increasing completeness-more complete, indeed, than any other similar annual record which we have seen, save that of Maine. "As we have said, this series of reports is honorable to Michigan, both because of the character of its material and of the mode of presenting it. There is really very little to be desired by a student that is not there." INTRODUCTION. During the life of the republic, and especially during the war of the rebellion, the National flag has been gallantly defended, protected, and maintained, but perhaps never under such circumstances, or against such fearful odds, as was the flag of Sumter, and certainly never, while initiating an era, involving such momentous results. "We spiked the guns we left behind, and cut the flagstaff down From its top should float no color, if it might not hold our own." From Fort Moultrie, in the darkness of the night, a little band of heroes betake themselves to boats, bid farewell to their union home, and seek another in Charleston bay, reaching Sumter, long ere the dawn had come, and at noon, on their knees in prayer, they again fling to the breeze the stars and stripes of Moultrie. Many days this little band witnessed the frowning batteries arise all around them. At length the rebel work of preparation is complete; they are summoned to surrender. Anderson replies, "Neither my sense of honor, nor my obligation to the government will permit me to comply." The flag that had been lowered with the coming on of night, is raised in the heavens. The posterns are closed. The men sit down in darkness to wait the coming shock. With the early dawn comes the expected shot, and, like the deep thunder, awakes the morning echoes, and rolls over the trembling waters of the bay. No single shot before ever bore such destinies on its darkened flight. They defend it for days. The fortress is fired with hot shot and exploding shell; the walls crumbling; the last biscuit gone; the main gate burned down; the conflict hopeless; still Anderson stands unmoved amid the wreck. The magazine is on fire; the shell explode; the flagstaff is shot away; but in a rain of shot and shell it is nailed to the ramparts, and the flag waves defiantly until saluted by union guns, when the brave men march out to the music of the union, under the glorious "Old Flag," lowered, but not surrendered. NOTE.-In the gallant defense of Sumter, Michigan was represented in First Lieutenant Norman J. Hall, 5th U. S. Artillery, a graduate of West Point, appointed from Michigan and assigned as Brevet 2d Lieutenant to the Fourth U. S. Artillery, July 1st, 1859. In July, 1862, he was commissioned as Colonel 7th Michigan Infantry, and commanded a brigade in which his regiment was serving at Fredericksburg in 1862. When volunteers were called for to place the pontoons and make a crossing at that point, Colonel Hall designated the 7th Michigan and 19th Massachusetts, when a successful result was accomplished. |