Page 1 of 8 Subject: From: To: Date: Re: News from the Michigan Civil War Sesquicentennial History Partners KEITH HARRISON (pcinc@prodigy.net) civil-war@comcast.net; Tuesday, September 17, 2013 5:48 AM Bruce: The date of the GAR opening is Thursday the 26th. If I had somehow sent the 29th in some of my earlier emails, I apologize. Great stuff on the Michigan at Gettysburg event. Keith From: "History Remembered, Inc." <civil-war@comcast.net> To: pcinc@prodigy.net Sent: Tuesday, September 17, 2013 1:15 AM Subject: News from the Michigan Civil War Sesquicentennial History Partners August 2013 Volume 4, Issue No. 7 History Remembered, Inc. A Civil War History Partner Michigan Civil War Sesquicentennial Circular Featured Articles Event Ideas Chickamauga Dr. Mary Walker Michigan Remembers Gettysburg Commemorative Program for the Gettysburg Event Gettysburg Sponsorship Opportunities USCT Mexican War Michigan Remembers the Civil War - Now that school is back in session, I encourage you to seek opportunities to share your programs, presentations, and enthusiasm with area schools whenever you can. Many of you that receive this have connections to schools or programs about the Civil War that schools would benefit from. On September 19-20, 1863, the Battle of Chickamauga took place in Georgia. The bloodiest two days in American history cost the Federals 1,657 dead, 9,756 wounded, and 4,757 missing for a total of 16,170 casualties out of 58,000 troops. The Confederate losses were 2,312 dead, 14,674 wounded and 1,468 for a total of 18,545 out of 66,000 troops. In September of 1863, Dr. Mary Walker became the first-ever female surgeon employed by the U.S. Army Surgeon. This circular again includes information regarding the Sesquicentennial event that will be conducted on Saturday, November 23 in Gettysburg. I know that many of you will be unable to attend but you can participate by sponsoring a tribute in the commemorative program that will be printed. Thank you for your efforts to commemorate Michigan's role in the Civil War. Respectfully, Bruce B. Butgereit, Executive Director History Remembered, Inc. Grand Rapids, MI
Page 2 of 8 Upcoming Events Interesting Websites History Partners Keith Harrison Chair The Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States, Michigan Commandery Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War, Department of Michigan Thinking Beyond the Usual - The main reason for sending these Circulars is to provide communication for events - both historical and present. Another reason is to share ideas so that historical societies, museums, libraries and YOU, can be inspired to think beyond the usual Civil War presentation. For instance, on Saturday, December 7, History Remembered, Inc. will partner with the Lowell (MI) Historical Museum to share a look at a Civil War Christmas. Veterans of the Third Michigan Infantry regiment was given a furlough is they reenlisted and they arrived home on January 1. Do some research on when your local regiment may have returned home and what kind of celebrations they may have had. For more on the Lowell event, click HERE: Tom Berlucchi Chair Reenactors John Gibney Chair Museums & Roundtables Bruce Butgereit Chair Libraries, Historical & Genealogical Societies Unfilled at Present Publicity Chickamauga - Click logo for Partners website Michigan was represented by the following regiments - Infantry - Ninth, Tenth, Eleventh, Thirteenth, Twenty-first, and Twenty-second Cavalry - Second and Fourth Join us at Linkedin Artillery First Michigan Light - Loomis Battery A and Church's Battery D Other - First Engineers and Mechanics The National Park Service published a handbook on the Chickamauga and Chattanooga Battlefield Parks in 1956. It was republished in 1961. Quick Links... Chickamauga and Chattanooga Handbook
Page 3 of 8 To use, click on the link above and then click on the word Contents in the left margin. You can scroll through the handbook by clicking the arrow at the bottom right of each page. Dr. Mary Edwards Walker - Seeking Michigan: Michigan and the Civil War imichigan Productions Mary Walker was born on November 26, 1832, in Oswego, New York. She graduated from Syracuse Medical College and, while serving as an assistant surgeon during the Civil War, was captured by the Confederate army. She was awarded a Congressional Medal of Honor for her service, and went on to lecture on women's rights, dress reform and suffrage. Walker died in Oswego in 1919. She served at the Battles of Chickamauga and Chattanooga. There are several great websites with more on the life and accomplishments of Dr. Walker. Changing the Face of Medicine Medal of Honor Ahead of Her Time Michigan Remembers Gettysburg - Nearly everyone knows the Battle of Gettysburg took place July 1-3, 1863. Almost as many know that President Lincoln gave one of the greatest speeches ever made at the dedication of the national cemetery at Gettysburg later that year. What isn't as well known is the annual event referred to as Remembrance Day, held on the Saturday closest to November 19, the date of Lincoln's Gettysburg Address. Each November, several thousand re-enactors, living history historians, and members of fraternal organizations such as the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States and the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War converge on Gettysburg to honor the past. This year, we will commemorate the 150th anniversary of the dedication of the national cemetery in a special event titled - Michigan Remembers Gettysburg Saturday, November 23, 2013 Conducting the event will be the Michigan Civil War Sesquicentennial History Partners. Other organizations providing support include the Michigan Historical Commission, Historic Fort Wayne, and the Woman's Relief Corps, Auxiliary to the Grand Army of the
Page 4 of 8 Republic to name a few. Camps of the Department of Michigan, Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War are currently collecting a small amount of Michigan soil from the counties where these soldiers had once lived. For the 173 Michigan men buried in the National Cemetery who never returned home, our ceremony will bring a little bit of home to them. For information on how you can help with collecting the soil or with research or photographs, please contact: Marcia Butgereit Woman's Relief Corps 1691 Summerfield St. SE Grand Rapids, MI 49508 b.marcia@comcast.net Click on the link below to download a flyer of the event that includes the schedule of activities. Although most hotel rooms in Gettysburg are already reserved, you can find rooms available in nearby Hagerstown, MD, Chambersburg, PA and other nearby locales. Gettysburg Flyer Commemorative Program for the Gettysburg Event - for Gettysburg Event - The History Partners believe that such an event as the one planned for the 150th anniversary of Gettysburg, deserves proper treatment and respect. With this in mind, a special commemorative booklet will be published. For those attending the event, they will receive a complimentary copy of the program. For those wishing additional copies and for those unable to attend, copies will be available for purchase. The contents of this program will include - l Michigan in the Civil War
Page 5 of 8 l Regiments at Gettysburg l Those Who Never Returned Home l The Monuments l Sponsored Tributes The cost of this coil bound program will be determined by the amount of the content. Gettysburg Sponsorship Opportunities - As many of you know, special programs often require many hours of planning, communication, and program handout design. There are always financial costs involved too. To help cover the cost of the printed program, participant ribbons, and floral tributes for this Michigan Remembers Gettysburg event, funds will be raised through the sale of sponsorships. More information can be found on this document: A sample tribute: Sponsorships MOLLUS / SUVCW Interested in a sponsorship? Send me your ideas or what you'd like to share in your sponsor piece and I'll give you some ideas. Bruce B. Butgereit United States Colored Troops - I've shared information about the United States Colored Troops (USCT) in previous circulars and thought you might be interested in the following letter. It is dated September 13, 1863 and is shared in its entirety and in the manner originally written. The letter demonstrates two things - one, the colored soldiers faced many degradations and abuses and two, not all white men acted the same. Commander of a North Carolina Black Regiment to the Commander of a Black Brigade Folly Island [S.C.] Sept. 13th 1863. General It is reported to me on good authority that men of my command ordered to Morris Island on fatigue duty, are put to work laying out and policing camps of white soldiers on that Island. I am informed that to day a detachment of 60 men properly officered, having been ordered to report to a Major Butts of some New York Regiment were set to work levelling ground for the Regimental Camp, digging wells & pitching tents and the like. Since the commencement of the war I have never before known such duty imposed upon any Regiment; it being (unless I am greatly in error) the custom of New York and other
Page 6 of 8 Regiments to pitch their own tents and lay out their own camps a privilege, by the way, which my men have had little time to enjoy by reason of constant detail on fatigue. As you are aware-the fatigue duty of my regiment has been incessant and trying-so that my sick list has increased from 4 or 5 to nearly 200 in a little over one month; and I respectfully protest against the imposition of labors which by no principle of custom or right devolve upon my command. I respectfully protest against this particular imposition because of its injurious influence upon the men in another respect. They have been slaves and are just learning to be men It IS a draw-back that they are regarded as, and called "d-d Niggers" by so-called "gentleman" in uniform of U.S. Officers, but when they are set to menial work doing for white regiments what those Regiments are entitled to do for themselves, it simply throws them back where they were before and reduces them to the position of slaves again. I therefore request that you will entertain this my protest; and, if you find no objection to the matter or manner of the same, will forward it through the proper Channel to the General Commanding the Department. If these men do their duty in the trenches, and in the field, I do not believe that he will make them hewers of wood and drawers of water for those who do no more. I am General Very Respectfully Yours James C. Beecher Col. James C. Beecher to Brig. Genl. Edward A. Wild, 13 Sept. 1863, Letters Received, 35th USCI, Regimental Books & Papers USCT, Adjutant General's Office, Record Group 94, National Archives. James was the half-brother to Harriet Beecher Stowe. For more on this interesting family, please visit the following website: The Beecher Family The life of Isabella Holmes Beecher Hooker should be of especial interest to women. Upcoming Events - September 29 - Grand Opening: Grand Army of the Republic Memorial Hall and Museum (224 S. Main Street, Eaton Rapids, Michigan). 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM. The GAR Memorial Hall and Museum was built in the late 1880s and was used by the Eaton Rapids James B. Brainerd GAR Post #111 from the late 1880s to 1922 when it stopped meeting there. The GAR Post was subsequently disbanded in 1928. The GAR hall has since been used for several purposes until it was obtained by the nonprofit corporation, Grand Army of the Republic, Michigan Department, James B. Brainerd Post #111 Memorial Hall and Museum, Inc in 2013. A small portion of a very large GAR memorabilia collection will be on display at the Grand Opening. The event is free. Also for those who are interested in helping to support the hall, both Charter ($100) and General ($25) memberships will be available. There will be light refreshments served. Contact: Deb Malewski, Board Secretary, at debmalewski@sbcglobal.net
Page 7 of 8 September 27-29 - River of Time Living History Encampment (South end of Veterans Park, 800 John Kennedy Drive, Bay City, Michigan). Civil War with Union and Confederate Military and Civilian Camps. Also Native American, Colonial, French and Indian War, Revolutionary War, World Wars I & II, and Vietnam Time Periods. Korn & Old-Time Root Beer, Witness Civil War Sea Battle, Skirmishes and Demonstrations, Shop Sutlers' Row, Period Music, Dance and Games, and Craft Projects for children. School Presentations One Day Only: Friday September 27, 8:00 AM - 3:00 PM. Camps open Saturday 9:00 AM to 10:00 PM and on Sunday 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM. Sponsored by the Bay County Historical Society and the River of Time Committee. Website: http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001sgoyrw-amxxdbqr_5lgezvgqyuywj- 8hg0CTU41y0V7H0fl2lZ_nsjmbqjQqY7TuVAtGqenSgJmZdsL2mPnX_q7QhJ_6BdNLjYG- HvH3IgvgkBEMfDUrWQ==. Civil War contact: Paul Davis at pdmarcomm@aol.com Future Events - Although several months away, please mark your calendar for the scheduled for and yes, the same day Saturday, 10 AM - 4 PM November 9, 2013 Michigan Historical Center Lansing Contact: Keith Harrison Metro Detroit Veterans Coalition Veterans Day Parade Saturday, November 9, 2013 Contact: Rick Danes Is your event listed? Calendar of Events Please remember to send your information via email to Keith Harrison who maintains our website and calendar: pcinc@prodigy.net
Page 8 of 8 Interesting Websites - History Remembered is not responsible for any additional content (advertisements/videos) shown on the following pages. An in-depth (really long) article on the USCT: A new book on Lincoln's foreign policy: http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001sgoyrw-amxwwqbrnonr62pze7qgi6sjwiy1-- EbzmoA_fBth6tznrvI5bJFQ4V2Tn0PMi1thiSaZRQwYawTR3mX7JxNZPQAJXUdZkcOiXF2zqW2Q4lHE8uAJFIL4vDZHe3D9saICvRH280Hg5Dzj0Kje5cG1wRZ http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001sgoyrw-amxyy-6ewtieiuahx8dch3m5-i2vx06y1ch- 108DvykbKOmLymh8-fIwSAqbMUsYYHVhyJ45jWv3wgfBiJPzH1kEL11-xO1M_96- IE32_1RXGFY0JF5qAuiWBZVi4RTGLQ3wdhvQ9nWM_0ht4_uFN3-0fd0Q- _MaFditzkVOMgW2YM_TBYggC42_xKpY44T8-- BzCMV6L1awE2dfltljh6K20VcDe5F9dEnY= The Detroit G.A.R. Building: http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001sgoyrw-amxwkvbony9vp8n NRr0tweMekadDK1nDyPsbBysOLhuim7NnhiHaINEQin7krDnHNOcDCAV2sUHaGJWYJjMqhrMk-LCLJFN01oPP_EhyCtA== Lost and Found: Medal of Honor Returned Home Forward email This email was sent to pcinc@prodigy.net by civil-war@comcast.net Update Profile/Email Address Instant removal with SafeUnsubscribe Privacy Policy. History Remembered, Inc. 1691 Summerfield St. SE Grand Rapids MI 49508