and fully appointed, left the State to meet the enemies of American liberty, the first to reach the National Capitol from west of the Alleghany Mountains, and was among the first troops which crossed Long Bridge, into Virginia, and composed a part of the command that captured Alexandria, the first city taken from the Rebels.

The Michigan "Contingent" in the war was largely made up of men who enlisted for three years, and were mainly from the more respectable and industrious of the community. Leaving the peaceful avocations of civil life, these men were disciplined into soldiers and converted into heroes, sometimes even during the operations and emergencies of a single campaign. Patient and obedient under the most rigid discipline, persistent and enduring on the long and tedious march, cheerful and untiring in the trenches, apt in experiment, and most ingenious in construction, they added to all these qualifications and merits true courage in the field, while almost every important action has illustrated their heroism, and almost every battle-field is consecrated with their blood. Their services were eagerly sought for by all the best generals-whether to construct a defense, lead a "forlorn hope," or charge a battery.

Michigan troops, prominent at the onset of the rebellion, were in at its death. They were among those who, under the command of the brave and lamented Richardson, first opened fire on the rebels, in the vicinity of Bull Run, at Blackburn's Ford. They were with Gen. McClellan in West Virginia, in the first year of the war, and were in South Carolina and Georgia in 1862, and during that year served with the Army of the Potomac on the Peninsula and in Maryland, with Gen. Banks in the Shenandoah Valley, in Virginia under Gen. Burnside, in Louisiana under Gen. Butler, and in Missouri with Gen. Pope and Col. Mulligan.

In 1863 they bore a conspicuous and gallant part in the ever memorable campaigns under Gen. Hooker in Virginia, and Gen. Meade in Pennsylvania, at the defense of Knoxville by Gen. Burnside, at the capture of Vicksburg by Gen. Grant, and on the celebrated Kilpatrick raid against Richmond. They were also engaged in the campaign of Gen. Rosecrans against Chattanooga, and were actively employed in the field at various points in Tennessee, Mississippi, Kentucky and Louisiana, under other generals.

In 1864-5 they were with Gen. Grant on his great march against Richmond, and bravely participated in most of the hard fought battles of that eventful campaign. They were also with Gen. Sherman on his remarkable march from Chattanooga to the sea, and were prominently engaged in most of his memorable and successful battles, and with Gen. Sheridan in his matchless encounters with the enemy in the valley of the Shenandoah, where their sabres flashed in every battle. They took part in the gallant defense of Nashville by Gen. Thomas, and were with Generals Stoneman and Wilson on their raids into North Carolina and Georgia. They were also at the capture of Mobile, and served in Texas and Utah Territory during a part of 1865-6.

Michigan was well represented at the surrender of Lee and Johnston-the termination and death of the rebellion, and a Michigan regiment captured the President of the so-called Confederacy, Jefferson Davis, in his inglorious flight to escape deserved punishment for his infamous treason and rebellion.

Michigan troops in all the campaigns and battles in which they participated, were most reliable, conspicuously brave, and gallant. In every position in which they were placed, they were true, self-sacrificing, patient under hardship, murmuring not, meeting death by exposure, starvation, and cruel treatment in rebel prisons, and many more by rebel bullets in sanguinary strife.

Aside from their acknowledged bravery and efficiency in battle, they were in a most remarkable manner entrusted with posts of honor and great responsibility, which could scarcely have been accidental, but with a purpose.

From the beginning of the war until its end, Michigan soldiers evinced a most persistent determination to fight on, until all rebels in arms against the government should be conquered and subdued, and if needs be, utterly destroyed, so that their country might live. That determination they most successfully carried out; they met the enemy in his "last ditch," and he was theirs; they compelled him to lay down his rebellious arms, to beg for quarter, peace, and even for bread, and submit, unconditionally, to the terms of their dictation. Having done that, the troops of Michigan returned to their homes, as the conquerors of the enemies of their country, the preservers of their Nation, receiving the plaudits and gratitude of their fellow countrymen, and of every friend of freedom and humanity throughout the world.

The armies of no other nation, even after many years of the training which war brings with it, have evinced so marvellous a development of soldierly qualities as characterized the American troops during their comparatively short term of service. The annals of the times will rear an imperishable monument to the patriotism of all the States which in the nation's peril gave their sons in the conflict, and the honor of one will be among the precious possessions of the others; but it will be for Michigan to cherish with peculiar pride and tenderness the remembrance and the fame of the gallant band of patriots who, in the fiercest struggles of modern warfare, and among comrades of equal worth and bravery, while preserving the national life and integrity, have reflected undying lustre upon her own escutcheon.

And while we claim gallant services and noble deeds for Michigan troops, we must acknowledge and award bravery to their opponents. However much we may condemn their cause and repudiate their action, we must accord them a degree of courage and gallantry in battle worthy of Americans. For, although for the Federals in blue was reserved the laurel, they shared with the Confederates in grey the cypress, and while we claim the rose for the graves of our dead, we may afford to concede to theirs the lily.

"From our dead foeman comes no chiding forth;
We lie at peace; Heaven has no south or north;
With roots of trees and flowers and fern and heather,
God reaches down, and clasps our hands together."

FIRST INFANTRY---THREE MONTHS.

PROCLAMATION.

Whereas, The President of the United States has made a requisition upon the State of Michigan for military aid in enforcing the laws and upholding the Constitution and the Union of the United States;

And whereas, The laws of this State already authorize the raising of two regiments of militia for the service of the federal government;

And whereas, Said laws contemplate that the uniformed volunteers shall first be called in such exigencies;

Now, therefore, the Adjutant General of this State is hereby authorized to accept the services of ten companies of infantry, to be mustered into the service of the United States for three months (unless sooner disbanded).

To this end, the companies of the uniformed volunteer militia that may desire to tender their services, will forthwith report, through their company commanders, to the Adjutant General at Detroit, the names of company officers, and the number of their rank and file, ready for service; the number, kind and condition of their arms; and the number of officers and men already in uniform, the kind of uniform, and the number in want of uniform.

Out of the whole number of companies, the Adjutant General will first select ten companies for immediate service. The companies which may be accepted will be required to fill up, according to the following schedule:

For each company-one captain, one first lieutenant, one second lieutenant, four sergeants, four corporals, two musicians, and sixty-five privates;

All companies formed, and to be formed, will be instructed and put in a serviceable condition as soon as possible, and will at once begin drilling according to "Hardee's Tactics."

Those not immediately required will be formed into one, or more additional regiments, as the exigencies of the service may demand.

It is confidently expected that the patriotic citizen soldiery of Michigan will promptly come forward to enlist in the cause of the Union, against which an extensive rebellion in arms exists, threatening the integrity and perpetuity of the gov

ernment.

The Adjutant General will issue and enforce the necessary orders to carry out the objects of this Proclamation.

Given at Detroit, this sixteenth day of April, A. D. 1861.

AUSTIN BLAIR, Governor and Commander-in-Chief.

Under this proclamation the first Regiment Infantry (three months) was recruited and organized to comply with the requisition of the President of the United States for one regiment from Michigan as her quota of the ninety thousand men required under the first call for troops to suppress the rebellion then fully inaugurated.

The provision of law, giving the uniformed militia preference on the first call

was a privilege which together with the great desire to serve the country at that time made the membership of these companies a highly valued position, and numerous propositions were made and sums of money offered as a premium to relinquish in favor of outsiders, but they were invariably declined.

As contemplated by the militia law referred to, the uniformed companies had the preference of service, and in accordance therewith the selection of companies was made pursuant to the following order:

MILITARY DEPARTMENT MICHIGAN,
ADJUTANT-GENERAL'S OFFICE,

Detroit, Michigan, April 24, 1861.

GENERAL ORDER NO. 5.

I. The First Brigade Michigan Infantry is hereby organized. A. S. Williams to be Brigadier-General.

II. The following officers are appointed to the First Regiment Michigan Infantry: Orlando B. Willcox to be Colonel. Lorin L. Comstock, to be Lieutenant-Colonel. A. F. Bidwell, to be Major.

IV. The Captains of these Companies will report forthwith by letter to their Colonel at Detroit, and await his orders before moving.

V. The Colonel will, in orders, designate the letters of the Companies and the rank of the Captains, respectively, and complete the organization.

VI. The Coldwater Light Artillery will hereafter be designated as Company A of the First Regiment Michigan Artillery. This Company will forthwith proceed to Detroit, for duty with the First Regiment of Infantry.

The Captain will report on their arrival, to Colonel Willcox. The Quartermaster General will complete their outfit at the earliest practicable period, and for this purpose he will order the necessary guns, caissons, harness, sabres and other equipments to be turned over at once to the Captain of Company A by other Companies, without delay.

VII. According to the published notices of the different Railroads in the State, the Michigan Troops will, with their arms, horses and ammunition, be transported free of charge.

VIII. A sufficient number of Companies having reported, the second Regiment of Infantry will be immediately organized.

By Order of the Commander-in-Chief,

JOHN ROBERTSON,

Adjutant General,

The Companies reported for duty without the least delay, and as fast as they could reach Detroit by rail, when the regiment was at once being rapidly put in condition for the field.

On the 17th of April a dispatch was received from the War Department that it would not be required until the 20th of May.

The organization of the regiment was completed, however, on the 29th of April, and on May 1st it was mustered into the service of the United States, 798 strong, awaiting orders from the War Department.

FIELD AND STAFF.

Colonel, Orlando B. Willcox, Detroit. Lieutenant-Colonel, Loren L. Comstock, Adrian. Major, Alonzo F. Bidwell, Coldwater. Surgeon, William Brodie, Detroit.

NOTE. The staff of General Williams was composed of William D. Wilkins, Brigade Major and Inspector, and Henry M. Whittlesey, Aid-de-Camp, both of Detroit, who afterwards served on his staff in the field.

Assistant Surgeon, Cyrus Smith, Jackson. Adjutant, John D. Fairbanks, Detroit. Quartermaster, Edward Gray, Detroit.

Following are the Companies with their Officers as mustered into service:

"A." Captain, Charles M. Lum, Detroit. First Lieutenant, John D. Fairbanks, Detroit. Second Lieutenant, William A. Throop, Detroit.

"B" Captain, William H. Withington, Jackson. First Lieutenant, Eben B. Griffith, Jackson. Second Lieutenant, G. Collins Lyon, Jackson.

"C." Captain, Ebenezer Butterworth, Coldwater. First Lieutenant, Charles E. Eggleston, Coldwater. Second Lieutenant, George H. Eggleston, Coldwater.

"D." Captain, Isaac L. Clarkson, Manchester. First Lientenant, John D. Merethew, Manchester. Second Lieutenant, Thomas Rix, Manchester.

"E." William F. Roth, Ann Arbor. First Lieutenant, George C. Mogk, Ann Arbor. Second Lieutenant, John T. Sinclair, Ann Arbor.

“F." Captain, Horace S. Roberts, Detroit. First Lieutenant, Bernhard Mauch, Detroit. Second Lieutenant, Joseph P. Sanger, Detroit.

"G." Captain, Ira C. Abbott, Burr Oak. First Lieutenant, John M. Casey, Burr Oak. Second Lieutenant, Charles Moase, Burr Oak.

"H." Captain, Franklin W. Whittlesey, Ypsilanti. First Lieutenant, David A. Wise, Ypsilanti._Second Lieutenant, Marvin A. Parkes, Ypsilanti.

"I." Captain, Deville Hubbard, Marshall. First Lieutenant, Selden H. Gorham, Marshall. Second Lieutenant, Hiram S. Warner, Marshall.

"K" Captain, William H. Graves, Adrian. First Lieutenant, John W. Horner, Adrian. Second Lieutenant, William House, Adrian.

On the formation of the regiment the companies received a designation by letter: Detroit Light Guard, "A." Jackson Greys, "B." Coldwater Cadets, "C." Manchester Union Guard, "D." Steuben Guard, Ann Arbor, “E.” Michigan Hussars, Detroit, "F." Burr Oak Guard, G." Ypsilanti Light Guard, "H." Marshall Light Guard, "I," and the Hardee Cadets, “K."

The make-up of the companies was composed of young men from all professions and trades, and really embraced a class of the most respectable of the community; many of them imbued with considerable knowledge of military bearing and discipline, as a result of the examples from time to time afforded them in their contact with the regular army, so long stationed in several portions of Michigan; and aside from this, many of them had received instruction and training from officers who had served in the regular army and in the first uniformed company of the State, and the best military company in the Northwest for many years, the Brady Guard, organized at Detroit in 1836, from which source, although it had been long out of service, could be traced many of the valuable traits in the make-up and discipline of nearly all the citizen soldiery of the State at the outbreak of the rebellion, and continuing to be visible throughout the entire war.

This training had been so infused into the membership of the companies of this regiment that it became more and more observable and valuable as the war progressed, affording an almost continuous supply of officers from the ranks, not only for the companies of their own regiment, but for others, as many of them were commissioned and transferred to other regiments, the "Detroit Light Guard" alone having supplied over thirty officers, while the other companies furnished their proportion, many of these officers attaining a high rank in the service, thus presenting one of the strongest evidences of the value of a proper training of the militia of the country.

On May 13th, the regiment having received orders, left Fort Wayne for the front in command of Colonel Willcox, well uniformed, fully equipped with arms and ammunition ready for the field, arriving on the 16th in Washington. Prior to leaving Detroit, the ladies presented the regiment on the Campus Martius with a silken flag of very fine material. Addresses were made on behalf