Michigan Civil War Blog

Someone thinks the Sesquicentennial is well worth it

From down in the Blue Grass State comes this news: "The Kentucky Historical Society (KHS) was notified on Thursday it will receive a $1,050,000 grant to help Kentucky commemorate the Civil War Sesquicentennial. The grant was part of a $29 million allocation for Transportation Enhancement projects."

“These funds will allow KHS to participate with Kentuckians in exploring a variety of Civil War related topics,” said Kent Whitworth, executive director of KHS. “In these tight economic times, this grant makes it possible for us to help citizens reflect on and learn more about an event that still affects our commonwealth today.”

Can this be legit? Sure thing, according to the National Transportation Enhancements Clearinghouse. Its website says there are 12 appropriate uses for federal TE funds, including:

-- Acquisition of scenic or historic easements and sites

-- Historic preservation - Preservation of buildings and facades in historic districts; restoration of historic buildings for transportation-related purposes; access improvements to historic sites.

Sounds like Kentucky has it right.

And sounds like an idea for other States ... like Michigan.

Grant's visit pt. 2

According to The Papers of Ulysses S. Grant, vol. 15 (edited by John Y. Simon), Grant and Julia left Washington in the summer of 1865 for Galena by a rather round-about route. He went through New York and then into Canada to fulfill a promise he had made to the Maj. Gen'l Charles H. Doyle, commander of British forces in Canada, who had visited Grant twice at City Point and had written him an effusive congratulatory note upon the victorious conclusion of the Civil War. On August 9 Grant left Toronto by steamboat for Detroit.

On July 19, J.C. Whiting and Co. of Detroit had written USG extending free passes for the couple aboard one of their vessels "should you wish to make a visit to the Lake Superior Country." On July 25, Gen'l E.O.C. Ord at Detroit wired USG asking whether he'd visit Detroit; Grant's aide Orville Babcock responded "in about two (2) weeks."

On August 11, the president of the City Council wrote USG enclosing resolutions welcoming him to Detroit. Grant arrived on August 12 and, despite protestations from the crowd, only responded to Romeyn's welcoming speech with "I bid you all good night."

He left Detroit on August 15 via the Michigan Central Railroad for Chicago, "making brief stops at towns along the route where large crowds had gathered." At Kalamazoo he reportedly said he would not reply to remarks with "I could not do so, if I should try."

A perplexing reply. Except when one finds that Grant was suffering from some form of laryngitis, according to other references.

At any rate, it appears that the Michigan receptions for the General were as effusive as Doyle's letter.

Grant's 1865 visit to Detroit

The previous post mentioned the reaction in the City of Detroit when victorious Lieutenant General U.S. Grant made his post-war return to the city where he'd been posted two decades earlier. Some online research reveals more.

The Aug. 13, 1865 New York Times reported:

"Movements of Gen. Grant--His Arrival at Detroit. Detroit, August 12. Gen. Grant and suite arrived at the Central Depot in this city at 11:00 o'clock to-day. The party immediately entered carriages and were conveyed to the Biddle House. The street through which the General passed was crowded with people, who greeted the distinguished visitor with loud and prolonged cheers. Gen. Grant gives a reception at the Biddle House this evening.

Detroit, Saturday, Aug. 12. At an early hour this evening a great number of citizens assembled in front of the Biddle House to welcome Gen. Grant to Detroit. Brief and eloquent speeches were made by Hon. Theo. Romeyn and Sen. Howard. The General after bowing to the crowd retired."

More to follow...

Today in history

Detroit prepares to greet General U.S. Grant.

A gala reception was planned when General Grant, whose victory in Virginia over Confederate forces led by General Robert E. Lee had taken place earlier that year, arrived in Detroit on August 12. Ten thousand people cheered the general and packed the city—"the excitement on the streets approached closely to wildness," the Detroit Free Press reported.

A poem (oh, yes!)

Memorial Wreath

In the green month when resurrected flowers
Like laughing children ignorant of death,
Brighten the couch of those who wake no more,
Love and remembrance blossom in our hearts,
For you who bore the extreme sharp pang for us,
And bought our freedom with your lives.

                                        And now,

Honoring your memory, with love we bring
These fiery roses, white-hot cotton flowers
And violets bluer than cool northern skies
You dreamed of stooped in burning prison fields
When liberty was only a faint north star,
Not a bright flower planted by your hands
Reaching up hardy nourished with your blood.

Fit gravefellows you are for Douglass, Brown,
Turner and Truth and Tubman. . . .whose rapt eyes
Fashioned a new world in this wilderness.

American earth is richer for your bones;
Our hearts prouder for the blood we inherit.

This gripping poem is from the pen of Detroiter Dudley Randall, writer and founder of Broadside Press, written for Memorial Day but stumbled upon today here. Couldn't wait 10 months til 2010 to put it online, for it's applicable every day any way.

Memories in Milford

Y'day's Freep had three -- count 'em! -- items about the same event in Milford MI this weekend, the "Milford Memories Summer Festival," each of which featured a mention about "a Civil War encampment." One item entitled "Best of the Rest" has a format asking someone five questions about an event or activity. The full-page story illuminated the role of a Civil War Re-Enactor at the event: No soft bed

Biggest Civil War reenactment ever

Every August in Jackson MI is held the "Cascades Muster", in which the largest number of reenactors gather before the largest crowd in the Midwest. This year is the 25th anniversary, and to celebrate the success over this past quarter-century the event has been expanded to three days. Yes, that's right, three! It's well worth going.

Here's a link: Muster

Here's a pic from last year's: