Michigan Civil War Blog

The Native Michiganders of Company K

Very informative podcast on Michigan Radio about this cohort of expert marksmen who served the Union in the Civil War: http://michiganradio.org

New Michigan Historical Commission member Eric Hemenway is featured.

Michigan Marker at Stones River

Had the opportunity to visit this NPS site last weekend (for the first time), and to come across the Michigan Historical Marker on the battlefield. It's in pretty good shape; could use a good cleaning, and one of the posts has started to come loose from the plaque -- but compared to a lot of markers that's nothing.

The marker used to be, from appearances, on the driving tour. The Park Service has obviously changed the route; there's a parking lot, as seen in the photo below (thanks to Michmarkers.com for the image; the cannon and small sign are no longer there), and the former roadway runs within a few feet of the location. Today, that is a walking/biking path. One must park several hundred feet away in order to go see the sign. That's also not really that much of a big deal, but the parking spaces are few. The Park does conduct ranger-led driving/caravan tours so that could be one way to deal with the issue.

The real issue is that this is a park that deserves greater visitation. A sign viewable from your car as you drive into the park reminds the visitor that this was an important point in the Civil War -- Lincoln wrote Rosecrans to thank him for a victory that came during a winter of discontent for many in the North after Fredericksburg -- and was very bloody, given the two days of combat. The National Cemetery is just across the road from the Visitor Center entrance; as with each such site, it is well worth a visit. One could see Michigan headstones even from the car as you drive through the cemetery roadway. It is just outside of Nashville, easily accessible from the interstate, and the eastern part of the park along the bank of Stones River is easy to get to from the main part.

The Michigan marker was erected in 1966 by the Michigan Civil War Centennial Observance Commission. Unusual, one side has but 24 words relating how "the State of Michigan" erected the marker to honor those who fought here to save the Union. Coming as it did coincidentally with the issuance of the Emancipation Proclamation, the marker could also say that they fought here to usher in a new birth of freedom for the nation's people, all people, regardless of race or ethnicity.

Governor Reappoints

Sometimes an official item of business understates its importance. Take the case of this one, which appeared in the Michigan Senate Journal for Thursday, April 30, 2015, p. 563:

"April 28, 2015

I respectfully submit to the Senate the following appointment to office:

Michigan Historical Commission

Brian James Egen of 720 O’Brien Street, Monroe, Michigan 48161, county of Monroe, representing the general public, succeeding himself, is reappointed for a term expiring May 21, 2019."

Mr. Egen has been an excellent commissioner for the past four years, and Michigan will continue to benefit from his reappointment and four more years of his involvement on the Michigan Historical Commission. He is conscientious, hard-working, and an excellent historian full of expertise and passion for the subject.

For several years now, he has served as Chairman of the Commission's Civil War Sesquicentennial Committee, helping the Commission fulfill its duties to help Michigan commemorate the Sesqui. It would take too much space to recount all of the accomplishments of the Committee -- suffice to say that Brian has as one of the remaining goals to publish an account of the activities in Michigan during the CWS, and probably sometime next year.

Congratulations to Governor Snyder for the decision to make the reappointment, to the Commission for continuing to have such a dedicated member, to the people of Michigan who will continue to benefit from his faithful service, and to Brian James Egen. Well done!

Remembering Tom Farrell

The funeral for Tom Farrell, former member of the Michigan Historical Commission, is tomorrow, Wednesday, December 31, 2014, at 10:30 a.m. at St. Gerard Catholic Church, Lansing, MI. Tom passed away early Christmas morning, age 86.

When I received the honor of an appointment in June 2007, I joined a Commission with Tom already a member. He had been appointed to the position August 16, 2005, by Governor Granholm, because (as I heard from an informed source) his good friend Attorney General Frank Kelley thought he would be a good addition to the State's longest standing history body.

The obituary notice I received says the following:

He was well-known among state agencies for his public relations work. In the span of his nearly 50-year career Farrell served as the public information officer for many state government agencies including the Michigan State Highway Department, the Michigan Commerce Department, and the Michigan Department of Education. He also worked for the Michigan Catholic Conference and as an administrative assistant to former U.S. representative John C. Mackey.

Born in Detroit, Michigan, January 15, 1928, Tom Farrell graduated from Grand Rapids Catholic Central High School in 1946. Farrell started his career in the news business as an 8-year-old selling nickel newspapers to churchgoers at The Shrine of the Little Flower Parish in Royal Oak. Later, he attended Aquinas College where he met his wife Marilou. In 1946 he worked as a sports reporter for the Grand Rapids Herald before moving to the Grand Rapids Press. In 1949 he hired on with the United Press and covered the 1950 elections before being drafted into the U.S. Army. He spent two years as editor of The Cardinal, at Camp Atterbury, IN, before returning to Lansing to work as the Capital Correspondent for UPI. One of the highlights of Farrell’s half-century career was his coverage of the opening of the Mackinac Bridge in 1957.

In 1959 Farrell went to work as the Public Information Officer for the Michigan State Highway Department under the direction of John C. Mackie. During his tenure Michigan led the nation in freeway construction. In 1964 highway commissioner John Mackie won a U.S. House seat and Farrell went with him to Washington to serve as his administrative assistant. Two years later he returned to Michigan to work as the Public Information Director at the new Michigan Department of Transportation.  Following this position, in 1968, he was the Public Information Director for the Michigan Catholic Conference under Francis J. “Jerry” Coomes; he held the same title for the Department of Commerce under Dick Whitmer from 1969-72. Farrell spent the next 13 years, 1972-1985 working as the Assistant Superintendent for Legislation and Public Affairs at the Michigan Department of Education.

In 1985 then-Chief Justice G. Mennen “Soapy” Williams hired Farrell to be the Public Information Officer for the Michigan Supreme Court, where he worked until his retirement in 1993. Farrell also worked under Chief Justices Dorothy Comstock Riley and Michael F. Cavanagh. Farrell was previously quoted as saying, “I’ve been very fortunate. I’ve had some of the greatest bosses in the world.”

Farrell was a member of the Michigan Historical Commission, was president of the Michigan Press Association, a member of the Michigan Broadcaster’s Association, and a lifetime board member for Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp. He also did public relations and media operations for various political campaigns.

Thomas is survived by his eight children, Richard, Grand Ledge, MI; Thomas, Michael (Carol), Mark, Susan (Douglas) Lenon, Lansing, MI; James (Jane Greenway) Okemos, MI; Mary (Robert) Moffett, Pierson, FL; and Nancy, Weslaco, TX; his many grandchildren, great grandchildren, great, great grandchildren, nieces and nephews; sisters Joanne Chapin, IL; Mary Cagney, OH; and Lois, Lansing. He was predeceased by his wife of 61 years, Marilou, their son Patrick, daughter-in-law Gail, daughter Catherine, and granddaughter Sara Rivera.  The family wishes to invite those whose lives were touched by Tom to join them in celebration of his life Wednesday, December 31, 2014, at 10:30 a.m. at St. Gerard Catholic Church, Lansing, MI. Burial at St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery, Lansing, MI.  Visitation is Tuesday, December 30, from 2:00-4:00 p.m. and 6:00-8:00 p.m., with Vigil Service at 7 p.m. in the Tiffany Funeral Home, 3232 W. Saginaw St., Lansing. Viewing will be from 9:30-10:30 a.m. Wednesday at church. Friends may visit the guestbook at www.tiffanyfuneralhome.com. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to organizations supporting Alzheimer’s research and care.

According to Gongwer, "Mr. Farrell was praised by reporters as a man of tremendous knowledge, humanity and integrity." And: "Mr. Farrell was someone who knew everyone, knew their history and the history of current issues. He was an invaluable source to reporters, knowing what they needed and what they did not, and never tried to oversell a story. And in a political climate where people often were looking over their shoulders, Mr. Farrell was unafraid to be direct either to reporters or the people he worked for. He also had a tremendous sense of fairness."

Thomas Maurice Farrell served this State and its citizens loyally and with great dedication practically his whole life. I am grateful for our paths having crossed. Condolences to his family.

Honoring Michigan's African-Heritage Civil War Regiment

Last night, on the final day/night of the current session, the Michigan Legislature passed Senate Bill 93.

The bill was introduced on January 29, 2013, by Senator Coleman A. Young II, with cosponsors Hoon-Yung Hopgood, Steven Bieda, Morris Hood, Rick Jones, John Pappageorge, Bert Johnson, and Glenn Anderson. The bill would have added a new section to the Michigan Memorial Highway Act to designate the portion of highway I-375 within Wayne County as the "First Michigan Colored Infantry Regiment Memorial Highway". 

The First Michigan Colored was a regiment of Michiganders of African descent who enlisted to fight in the Civil War on behalf of Union and emancipation. They were recruited in 1863 from the southern tier of Michigan counties.

The bill was referred to committee and languished. Suddenly, on October 1, 2014, the committee took up the legislation, and the bill was reported out in the form of a substitute S-2. The substitute amended the bill to read as follows: SEC. 1076. THE PORTION OF HIGHWAY I-375 THAT IS WITHIN WAYNE COUNTY SHALL BE KNOWN AS THE "102ND UNITED STATES COLORED TROOPS (U.S.C.T.) MEMORIAL  HIGHWAY. " On November 6, the substitute was adopted by a vote of 37-0 with one member excused.

The bill was referred to a House committee, which reported it out on December 9 with a recommendation that it pass without amendment. On December 16, the House adopted a substitute H-1, which would amend the bill to read as follows: SEC. 90. THE PORTION OF HIGHWAY I-375 THAT IS WITHIN WAYNE COUNTY SHALL BE KNOWN AS THE "102ND UNITED STATES COLORED TROOPS (U.S.C.T.) MEMORIAL HIGHWAY". On December 18, the House approved the bill by a vote of 108-0.

Because the House had adopted a different version of the bill, the Senate had to concur for it to become law. On the same day, the bill was transmitted to the Senate, and that body adopted the House version by a vote of 38-0. The bill is on its way to the Governor where it undoubtedly will be signed into law.

Thus, during the 11th hour of the current Legislature, a bipartisan consensus occurred and without a single dissenting voice action was taken -- quickly and in the only way to achieve passage -- to honor the First Michigan Colored Infantry Regiment, later denominated the 102nd United States Colored Troops.

Immediate effect was approved, so the bill will become law upon the Governor's signing it.

The bill was introduced as part of the Michigan Historical Commission's workplan to assist Michigan in commemorating the Civil War Sesquicentennial. Last night's passage is extremely gratifying. But even more, it is such an appropriate action by our elected officials to call to the attention of all 10 million Michiganders and those visitors to our State who travel I-375 the heroism, patriotism, and selfless sacrifice of the thousand-plus men who put on Union blue and carried armament to fight, primarily in the Deep South, under the flag of the United States of America. As chair of the Civil War Sesquicentennial committee would say, "Huzzah!"

Come to Hamtramck today

Dear friend and supporter,

The Friends of Historic Hamtramck Stadium cordially invite you to attend the unveiling of a new State of Michigan historic marker commemorating Hamtramck Stadium on Thursday, August 14, at 3:30 p.m.

The historic marker dedication will take place in Veterans Memorial Park near the monument to Col. Hamtramck on Jos. Campau Street, one block south of Goodson.

Built in 1930, Hamtramck Stadium is a former home of the Negro League Detroit Stars and Detroit Wolves as well as of semi-pro teams like the Detroit Cubs (pictured above). Hamtramck Stadium is one of only a handful of Negro League ballparks still in existence.

More information about Hamtramck Stadium and the dedication ceremony can be found at www.HamtramckStadium.org. 

R.S.V.P. to HamtramckStadium@GMail.com or to 313.614.9006.


Thanks again for your support!
 
Gary Gillette, President
Friends of Historic Hamtramck Stadium
A Michigan Nonprofit Corporation

MI CWS Committee webpage

The Department of Natural Resources has revamped its webpage, and you can now find the Michigan Civil War Sesquicentennial Committee page here: http://www.michigan.gov/mhc/0,4726,7-282-65121_61084_62918_65885---,00.html or click this link: MICWSC

Apparently, at least for some period of time, the old one is still up as well: http://www.michigan.gov/dnr/0,1607,7-153-54463_54465-209868--,00.html

Yesterday in Michigan History

From MIRS:

"On This Day In Michigan History

On May 28, 1913, the Michigan Historical Commission organized in Lansing. The organization succeeded the Michigan Pioneer and Historical Society of Michigan. 

Source: Mich-Again's Day"

 

Readers should note that the Commission continues to have responsibility to help Michigan commemorate the Civil War Sesquicentennial. Its next meeting on Mackinac Island on June 10 will include a report on the CWS including both recent and forthcoming activities.

 

Note also: the Historical Society of Michigan continues to exist and do good work; the Commission when created in 1913 took over certain functions from the Society that were regarded as necessarily the province of a public body responsive to the citizenry.

Commission to meet

The Michigan Historical Commission will hold its final meeting of this year on Wednesday, December 4, at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library in Ann Arbor. On the agenda will be, as per usual, a report on the actions and plans of its Civil War Sesquicentennial Committee. Also expected is a report on the status of the Ulysses S. and Julia D. Grant Home project. The public is welcome.

There Stands Stonewall

Perhaps you think the title refers to a certain Confederate general? Nay, nay! It refers to the Michigan Historical Marker for the 17th Michigan Infantry, which won its nickname as the Stonewall Regiment at the Battle of South Mountain, Sept. 14, 1862, and its now-permanent position in the field over which the Michiganders charged that difficult day. Commissioner Egen and yours truly were privileged to visit the site last weekend, and extremely gratified to find it erect and steadfast, a finer location (in one humble opinion) than buried along the foliage of the Appalachian Trail where it formerly stood. You decide: