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www.mybaycity.com July 13, 2008
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Michigan Cavalry Played Key Role at Gettysburg 145 Years Ago

Research Continuing About Local Soldiers' Exploits in Stopping Rebel Charge

July 13, 2008       1 Comments
By: Dave Rogers

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The Michigan Cavalry Monument at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.
 

On July 3 one of the most avid local Civil War buffs, Dee Dee Wacksman, called from Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.

She was standing next to the Michigan Monument to the Wolverine Brigade (1st, 5th, 6th and 7th Michigan Cavalry Regiments) Located on the East Cavalry Battlefield.

The Wolverine Brigade was the Cavalry Corps - 3rd Division - 2nd Brigade.

The occasion that so moved Mrs. Wacksman was the 145th anniversary of the most crucial day during the three-day Battle of Gettysburg, July 1-3, 1865.

On July 3rd Custer and his Wolverines played a major role in defeating Confederate General Jeb Stuart's attempted cavalry thrust around the Union army's right flank. They would go on to be one of the elite units in the Union army.

Even more pertinent to local members of the 7th Michigan Cavalry Civil War Round Table is the fact that several Bay County residents were active in that unit.

Some of the exploits of those horsemen, like Lt. James G. Birney IV, are fairly well known to area residents.

Birney's sword, reputedly awarded him by the Michigan Cavalry's leader, Col. George Armstrong Custer, is enshrined in the Bay County Historical Museum. A community fund-raising drive headed by the Rotary Club of Bay City acquired the sword a few years ago.

Other heroes of the 7th, like Capt. Francis King, who is buried in Oak Ridge Cemetery, are virtually unknown.

Former news reporter and historian Tim Younkman discovered King's grave in an obscure spot at Oak Ridge and is researching his history.

But it is clear that dozens of Bay County and Tri-County area residents played a major role in the key encounter of what may have been the decisive battle of the Civil War.

Two books document the role of the Michigan Cavalry and mention some local men: Asa B. Isham, Seventh Michigan Cavalry of Custer's Wolverine Brigade, Huntington, WV: Blue Acorn Press, 2000 (reprint of 1893 edition); and Edward G. Longacre, Custer and His Wolverines: The Michigan Cavalry Brigade 1861-1865, Conshohocken, PA: Combined Publishing, 1997.)

From the monument: "This monument marks the field where the Michigan Cavalry Brigade under its gallant leader General George A. Custer rendered signal and distinguished service in assisting to defeat the further advance of a numerically superior force under the Confederate General J. E. B. Stuart which in conjunction with Pickett's Charge upon the centre, attempted to turn the right flank of the Union Army at that critical hour of conflict upon the afternoon of July 3rd, 1863.

"Field held from 9 a.m. until 7 p.m."

That's the official wording. Unofficially, a Civil War author might write: the Michigan Cavalry stopped Jeb Stuart from hitting the rear of the Union line at the same time George Pickett was slamming into the center.

Except for the Michigan men, Stuart's force might have struck the Union line in its most vulnerable spot.

Had that occurred, Pickett's Charge might have been successful.

And the battle, and the war, might have taken a different turn.

Among officers from this area who served in the 7th were:

1st Lt. Lewis Carson, East Saginaw; Capt. William H. Clipperton, East Saginaw; Lt. Col. Daniel H. Darling, East Saginaw; 1st Lt. Joseph L. Mead, East Saginaw; Maj. Robert Sproul, Birch Run; and Lt. Col. Bradley M. Thompson, East Saginaw.

Most of the local soldiers were members of Company C of the 7th Michigan Cavalry. Those who died from Co. C included Martin Barnhardt, Saginaw County, wounded during Kilpatrick's Raid to Richmond and taken prisoner and exchanged; died of disease at Baltimore, April 14, 1864; Silas D. Case, Tuscola County, taken prisoner in battle at Buckland Mills, VA., Oct. 19, 1863; died at Richmond, March 4, 1864;

Stephen Clago, Bay County, taken prisoner in battle at Trevilian Station, VA, June 11, 1864; died at Andersonville, July 6, 1864; Benjamin Church, Saginaw County, killed at Gettysburg, July 3, 1863; Elliot A. Cook, Tuscola County, killed in action at Robinson River, Oct. 8, 1863; Benjamin F. Fredenburg, Saginaw County, taken prisoner at battle of Trevilian Station, June 11, 1864; died at Andersonville, Nov. 1, 1864;

Isaac Hemminger, Bay County, taken prisoner at battle of Trevilian Station, June 11, 1864; died at Vicksburg, April 8, 1865; John Hill, Saginaw County, killed by accident near Fort Leavenworth, KS, June 25, 1865; Walter L. Honsigner, Tuscola County; taken prisoner at Robinson River, VA, Oct. 3, 1863; died at Andersonville, July 17, 1864; Maurice Kelliher, Saginaw County, taken prisoner at Robinson River, VA, Oct. 8, 1863; died at Richmond, March 30, 1864;

Joseph Parmalee, Saginaw County, taken prisoner at Malvern Hill, May 17, 1864; died at Andersonville prison, July 19, 1864; John Schermerhord, Tuscola County, taken prisoner at Culpepper Court House, Oct. 12, 1863; died at Andersonville, May 24, 1864; Charles Smith, Saginaw County, died at Gettysburg, July 3, 1863; Simeon E. Trumbal, Saginaw County, died at Washington, March 18, 1864; Thomas H. Way, Saginaw County, died at Andersonville prison, Aug. 31, 1864.

From other companies, Thomas Motley of Bay County was killed July 3, 1863 at Gettysburg; Wallace Lindsay of Bay County died at Camp Collins, Colorado, Oct. 14, 1865; Francis Dice of Saginaw County died at St. Louis, MO, June 14, 1865;

Charles North of Bay County died of typhoid fever at Washington, D.C., June 29, 1863; Daniel Cameron of Bay County, missing in action at White's Ford, Rapidan River, Sept. 22, 1863, died of disease in prison;

Albert A. Green, Saginaw County, missing in action at White's Ford, Ra;pidan River, Sept. 22, 1863, died a prisoner at Richmond, VA., Jan 23, 1864; Alonza H. Hooker, Saginaw County, taken prisoner at battle of Trevilion Station, VA, June 11, 1864, died of disease at Annapolis, Dec. 3, 1864;

David H. Pomeroy, Saginaw County, dilled in action at Tumble Run while on duty with Battery B & L, June 9, 1864; Henry Pattison, Bay County, taken prisoner at White's Ford, Rapidan River, Sept. 22, 1863; died of disease at Annapolis, April 3, 1864;

Charles D. Rollin, Saginaw County, taken prisoner near Richmond Jarch 1, 1864; died a prisoner; David Siel, Saginaw County, taken prisoner at White's Ford, Rapidan River, died while a prisoner; George A. Terry, Saginaw County, died in prison at Salisbury, GA, Jan. 13, 1865; Thomas D. Thompson, Saginaw County, taken prisoner at White's Ford, Rapidan River, Sept. 22, 1863; died while a prisoner; Ephraim Wright, Saginaw County, taken prisoner at White's ford, Rapidan River, Sept. 22, 1863; died at Naval School Hospital, Annapolis, MD, Nov. 14, 1863;

George R. Gifford, Saginaw County, died of disease at Washington, March, 1864; Henry Perkins, Saginaw County, died at Richmond, VA, Feb. 2, 1865; William P. Sprague, Tuscola County, died of disease at Alexandria, VA, July 20, 1863.

1st Michigan Cavalry

Commanded at Gettysburg by Col. Charles H. Town. It brought 502 men to the field.

The First Michigan Cavalry was mustered in at Detroit, Mich. Sep 13, 1861. Mustered out at Salt Lake City, Utah, Mar. 10, 1866. Total enrollment 3244 officers and men. Killed 10 officers 92 men. Died of wounds 5 officers 46 men. Died of disease 5 officers 246 men. Total casualties 404. Participated in 67 skirmishes and general engagements from Winchester, Va., Mar. 23, 1862 to Appomattox Va. April 9, 1865."

5th Michigan Cavalry

Commanded at Gettysburg by Col. Russel A. Alger. It brought 770 men to the field.

"Fifth Michigan Cavalry Mustered in at Detroit, Mich, August 30, 1862. Mustered out at Fort Leavenworth, Kas. June 2nd, 1865. Total enrollment 1198 officers and men. Killed, 4 officers 94 men. Died of Wounds 1 officer 23 men. Died of disease, 3 officers 233 men. Total casualties 358. Participated in 56 skirmishes and general engagements from Hanover, Pa. June 30, 1863 to Appomattox, Va., April 9, 1865.

6th Michigan Cavalry

Commanded at Gettysburg by Col. George Grey. It brought 611 men to the field.

"Sixth Michigan Cavalry Mustered in at Grand Rapids, Mich. Oct. 13, 1862, Mustered out at Fort Leavenworth, Kas. Nov. 24, 1865. Total enrollment 1624 Officers and men. Killed, 7 officers 35 men. Died of Wounds 18 men. Died of disease, 266 men. Total casualties 386. Participated in 56 skirmishes and general engagements from Hanover, Pa. June 30, 1863 to Appomattox, Va., April 9, 1865.

7th Michigan Cavalry

Commanded at Gettysburg by Col. William D'Anton Mann. It brought 461 men to the field.

"Seventh Michigan Cavalry Mustered in at Grand Rapids, Mich. Jan. 16, 1863. Mustered out at Fort Leavenworth, Kas. Dec. 16, 1865. Total enrollment 1779 officers and men. Killed 2 officers 47 men. Died of wounds 2 officers 24 men. Died of disease 1 officer 246 men. Total casualties 322. Participated in 56 skirmishes and general engagements from Hanover, Pa. June 30, 1863 to Appomattox, Va., April 9, 1865."

The wording on the monument states: "Erected by the State of Michigan to honor her martyrs & heros who fought in defence of liberty and union."

It was unusual in the Union army for all the regiments in a brigade to be from the same state, but the Wolverine Brigade was one of the exceptions. Three days before the fighting started at Gettysburg they were assigned a new commander, amazingly promoted from Captain to Brigadier General in one step, the youngest general in the army: George Armstrong Custer. His bas relief fronts the monument.

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"The BUZZ" - Read Feedback From Readers!

dswacks Says:       On July 15, 2008 at 10:02 AM
Here I am in Maine and I find this extensive article on the civil war. You really put it together nicely, Dave. I talked with Gen. Custer while in GBurg and expressed our interest in having him come in April 2009. Please pass this along to G Pergande. We are at a medical conference in Waterville having spent the weekend with son Mitch in Portland. We'll go back there on Thurs. Home on July 22. Hope all is well there with you!
Agree? or Disagree?


Dave Rogers

Dave Rogers is a former editorial writer for the Bay City Times and a widely read,
respected journalist/writer in and around Bay City.
(Contact Dave Via Email at carraroe@aol.com)

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