Lapeer County, MI in the American Civil War

Lapeer County, Michigan
in the American Civil War

Michigan sent 31 infantry regiments, and 12 cavalry regiments, as well as engineers, mechanics, and other special units, to the Union Army in the American Civil War.

Leaders from Lapeer County

N. B. ELDRIDGE, of Lapeer, served on the State Military Board, from 31 Jan 1862 to 6 Dec 1862. He became a Major in the 7th Infantry.

In July 1863, a draft was established for those counties that were having trouble meeting their quotas. Virtulon RICH, of Lapeer, was appointed by the governor as Commissioner for Lapeer County in this effort.

In the Fifth District, Charles M. WALKER, of Lapeer, afterwards of Adrian, served as provost marshal, with headquarters at Pontiac. He was succeeded by William M. McCONNELL, of Pontiac. Charles M. WALKER was a First Lieutenant and Quartermaster in the 7th Infantry.

On the 11th of August, 1865, Col. J. R. WHITE, of Lapeer county, was named to a board of directors charged with raising $50,000 for a monument, which was constructed in Detroit, 1867. [MW, p. 111]

I don't know where Col. J. R. WHITE served in the war effort, but I have not found him in the Michigan war records, except for the mention above. The highest ranking officers from Lapeer County were Major Nathaniel B. ELDRIDGE, of Lapeer, in the 7th Infantry Regiment, and Major Wesley ARMSTRONG, also of Lapeer, in the 10th Cavalry Regiment.

Regiments with Troops from Lapeer County

Seventh Infantry

Michigan's Seventh Infantry Regiment was formed in Monroe, in the southeastern corner of the state. It was led by Colonel Ira R. GROSVENOR, of Monroe, with Lieutenant Colonel Frazey M. WINANS, of Monroe. Nathaniel B. ELDRIDGE, of Lapeer, who had served on the State Military Board, was a Major in this regiment. The Surgeon was Bolivar BARNUM, of Schoolcraft, with Assistant Surgeon Cyrus BACON, of Detroit. Also the Adjutant, Henry B. LANDON, of Monroe, and Quartermaster, Charles M. WALKER, of Lapeer.

The Seventh was organized into 11 companies, from A thru K. Company G was from Lapeer County, and was known as the "Lapeer Guard". The Captain, James H. TURRILL, First Lieutenant, Jacob L. GREEN, and Second Lieutenant, Charles M. WALKER, were all from Lapeer.

Company I, known as the "Prairieville Rangers,” from Prairieville, was also led by Captain Bezaleel W. LOVELL, of Lapeer.

The Seventh Regiment left Monroe for Virginia on 5 Sep 1861, with 884 men. They camped on the Upper Potomac during the winter, and engaged in the disastrous action at Ball's Bluff, being in Lander's brigade of Stone's division. [MW, p. 270]

The regiment joined in the Peninsula campaign of 1862, in southeastern VA, led by Major General George B. MCLELLAN. They were part of the Army of the Potomac, 3rd brigade, 2nd division, 2nd corps, and sustained major lossed in the battles at Yorktown, Apr 4 to May 5; West Point, VA on May 7; Fair Oaks, May 31 to Jun 1; Peach Orchard and Savage Station, Jun 29; White Oak Swamp and Glendale, Jun 30; Malvern Hill, Jul 1; Bull Pun (2nd) Aug 30.

Col. GROSVENOR resigned in July. During the Second Battle of Bull Run, on 30 Aug 1862, the regiment was led by Colonel Norman J. HALL. They followed the Army of the Potomac into the Maryland campaign. On 17 Sep 1862 at the battle of Antietam, more than half of the regiment was disabled. Among those killed was Captain J. H. TURRILL, of Lapeer. In Dec 1862 they fought in Fredricksburg, VA, where Lieutenant Franklin EMERY, of Lapeer, was killed.

The 7th regiment mustered out on 5 Jul 1865. By the end, 11 officers and 197 enlisted men were killed in action or mortally wounded, and 3 officers and 186 enlisted men died of disease, for a total of 397 fatalities.

Mrs. Elmina BRAINARD, of Lapeer, was a nurse, who followed the 7th into battle, and later became an agent of the Michigan Soldiers’ Relief Association. Her son was a soldier in the 7th. Imagine going to war, and bringing your mom!

On June 21, 1862, Mrs. Elmina Brainard of Lapeer was engaged as an agent of the Association to have charge of the hospital visiting. While her services were voluntary and gratuitous, she was given $5.00 per week to pay her board. On October 1, 1862, another “lady agent” was added to the roster; Miss Julia Wheelock was employed on the same terms as Mrs. Brainard to take over visiting in Alexandria, Virginia, including fifteen government hospitals in the town, Camp Convalescent, the camp for paroled prisoners, Fairfax Seminary, and the camp of the 26th Michigan Infantry.

Footnote: In the 1860 Federal Census of Lapeer, Mich., Elmina Brainard, nurse, aged 45 years, born in New York state, was listed as head of a household which included in addition to her daughter, Emeral, aged 16, born in Michigan, a laborer, two domestics and a school teacher. “Mrs. Brainard first went to Washington in the capacity of Matron of the Seventh Michigan Infantry, relinquishing a comfortable home and a lucrative practice as a nurse, in order to share with the regiment in which her son and many of her friends enlisted…. She remained with the regiment during all the time it was located at Camp Benton, near Edwards Ferry and until it was ordered to the Peninsula, when she was compelled by a general order prohibiting females from accompanying the army, to remain behind in Washington.” However, “she had been in the city but a short time before she was called into the service of the Michigan Relief Association as an agent to visit and attend the wants of the sick and wounded of the Wolverine state in the hospitals; to prepare and distribute the delicacies entrusted to the Association for their benefit and do whatever else she should deem proper to promote their health and comfort.” (Detroit Advertiser and Tribune, Nov. 25, 1862) She continued as a relief agent until the end of the war, when she returned to Pontiac, Mich. A letter dated Oct. 21, 1886, from John C. Wilson, late surgeon of the 8th Michigan, to Mrs. Rankin states that Mrs. Brainard is now dead but her work deserves to be remembered: “A woman of large physique and masculine appearance, she had all the grace of a lady and the tenderest and most sympathetic heart.” (James V. Campbell Family Papers, Michigan Historical Collections, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor)

[W, pp. 68-9]

Tenth Infantry

Michigan's Tenth Infantry Regiment was formed in Flint, just 10 miles west of Lapeer County. It was led by Colonel Charles M. LUM, of Detroit, and mustered into service on 6 Feb 1862, but didn't leave the state until 22 Apr 1862, when they had a total 997 men.

Company F, from Almont, Lapeer County, was known as the "Holt Guard". It was led by Captain Walter P. BEACH, of Lapeer. His First Lieutenant, Noah H. HART, was also from Lapeer, and his Second Lieutenant, Calvin M. HALL, was from Almont. Captain BEACH resigned on 20 Jun 1862, and Noah H. HART became Captain of the Company on 31 Mar 1863.

The regiment arrived at Pittsburg Landing, MS, reported to General HALLECK on 28 Apr 1862, when it was assigned to the 2d brigade of General Pope's division, right wing, army of the Mississippi, then stationed at Farmington, in front of Corinth.

First Cavalry

Michigan's First Cavalry Regiment mustered into service at Camp Lyon, near Detroit, on 13 Sep 1861, with 1,144 men. It was led by Colonel Thornton F. BRODHEAD, of Grosse Isle. There were 13 companies, from A thru M.

Company F was from Lapeer. The Captain, Henry K. WHITE, First Lieutenant, William H. FREEMAN, and Second Lieutenant, Sylvester SHAFER, were all from Lapeer. Also, the Captain of Company L was Melvin BREWER, of Almont, and in Company C, the Second Lieutenant was Ralph Z. PHELPS, of Lapeer.

They spent the winter of 1861-2 at Frederick, MD, under the command of General BANKS.

Fourth Cavalry

Michigan's Fourth Cavalry Regiment mustered on 29 Aug 1862, at Detroit, with 1,233 men commanded by Colonel Robert H. G. MINTY, of Detroit. The regiment was organized in 13 companies, from A thru M.

Company K was from Lapeer County. Its Captain was W. H. SMITH, of Lapeer, with First Lieutenant L. Briggs ELDRIDGE, of Lapeer, and Second Lieutenant Daniel WEST, of Attica.

First stationed at Louisville, KY, they marched toward Stanford, KY on 10 Oct 1862.

Tenth Cavalry

Michigan's Tenth Cavalry Regiment formed in Grand Rapids, and mustered into service on 18 Nov 1863, under Colonel Thaddeus FOOTE, of Grand Rapids. Major Wesley ARMSTRONG, of Lapeer, served in this regiment. The roster had 912 men, organized into 13 companies, A thru M.

Company C was led by Captain Benjamin K. WEATHERWAX, of Grand Rapids. His First Lieutenant, Stephen V. THOMAS, and Second Lieutenant, Lord W. HINMAN, were both from Elba, Lapeer County.

They went to Lexington, KY, where they remained until 25 Jan 1864, when they moved to Burnside Point, having engaged the enemy at House Mountain.

Commissioned Officers from Lapeer County

ANDRUS, WILLIAM R., Almont. Capt. 3d Inf'y July 29, 1864. Lt. Col. Feb. 25, 1866. Mustered out as Capt. May 25, 1866, and honorably discharged.

ARMSTRONG, WESLEY, Lapeer. Capt. 6th Cav., Oct. 13, 1862. Maj. 10th Cav., Sept. 9, 1863. Honorably discharged July 19, 1864.

BEACH, WALTER P., Lapeer. Capt. 10th Inf'y, Oct. 1, 1861. Resigned June 20, 1862, and honorably discharged.

BEECH, RODNEY W., Lapeer. Entered service Oct. 6, 1863. Serg't Maj. 10th Cav.,—. Second Lt., Ap'l 7, 1864. First Lt., Feb. 8, 1865. Mustered out Nov. 11, 1865, and honorably discharged.

BEVENS, SAMUEL, Dryden. Entered service Sept. 2, 1864, as Serg't Comp'y G, 4th Inf'y. Second Lt., Oct. 24, 1865. Not mustered as an officer. Honorably discharged June 14, 1866.

BREWER, MELVIN, Almont. Capt. 1st Cav., Aug. 22, 1861. Maj., Jan. 1, 1863. Lt. Col. 7th Cav., June 6, 1864. Not mustered. Wounded in action at Trevillian Station, Va., June 11, 1864. Died Sept. 25, 1864, of wounds received in action at Winchester, Va., Sept. 19, 1864.

BROWN, JOHN J., Lapeer. Entered service Aug. 22, 1861, as Pvt. Comp'y G, 7th Inf'y. Second Lt., July 9, 1862. First Lt., May 12, 1863. Died at Alexandria, Va., Oct. 2, 1863, of wounds received on picket, Sept. 18, 1863.

COCKETT, WILLIAM H., Lapeer. Entered service Oct. 25, 1861, as Serg't Comp'y F, 10th Inf'y. Second Lt., June 2, 1862. Resigned June 18, 1863, and honorably discharged.

COLERICK, WILLIAM, Almont. Entered service Aug. 17, 1861, as Serg't Comp'y L, 1st Cav. Second Lt., June 3, 1862. Capt., Dec. 4, 1864. Mustered out Mar. 10, 1866, and honorably discharged.

CROWLEY, CORNELIUS D., Almont. Entered service Nov. 4, 1862. Serg't Comp'y E, 8th Cav.,—. Second Lt., Sept. 1, 1863. First Lt., Jan. 8, 1865. Resigned as Second Lt., Ap'l 4, 1865, and honorably discharged.

ELDRIDGE, NATHANIEL B., Lapeer. Maj. 7th Inf’y, Aug. 7, 1861. Resigned Dec. 18, 1861. Lt. Col. 11th Inf'y, Ap'l 1, 1862. Resigned Jan. 7, 1863, and honorably discharged.

ELDRIDGE, L. BRIGGS. Lapeer. First Lt. 4th Cav., Aug. 13, 1862. Capt., Feb. 18, 1863. Maj., Nov. 24, 1864. Mustered out July 1, 1865, and honorably discharged.

EMERY, FRANKLIN, Lapeer. Entered service Aug. 22, 1861, as Serg't Comp'y G, 7th Inf'y. Second Lt , Sept. 12, 1862. Killed in action at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 11, 1862.

FITCH, MELVIN J., Almont. Second Lt. 3d Inf'y, July 29, 1864. First Lt., Mar. 12, l865. Resigned June 30, 1865, and honorably discharged.

FREEMAN, WILLIAM H., Lapeer. First Lt. 1st Cav., Aug. 22, 1861. Honorably discharged for disability Sept. 11, 1862.

GREENE, JACOB L., Lapeer, First Lt. 7th Inf'y, Aug. 7, 1861. Resigned Jan. 30, 1862, and honorably discharged.

HALL, CALVIN M., Almont. Second Lt. 10th Inf'y, Oct. 1, 1861. Resigned June 2, 1862, and honorably discharged.

HART, NOAH H., Lapeer. First Lt. 10th Inf'y, Oct. 1, 1861. Capt., Mar. 31, 1863. Mustered out Feb. 6, 1865, and honorably discharged.

HEDGES, MATHEW M., North Branch. Entered service Dec. 22, 1861. Serg't Comp'y F, l0th Inf'y,—. Second Lt., June 7, 1865. Not mustered as an officer. Honorably discharged July 18, 1865.

HENDERSON, GEORGE H., Lapeer. Entered service Aug. 22, 1861, as Serg't Comp'y G. 7th Inf'y. First Lt., Sept. 18, 1862. Capt., May 12, 1863. Resigned Ap'l 6, 1864. Capt. 4th Inf'y, July 26, 1864. Mustered out May 26, 1866, and honorably discharged.

HENRY, STEPHEN, Lapeer. Second Lt. 4th Inf'y, July 26, 1864. Resigned Jan. 31, 1865, and honorably discharged.

HINMAN, LORD W., Lapeer, Second Lt, 10th Cav., July 25, 1863. First Lt, April 1, 1864. Mustered out Nov. 11, 1865, and honorably discharged.

INGERSOLL, CARLOS, Lapeer. Entered service Aug. 22, 1861, as Serg't Comp'y G, 7th Inf'y. Second Lt, Mar. 1, 1862. Honorably discharged for disability, Sept. 10, 1862.

KEENE, WILLIAM, Lapeer. Entered service Nov. 14, 1861. Serg't Comp'y G, 10th Inf'y,— . Second Lt., May 8, 1865, First Lt., May 20, 1865. Mustered out July 19, 1865, and honorably discharged.

KILBURN. GEORGE H., Lapeer. Entered service Aug. 20, 1861, as Serg't Comp'y F, 1st Cav. Second Lt. Nov. 12, 1862. First Lt., Aug. 1, 1864. Capt., Mar. 7, 1865. Mustered out Mar. 22, 1865, and honorably discharged.

KNOX, JOHN, Marathon. Entered service Nov. 23, 1861, as Serg't Comp'y H, 10th Inf'y. Second Lt., Mar. 31, 1863. First Lt., Jan. 12, 1864. Killed in action at Jonesboro, Ga., Sept. 1, 1864.

LAMB, JOHN M., Dryden. Entered service Dec. 4, 1862. Serg't Comp'y E, 8th Cav.,—. Second Lt., Dec. 1, 1864. Mustered out Sept. 22, 1865, and honorably discharged.

LOVELL, BEZALEEL W., Lapeer. Capt. 7th Inf'y, June 19, 1861. Resigned Aug. 30, 1862, and honorably discharged.

McCRACKIN, MARONI, Lapeer. Entered service Aug. 22, 1861. Serg't Comp'y G, 7th Inf'y,—. Second Lt., Dec. 18, 1864. Resigned May 27, 1865, and honorably discharged.

NORTH, WILLIAM O., Lapeer. Supernumerary Second Lt. 5th Cav., Aug. 14, 1862, First Lt., Dec. 1, 1862. Capt., July 3, 1863. Killed in action near Winchester, Va., Sept. 19, 1864.

PHELPS, RALPH Z., Lapeer. Second Lt. 1st Cav., Aug. 22, 1861. Killed, accidentally, Mar. 31, 1862.

PIERSON, AARON P., Lapeer. Entered service in the 7th Inf'y band, Aug. 22, 1861. Discharged July — , 1862. Reentered service Nov. 17, 1862. Serg't Comp'y H, 9th Cav.,— . Second Lt., Nov. 5, 1863. First Lt., Mar. 26, 1864. Taken prisoner in action Oct. 28, 1864. Exchanged,—. Mustered out July 21, 1865, and honorably discharged.

RICE, HOWARD M., Lapeer. Capt. 9th Cav., Nov. 3, 1862. Maj., June 27, 1865. Mustered out as Capt. July 21, 1865, and honorably discharged.

ROBERTS, AMI M., Almont. Entered service Dec. 25, 1861. Serg't Comp'y F, 10th Inf'y,—. First Lt. and Q. M., Dec. 31, 1864. Mustered out July 19, 1865, and honorably discharged.

ROUSE, JONATHAN S., Hadley. Entered service Feb. 1, 1862, as Hosp'l Stow'd 10th Infy. Ass't Surg. 14th Infy, June 4, 1863. Surg. 10th Infy, May 22, 1865. Mustered out July 19, 1865, and honorably discharged.

SHAFER, SYLVESTER, Lapeer. Second Lt. 1st Cav., Aug. 22, 1861. Resigned Feb. 16, 1862, and honorably discharged.

SMITH, WILLIAM H., Lapeer. Capt. 4th Cav., Aug. 13, 1862. Resigned Dec. 18, 1862, and honorably discharged.

THOMAS, STEPHEN V., Lapeer. First Lt. 10th Cav., July 25, 1863. Capt., Ap'l 7, 1864. Mustered out Nov. 11, 1865, and honorably discharged.

TURRILL, JAMES H., Lapeer. Capt. 7th Inf'y, June 19, 1861. Killed in action at Antietam, Md., Sept. 17, 1862.

VINCENT, WESLEY, Lapeer. Ass't Surg. 11th Inf'y, Dec. 29, 1862. Resigned Ap'l 12, 1863. Surg. 1st Mich., or 102d U. S. Col. Inf'y, Feb. 3, 1864. Mustered out Sept. 30, 1865, and honorably discharged.

WALKER, CHARLES M., Lapeer. First Lt. and Q. M. 7th Inf'y, Aug. 7, 1861. Resigned May 1, 1863, and honorably discharged.

WEST, DANIEL, Attica. Second Lt. 4th Cav., Aug. 13, 1862. Resigned Dec. 20, 1862, and honorably discharged.

WHITE, HENRY K, Lapeer. Capt. 1st Cav., Aug. 22, 1861. Resigned Nov. 5, 1862, and honorably discharged.

WHITE, PHINEAS G., Lapeer. Entered service Aug. 29, 1861, as Serg't Comp'y F, 1st Cav. Second Lt. 6th Cav., Oct. 13, 1862. First Lt., Mar. 16, 1863. Resigned July 11, 1865, and honorably discharged.

WHITNEY, GEORGE C., Hadley. Entered service Aug. 20, 1861. Serg't Comp'y F, 1st Cav.,—. Second Lt., Oct. 25, 1864. First Lt., Dec. 4, 1864. Killed in action at Five Forks, Va., Ap'l 1, 1865.

REFERENCES

[IG] Col. Ira R. Grosvenor

[MR] Michigan Civil War Regiments on Wikipedia

[MW] Michigan in the War (1882)

[MM] Michigan Men in the Civil War, from the Bentley Historical Society, University of Michigan

[MSS] Michigan Soldiers and Sailors, Links to Index and all Volumnes From Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War

[NH] Colonel Norman J. Hall

[SSM] Michigan Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument on Wikipedia

[W] Chapter 4, "Michigan Women Who Went to War" by Minnie Dubbs Millbrook, in Michigan Women in the Civil War (1963)

This page was last revised 15 May 2020 by William Haloupek.