Michigan Civil War Blog

Tomorrow in history

"Michiganians fight at Antietam

Hundreds of Michigan troops fought near Sharpsburg, Maryland, in what became the bloodiest day in American history. More than 350 Michiganians were left killed or wounded at the Battle of Antietam. This number includes Major General Israel Richardson of Pontiac who was mortally wounded leading his division in severe fighting near a sunken road, later called Bloody Lane." -- from Michigan History

Speaking of MH, the September issue arrived today and, coincidentally (!), it contains a story entitled "Three Generals and an Unlucky Regiment" by Roger Rosentreter, the editor of this very popular publication. The article -- 10 full pages with great pics -- hilites the sacrifices by the 7th Michigan Infantry in the West Woods, and that of Israel Richardson. The other two generals? Willcox and Williams.

Besides this fascinating account is the "from the editor" column by RR on p.3. He describes a recent visit to Antietam where he encountered a certain seasonal ranger known well by the CW blog community. Guess who...?

Mannie, I'll send you a copy of this great issue tomorrow.

Michigan national battlefield park?

No, it wouldn't be about the Civil War. But it would be about a precursor war that made it possible for Michigan to join the Union a generation later and participate in defending the Nation in yet one more.

Several weeks ago, Michigan Congressman John Dingell and Senators Carl Levin and Debbie Stabenow introduced the "River Raisin National Battlefield Act" in both houses of the US Congress. The legislation would designate the River Raisin battlefield site near Monroe MI a unit of the National Park System. The Senate Subcommittee on National Parks & Parklands has scheduled a hearing on S. 3247 on July 30th, very quick action, indeed, and nice to see.

Michigan 'historically' has been shortchanged in the return ratio of its tax dollars sent to Washington versus federal investments here. This bill would help correct that problem. Just as important, it would signal that Michigan's heritage is as rich as any state and that a piece of history will no longer go forgotten. One of the rationales of the bill is that "in section 603 of division I of the Omnibus Parks and Public Lands Management Act of 1996 (...Public Law 104-333), Congress found that ‘the historical integrity of many Revolutionary War sites and War of 1812 sites is at risk’."

Supporting letters can be sent to the Chair and Ranking Member of both the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, and the Senate Subcommittee on National Parks, with cc's to the offices of Levin and Dingell. Questions can be addressed to Josh Myers at 313-278-2936 or Gale Govaere at 313-226-6020.

In the Michigan Legislature, SR 0212, a resolution to memorialize the Congress and the President of the United States to enact the Act was introducted yesterday by Senator Randy Richardville, and it will likely be passed soon. The text provides more rationale for congressional action: http://www.legislature.mi.gov/documents/2007-2008/resolutionintroduced/Senate/pdf/2008-SIR-0212.pdf

Hunterstown postscript

Here's another example of Michiganders who are 'Tuebor'ing. The Grand Rapids Civil War Round Table, Holland/Zeeland Civil War Round Table, 3rd Michigan Volunteer Infantry Company F, and Daughters of the Union Veterans of the Civil War helped make this possible, far from the green and pleasant land that is the Great Lake State:

Town Unveils Civil War Monument; Norvell Churchill’s Significance to History Was Saluted in Hunterstown, By Erin James, 7/6/2008, York Daily Record (PA)

'Glen Churchill and Jane Churchill Webb never knew their grandfather, a Civil War soldier who died nearly 20 years before either of them was born. They grew up with tales of Norvell Churchill as a talented horseman and an enthusiastic performer during Fourth of July events in Michigan, where much of the family still resides. Their grandfather's storied service as a Union cavalryman in the Civil War was only part of those tales, the two said.

It's only been in the last few decades that Glen Churchill, now 85, said he has realized his grandfather's true significance to American history. "I read it in history books," he said.

But now, for both historians and the Churchill family, Norvell Churchill's place in history will always be reserved as the man who saved Union Gen. George Custer from almost certain death on the Hunterstown battlefield northeast of Gettysburg on July 2, 1863.

As the story goes, 23-year-old Norvell Churchill rescued Custer -- also 23 at the time -- after his horse was shot out from under him and Confederate soldiers were closing in to attack. Churchill killed one of Custer's attackers and hoisted the general off the ground and onto his horse.

Now 85 and 82 respectively, Glen and Jane represent Norvell Churchill's closest living relatives. Their fathers were brothers, each the son of Norvell Churchill.

They were two of about 60 descendants who recently witnessed the unveiling of Gettysburg's newest Civil War monument, which describes both the significance of the Hunterstown battle and Norvell Churchill's role in saving Custer's life. ...

The event marked the first time any monument has been erected in Hunterstown, also known as North Cavalry Field, to commemorate the battle between Custer's 1st Michigan Cavalry brigade -- famously known as the Wolverines -- and the larger numbers of a Confederate cavalry brigade commanded by Gen. Wade Hampton.

Historians say the battle between opposing cavalries was significant because it kept the attention of both units on the battlefield's northern end while crucial struggles were taking place to the south on Little Round Top and at the Peach Orchard.

The Hunterstown battle also marks the first time Custer made a name for himself as a gutsy commander. The Boy General led a seemingly suicidal charge of a few dozen men down Hunterstown Road against an enemy who was behind cover and outnumbered him. ...

Until recently, the battle was unknown to all but the Civil War's most ardent students. That began to change around 2002, when Roger and Laurie Harding purchased Hunterstown's Historic Tate Farm, a property where George Washington stopped on the way back from the Whiskey Rebellion in 1794.

The Hardings established a historic preservation group, The Friends of Hunterstown, when two buildings on Route 394 that dated back to the 1800s were at risk of being torn down and replaced with apartment buildings. Preserving and promoting Hunterstown has been a goal of the couple ever since.

The event symbolized the accomplishment of another objective: to erect a permanent monument dedicated specifically to the battle at Hunterstown. After the monument's unveiling, the fourth annual walking tour of the battlefield was offered to visitors. "It's a very moving day for us," Laurie Harding told the dozens who attended the unveiling, held on the battle's 145th anniversary. ...

Monument    Designed by Codori Memorials of Gettysburg, the new Civil War monument includes a bust of Gen. Custer and a written description of Hunterstown's significance in history. It is located on the Harding's farm at the corner of Shrivers Corner and Hunterstown roads in Adams County.'

45 years ago...

My youngest brother has an amazing recall of family events. I really don't, sadly. So I rely on him for how he once "reminisced about our trip to Gettysburg in '63. Do you remember which month we traveled there? All I recall from the trip was sitting in the back of our station wagon, while a guide we hired sat in the front seat as we drove around the battlefield. ... Grandpa introduced us on this trip to the 'Magic Fingers' contraption at the motel (Holiday Inn, Breezewood,PA?) -- Grandpa said it made him feel like a jellyfish, whatever that meant."

Actually, I do remember parts of this trip, although I tend to confuse it with another. I remember a 3-day excursion where we left Detroit on Day 1 (apparently staying in Breezewood that nite), troured the battlefield on Day 2 (with guide, in our car, in the rain), and returned home on Day 3. I do remember the guide up front, and us in the "way back" area -- three boys in the third seat area ('quit punching me!' 'you quit punching me!'). I especially remember Devil's Den and the rock outcroppings everywhere. I somehow think it was in June.

The colloquy reminds me of how I first came to the Civil War as a youngster with the enthusiasm of a boy's heart. So when I caught up to my surfing today and the content of an alert Mannie G. had sent awhile ago, it made me smile: [http://volunteersinparks.blogspot.com/2008/06/speaking-of-toy-soldiers.html]

Thanks, and thanks for reporting on how "TUEBOR" is the legend on the Michigan flag which translates to: "I will defend". The flag motto epitomizes the reason Michigan boys were at Gettysburg long before we were 45 years ago.

The impact of the viewshed, part II

At Antietam, Mannie made the point; he tossed his clipboard with battlefield map onto the floor and said, 'We can look at a 2-dimensional map and wonder why generals were stupid; on the ground, you see how the commanders and the troops encountered a 3-dimensional world, couldn't see over horizons or around corners, faced chaos rather than a bird's-eye view.'

So true. For that reason alone, I cast my unequivocal vote for restoration of battlefields to period viewsheds. Standing above Burnside's Bridge and looking across to the other side, seeing a now open slope where Union troops charged down into the maelstrom, makes clear that they didn't come running up parallel to the stream and make a quick right turn over the bridge, nor did they emerge from the cover of forest just yards from the bridge, as I had previously misunderstood. The full magnitude of what they faced, and did, now comes into full display.

Similar thing at Fxburg. I'm glad one can stand on the west bank of the Rappahannock and see where the 7th Michigan crossed. It would be so much more effective if the NPS closed off the River Road to traffic on the opposite side (as there are other better roads around Chatham), carved out a small parking lot on the side of that road, and allowed people to walk to a small clearing on the riverbank near where the actual crossing began. It's one thing to see across to where they came from; it's altogether another to stand in their shoes, looking across the river, up into the town, while comparing the viewshed today to a contemporary photo showing structures down to water's edge, getting a truer sense of what it was like for real people to volunteer for and fulfill such a mission.

A further note: the ranger at Chatham said we should go to the stone wall at Marye's Heights, but we didn't have time. Next time, we should. For he said the road's been closed off and restored to a condition similar to December '62. Here's proof, from the NPS site showing what the Sunken Road looks like today. Thirty years ago, as proven by a Kodak moment I have in my possession, cars approached a Yield sign on that road. Today, it appears as a dirt road with only pedestrian traffic.

If it can be done here, it ought to be done below Stafford Heights.

And, for that matter, it ought to be done at Manassas. While we stayed in Williamsburg, we were joined by a couple from church; he's a Civil War buff also. They visited Manassas on the way down and were struck by the amount of traffic at the battleground. I submit that the NPS should close US-29 and Virginia-234 other than to visitor traffic, and regrade the road to gravel status, thus yielding conditions closer to '61-'62. Seen the CWPT pamphlet on threatened battlefields? Noted the cement mixer and line-up of vehicles on US-29 there? Enough.

Impact of the viewshed, part I

As mentioned, the stop at Chatham was a learning experience. Antietam was a reminder of things learned and the prospect of future learning. To this student, their conjunction on consecutive days raised a simple question: what in the world was Ambrose Burnside thinking at Fxburg?!

Standing above the Antietam bridge named after the tactician for such an inept assault, the day after Chatham, created a feeling of deja vu. Both are positions marked by a river/stream valley, where Burnside's troops charged downward, crossed a body of water, and charged upward into the teeth of hostile fire. At Antietam the Confederates were protected by sunken rifle pits; at Fxburg they were hidden in town buildings. At both, the bravery of Union soldiers is made manifest simply by the 'viewshed.' And especially the 7th Michigan's at Fxburg.

Here is the OR brigade commander account (who had been 7th Michigan commander): Hall report. Note the "regiment Volunteered to be crossed and storm the town as proposed" after the engineers couldn't construct the pontoon bridges without cover; but even cover failed, so Hall asked the regiment's lieutenant colonel, now commanding, to revise the plan: "I stated to Colonel Baxter that I saw no hopes of effecting the crossing, unless he could man the oars, place the boats, and push across unassisted. I confess I felt apprehensions of disaster in this attempt, as, without experience in the management of boats, the shore might not be reached promptly, if at all, and the party lost. Colonel Baxter promptly accepted the new conditions, and proceeded immediately to arrange the boats, some of which had to be carried to the water. ... The boats pushed gallantly across under a sharp fire. While in the boats, 1 man was killed and Lieutenant Colonel Baxter and several men were wounded. The party, which numbered from 60 to 70 men, formed under the bank and rushed upon the first street, attacked the enemy, and, in the space of a few minutes, 31 prisoners were captured and a secure lodgment effected. Several men were here also wounded, and Lieutenant Emery and 1 man killed. The remainder of the regiment meanwhile crossed...."

Is it any wonder that 141 years later a Michigan reenacting group dedicated a marker to the regiment? Here are pics: 7th reenactors. And this all began at the "Lacy house", ie, Chatham.

(By the way, why was General Woodbury, overall assault commander, away during this crucial time?!)

I failed to mention it before, but students who know Fxburg know that Michigander Henry J. Hunt had a key role in artillery fire from Stafford Heights in support of the town assault on 12/10 and in the attack upon Marye's Heights several days later. Michigan was there, oh yes.

Burnside. Didn't he face this down-the-hill-and-across-the-water-situation just 3 months before? Didn't he learn anything?!

A visit to Gettysburg...someday

I was minding my own business today when my cellphone rang. "Hi, it's ___. Have you seen today's USA Today?" No, I replied, quizzical. "There's an article on the new Visitor Center at Gettysburg, and it looks great. Maybe we'll all go see it together...or perhaps you and your wife will."

I was quite touched. That some friends from Michigan we've made just in the past couple years would see the piece, think of me in connection with it, the Civil War, Gettysburg, the new center, and going to see it together.

"That would be great," I replied, "we'd really like to do that, so let's can plan to do it someday soon."

To be honest, I've had mixed feelings about the new place. Glad that the old center, erected on hallowed ground itself, will be gone to restore the integrity of the park. Pleased that the amazing Cyclorama is being restored to its grandeur. Wistful that the magic electric map will be gone, mothballed. Wondering how all the money needed could be raised. And thinking that, perhaps, someday, maybe, I might go see it. For I suffer from Gettysburg overload. I haven't seen Shiloh, Vicksburg, Nashville, Brices Cross Roads, Mobile, and want to go there much more than to Gettysburg for yet one more time.

Today, our friends changed my mind. I'll go as soon as we can work out the plans together. Why the change? Well, when some non-Civil War fanatics call you up and invite you, saying "let's go explore the War together," is there any other conceivable response?!

BTW, here's the online version of the article, with a great color picture of the Center not found in the hard copy: USA Today today.

Fantasyland

This week's serendipitous tour of Michigan monuments led me to musing ...

Imagine, you're at home, minding your own business, when suddenly there's a loud knock on your entry door. Opening it, you discover a stranger who hits you with "Congratulations! You've won an all-expenses-paid trip to the CW sites of your choice in all of America! All you have to do is decide, right now, on a single itinerary. You have 5 minutes for your decision." Wow, you react, that's terrific, and terrible at the same time, for the clock is ticking and you don't want to make a mistake and waste this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. What is your greatest CW-related fantasy excursion?

I'm not sure I can stop myself once I get going on this, as 5 minutes of thinking below shows.

Here's candidate #1. Since I've done no Western battlefields, I guess I'd start there. I'd get in the ragtop and drive down I-75 toward the 'land between the lakes' in northwestern Tennessee for Ft. Donelson. Continue down to Nashville. Then to Shiloh.

Tied for candidate #1. Visit every single monument to a Michigan unit at every field of glory in the nation.

Here's #2. Fly down to Memphis. Rent a car for the trip down the Mississippi for the Vicksburg campaign. Then to Natchez. Take the Trace Parkway back northeasterly. Visit Jackson and Brices Cross Roads (not sure which comes first). Return to Memphis. Pack in the other stops mentioned in a Cottage Living [subsequently looked it up; it's the November '06 issue, p.75ff].

Here's #3. Done this before, but my memories are so vividly wonderful that I'd like to recreate it. Start west on route 7 in Virginia from Bailey's Cross Roads, toward Leesburg. Cross the Potomac at some small, undistinguished location. Drive thru one of the gaps (South Mountain?) and down into Sharpsburg. Have a burger at a place, to the best of my recollection, called Annie's. Do Antietam. Then down to Harper's Ferry, before heading back to DC.

Here's #4. Not done this before. Follow Sherman's march to the sea from Atlanta to Savannah, paying special attention to the locations and routes of Michigan units.

OK, that's enough for 5 minutes' worth of thinking, yielding 5 ideas, each of which I could do. In fact, I think, put to the test, I'd go crazy trying to figure out which one. But I imagine others might be the product of even more spectacular imaginations ...

Michigan at Andersonville

The blog called Draw the Sword has made me a fan by transporting me to battlefield memorials and their descriptions without really having to go there (inter alia, as we lawyers say). I felt fortunate recently to stumble across a similar pic I had forgotten was in my archives. It arrived from communications with the NPS staff at A-ville to see if there were any Michigan monuments. To my delight, I received this in return:

What an amazing, beautiful, poignant sculpture. I've not been to the site, and I haven't done much research on the story behind the monument, so I have nothing to go on other than the visceral reaction of the photo itself. That might really be enough. But I'd also like to know the background for it. The AG's report has a discussion of the prison and Michigan's contingent of 623 among the 13,000 Union graves. The monument must have been erected after 1882 when the report was published, since there's no mention.

Michigan's sacrifice represents under 5% of the total, assuming the numbers are accurate. Somehow, that calculation was far less important than the 623 individuals and their last full measure of devotion.

As per the post and comments from yesterday, this is one of those stories that needs telling at least as much as another account of how French designed the statue at the Lincoln Memorial in DC.

One hundred and eleven

I inquired of a Gettysburg battlefield guide, at a meeting tonite, whether the design for the National Cemetery by landscape architect William Saunders, founder of the National Grange, was actually carried out. He replied, 'yes it was'.

Saunders' plan? "On my first visit I studied the ground thoroughly and thought of various methods of treatment. It occurred to me... and I felt it all important under the plan, that the remains of the soldiers from each State should be laid together in a group. In fact, I had examined the ground before suggesting an addition to it and had employed an evening considering how best to arrange for interments." The design arranged burial plots by State in a circular sections around a central hub. (NPS site)

Lincoln dedicated it on November 19, 1863: "We are met on a great battle-field of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this."

How did this State respond when such cemeteries were being created? From the AG Report: "The National cemeteries, where rest the heroic dead, have always had the required aid from Michigan. The State has never failed to make ready and substantial response to all calls made for means to improve and beautify these silent cities of the dead."

As for Gettysburg, it says, "Numerically, Michigan stands third in the number slain; and proportionably to population she ranks first in this sacrifice to be made memorable forever by a Nation's gratitude."

According to the guide, 111 Michiganders still rest in the State's section, representing the supreme sacrifice of Great Lake State residents in the city on a hill that cannot be hidden (Matthew 5:14).