George A. Caines
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Company F, 1st Michigan Sharpshooters
From Saginaw, Michigan, he enlisted in the 2nd Regiment Chicago Irish Brigade (Mulligan's), July 11, 1861 at Rockford, Illinois. Disbanded at Camp Butler, near Springfield, Illinois, November 2, 1861. And joined 1st Battalion, Yates Sharpshooters (64th Illinois) the same day. Elected 2nd Lieutenant December 8th and commissioned December 16, 1861. Joined the Army of the Mississippi in March of 1862 and was elected Captain August the 8th and resigned as 1st Lieutenant, commanding company by reason of disability on September 23, 1862. He re-entered the service in Company F, 1st Michigan Sharpshooters as a Sergeant May 19, 1863 at Saginaw, Michigan for 3 years of service at the age of 20, taking the muster oath on May 22, 1863. Promoted to Color Sergeant in September of 1863. He was the Color Sergeant of the 1st Sharpshooters on the night of June 17, 1864, when at about 12 p.m. they were forced out of their little sand pits by a large force of Confederates and he thought there was a danger of the colors being captured so he rolled them up and buried them in the ground. Later when the Confederates were driven back he recovered them. He was promoted to 1st Sergeant on March 1, 1865. He was mustered out of the service at Delaney House, D.C. on July 29, 1865. His post war home was in Lansing, Michigan.The following narrative was was submitted by Deborah Cestnik
George A Caines
11 July 1861 Enlisted Second Regiment Chicago Irish Brigade (Mulligan's) First Battalion Sharpshooters at Rockford, IL (He was from Newton, MI). This became 64th IL, Yate's Sharpshooters
First Lieutenant 16 Dec 1861 Promoted to 2nd Lt 8 Aug 1862
Promoted to Captain 23 Sept 1862
Disabled, Commission Resigned 19 May 1863
Re-enlisted in Company F, MI First Sharpshooters as a Full Sergeant 15 Sept 1863
Promoted to Full Color Sergeant 1 March 1865
Promoted to Full First Sergeant 23 May
Mustered out Delaney House, DC after participating in the Grand ReviewAt Petersburg, they became involved in heavy battle. June 17, it became obvious that their position was going to be overrun. George, carried their badly tattered colors (never lost in battle). To prevent there being a first time, George buried the colors as the positions were repeatedly lost and then retaken. When the Confederate troops were pushed back for the last time, George retrieved them. That tattered remnant was the first Union flag to fly over Petersburg. It was so badly damaged that permission was given to attach the battle honor ribbons to the staff before raising it into place over the courthouse. This was either the first, or one of the earliest, times that battle ribbons were so used.
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