History of Ottawa County, Michigan with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers.

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MILITARY HISTORY
OTTAW~}A AND MUSKEGON COUNTIES.

Under this head we give a general sketch of the military movements of the main bodies in which the residents of these two counties enlisted. There are a few regiments omitted in which the number of recruits was very trifling, but all the leading regiments are
chronicled. A great deal of the private military history of inzcividuals will be found in their respective biographies, arranged in their
proper localities. These we have not thought necessary to repeat,
as it would for no useful end unduly swell the volume. Suffice it to
say that no other counties can show more individual instances of
heroism.
The military history of these two counties is but a fragment of
the general history of the loyal part of the nation. When the war
cry rung, men rushed to arms. The pulsations of patriotism were
strong. What were ease, property, home, wife, children, and friends,
in comparison with the welfare-of the country, then in jeopardy?
No part of the North responded more freely than Michigan.
Men were eager to volunteer to endure the privations, hardships and
dangers of the camp, the march, the bivouac, and the battle. When
money was wanting, it was free. What cared men for gold, or for
life itself, when the nation was going to pieces? A thousand from
the Grand River region never returned, and Muskegon valley only
furnished fewer because it was a newer and less settled region. All
honor to the patriots and martyrs of the war.
On the 12th of April, 1861, the news was received in Michigan
that civil war had been inaugurated by the rebels, at Charleston,
South Carolina, firing upon Fort Sumter. On the following day a
meeting was held in Detroit, at which resolutions were adopted repudiating the Rebellion, and pledging this community to " stand by
the Government to the last." By the following Monday (April 15th),
when the surrender of the South Carolina fortress was known
throughout the land, and the call of the President of the United
States for 75,000 volunteers had been received, the entire State was
alive to the emergencies and duties of the hour, and the uprising of
her people was universal. Public meetings were held in the prillcipal cities and towns; pledges of assistance to the nation in its
hour of peril were made, and volunteering commenced vigorously.
On April 16th, Gov. Blair arrived at Detroit and consulted with
a number of citizens. The State had been called upon to furnish
immediately, to the General Government, one Infantry Regiment,
fully armed, clothed and equipped. During the same day a proclamation was issued by the Governor, calling for ten companies of
'volunteers. On April 23d the Governor issued a proclamation convening the Lsgislature in extra session on May 7th.
On April 24th, the Adjutant-General issued an order organiz

ing the First Regiment of Infantry and appointing its field officers.
The rendezvous was fixed at Fort Wayne, and the various companies ordered to assemble there immediately. The " Coldwater Battery" was authorized, and rapidly recruited. On the 2d of May the
companies of the First Regiment were mustered into service, and
three other regiments had been formed. The Legislature convened
on the 7th, and within four days authorized a war loan of one million dollars, and empowered the Governor to raise ten regiments.
On May 13th, the First Regiment left for the seat of war, fully
armed and equipped; the organization of regiments, authorized by
the Legislature, was rapidly pushed forward, and the requisition for
men promptly met. In January, 1862, the Legislature was again
convened in extra session, and the following Joint Resolution was
adopted:
" WHEREAS, The Government of the United States is engaged
in putting down a causeless and wicked rebellion against its authority and sovereignty, inaugurated by ambitious men to obtain political power,-a Government, the safety and perpetuity of which must
ever rest upon the loyalty of its citizens, and an adherence to the
Constitution;
" AND WHEREAS, The welfare of mankind, and the usefulness
and power of the nation, are involved in the events and issues of
the present conflict; therefore, be it
" Resolved, That Michigan, loyal to herself and to the Federal
Government, re-affirms her undying hostility to traitors, her abiding
love for freedom, and her confidence in the wisdom and patriotism
of the National Administration.
" Resolved, That the people of Michigan deem it the imperative
duty of the Government to speedily put down all insurrection against
its authority and sovereignty, by the use of every Constitutional
means, and by the employment of every energy it possesses; that
Michigan stands firm in her determination to sustain, by men and
treasure, the Constitution and the Union, and claims that the burden of loyal men should be lightened as far as possible, by confiscating, to the largest extent, the property of all insurrectionists;
and that as between the institution of slavery and the maintenance
of the Federal Government, Michigan does not hesitate to say that
in such emergency slavery should be swept from the land and our
country maintained."
How truly the sentiments of the people of Michigan was set
forth by their representatives in the State Legislature, the future
success in furnishing men and money for the defense of the nation's
honor, will abundantly testify.
From April, 1861, to April, 1865, the entire period of the war,

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