May 1, 1861
At a Union meeting of the citizens of Dearborn and vicinity, held at the school house Monday evening April the 29th, for the purpose of taking into consideration the present condition of our country, Colonel Martin Vrooman was called to the chair, and H.W. Hall appointed secretary. Mr T. Dort being called upon stated the object of the meeting, to get up a company of volunteers, and to tender them to the general government. After stirring patriotic speeches had been made by Doctors Sweeney and Snow, Charles Yemans, Dibble, Dort and others, Mr. Dort
July 25, 1862
Captain George C. Gordon of the 8th Ward, is recruiting a company for Colonel Morrow's regiment. He has twenty men. Mr. Gordon is a lawyer, who has been established in the city about four months. He was formerly of Redford, and his popularity in the adjoining country will insure the filling up of his company at once. His recruiting office is at Masonic Hall, Jefferson avenue.
July 27, 1862
Mr. A. J. Stout, foreman of the Michigan Central Railroad machine shops, has offered a premium of five dollars to every able bodied man who enlists in Colonel Morrow's regiment from his department.
Mr. Hugh Moffet has offered ten dollars to each man who enlists in Colonel Morrow's regiment from the 10th Ward.
July 28, 1862
Detroit July 28, 1862
Colonel H. A. Morrow, 24th Regiment
Sir - I herewith enclose the sum of one hundred dollars, a bounty to your Regimental Color Bearer. I will give a further sum of one hundred dollars to your Color Bearer at the close of the war, if the color shall not have been lost in battle.
P.S. You will particularly oblige me by not allowing the contents of this note to be published.
On Monday (July 28) Colonel Morrow received the following note. The person who made this gracious offer unqualifiedly refuses to have his name given to the public.
August 1, 1862
The people of Wayne ad, yesterday, one of the most enthusiastic meetings ever held in Wayne County. Speeches were made by Colonel Morrow, Major Flanigan, D.E. Harbaugh Esq., Rev. Mr. Hickey, Rev. Mr. Way, Rev., Mr. Kellog, Captain William Wight, an others. The speeches were soul-searching and patriotic. Several young gentlemen volunteered at once, and we feel assured that many loyal men of Wayne will join the 24th Regiment.
War meetings are to be held at Livonia to-day, and at Redford Centre tomorrow.
August 8, 1862
Lieutenant J. Milton Farland, of Captain Speed's company of the 24th, recruited 40 men in five days, in the towns of Canton, Nankin, and Romulus, and expects more, without the pledge of a dollar of bounty. We should think this would make those who hang their heads in shame, who are waiting to see if more and larger bounties will not be offered before they enlist.
.
August 9, 1862
There was a general turn out of the the people yesterday to do their part in putting the 24th Regiment into the field. Titus Dort was chosen President and John S. Patton, Secretary of the meeting. Eloquent and thrilling addresses were made by Colonel Morrow, Lieut. Col. Flanigan, D.E. Harbough, Esq., Rev. S. Reed, and others. Although the town has been pretty generally canvassed by the recruiting officers, Colonel Morrow's effective style of operating upon the human heart -- and pocket -- proved that the people were alive to the necessity of the case, and that there [were a] few more left of the same sort. Thirty-one able bodied men came forward and enrolled their names in the "24th", and five enlisted in the 4th Cavalry, which has a recruiting office in the village. These with the men already gone from Dearborn in former regiments, put the town upon an equality with the other large towns. The rich men who could not go themselves , did the next best thing, by subscribing for those who did. William Ten Eyck gives five dollars to each man who enlists in the the 24th from the town of Dearborn. Dr. Snow gave five dollars each to the first five men; Mr. Abbe gives five dollars each to the thirty-five; Dr Sweeney will cancel any debt which a volunteer may owe him and give their families his professional services free of charge; B & W. R Noyes gave five dollars each to the first five men who enlist in Lieut. Farland's company; J. B. Wallace gives five dollars to the next five men; Mr. McFadden gives ten dollars, Mr. Nolan, one dollar. The announcement of the above contributions was received with loud applause, and the meeting broke up with heartfelt satisfaction at the result.
Saturday Morning, November 22, 1862
Special Correspondence of the Detroit Free Press
Near Fayetteville, Va., Nov. 13
The day before yesterday, we left camp near Warrenton, marched back to the city, thence came southward to this place, about seven miles. Here a camp runner says Siegel has taken Gordonsville, and we wait to see whether we proceed further in that direction, or more easterly. Our last camp was westerly from Warrenton, and it is indeed a “secesh hole,” as many of the boys declare. The citizens are generally reserved, morose and view our movements with dogged sullenness. Those who speak upon the subject are fully confident that in a few days at farthest we shall be driven out and the rebel forces reinstated.
Some of our men are anxious to “clean out” the city, and improve every opportunity for “skirmishing,” but our officers, though they will take what we need, prevent as far as possible, all plundering by the soldiers; their desire to forage at first so fully developed when we entered this rebellious community, will be not fully satisfied. Our Quartermaster took for his department yesterday, all the forage he could find upon a certain farm, except some wheat which the owner denied having in his possession, but which was found secreted. It will be taken if corn comes out too short. Almost every person begs us to give them coffee and sugar for corn meal or anything they have in exchange. Many of them have not tasted either for weeks, and the prices are at least five times as high as at the north, quite out of the reach of the common people, even if the articles were to be had at any price.
We received mails on Saturday and Sunday last, and this (Thursday) evening. The Free Press of the 5th inst. Was among “Yours Corresponentially” and was immediately sent for at Regimental Headquarters where Col. Morrow read it aloud to an eager crowd, gathered around a huge fire blazing high among the pines – the – partial election returns possessing much interest to us all, in fact, the entire contents of the paper. No country inn with its eager crowd of listeners on the arrival of the weekly mail ever held a more attentive throng, anxious to hear the news. And it is not to be wondered at. We are all lovers of the newspaper and more so since we are in so great a degree deprived of the means of gratifying our desires in this respect. And while upon pain we must complain a little that we do not receive one-half of the papers sent us by those at home. Whose fault, if any, we do not know whether the government cannot transport them or “they are of no account,” as some officials say. We do not know only that the more we do get the less do we feel that ours is a soldier’s life only grudgingly. Every newspaper or letter from home enhances the favor and blessings of our free and beneficent government of the people, by the people, and for the greatest good of the greatest number. We have lain here two days waiting in blissful ignorance of our next orders.
Yours Expectantly
S.D.G.
Special Correspondence of the Detroit Free Press
Warrenton,
Va. Nov. 10
We have lain here in camp three days cui bono? Pro bono publico, they say, waiting for the “hard tack,” so we thought, for our supplies were so far behind us on our arrival here that we were two days without bread. At the end of that time we seized a mill, confiscated twenty bushels of corn and “hoe-cake,” was the cry. We had meat every day but one, and what with “skirmishing,” complaining to the Colonel, and a thousand and one doleful grimaces and wry stomach of the men newly used to war fare, we did very well considering all things. Our transportation, it seems was inadequate to the demand and though we have no great complaint to make, we do not get all the rations allowed us by law. Only meat, bread, coffee, and sugar with two rations of beans in fifteen days. Still we can live on what we do get because some of the men have money, and can now and then, even here, get a loaf of bread. Other things are made up by an occasional “raid” on a bee-hive or sheep-fold and pig-pen, in spite of orders to the contrary.
I would not speak of this so fully, but I see some poor fellow of our regiment in a late issue of the Advertiser bitterly bewails “the way in which the officers pockets are drained for provisions” and mentions the prices of some luxuries such as butter, eggs, &c, adding that “the men of course, draw their rations, and are sure of something to eat.” Surely that Lieutenant is a very modest man; but why does he complain of the drain on his pockets for luxuries which “the men” too must buy, if they get them? He can get “hard tack” of the Quartermaster at government price, if his stomach will bear, and we in the ranks can get nothing more or better. Let him not be too fast in his close and envious comparison or let him state that “the men” get $13 per month – he $104; they carry also on the march, a heavy musket, sixty rounds of ball cartridge, all of their clothing, and everything else; his luggage is carried by the Quartermaster, who is loaded down and cannot transport even a box of bread for us. Let the “Lieutenant,” as he sometimes facetiously styles himself, remember this, and also that some men are great only by accident, and the men will pardon his presumption. We will only add that his correct – list of sick of the regiment includes one and omits three in a single company who were left at Washington and Frederick. It is hard to get all the facts so as to make out correct lists as any “local” can bear witness.
But to return to “hoe cake.” Some one more specifically gifted than Miss Beecher, must gather and arrange the materials of our cook – book. The meal stirred up with water is baked, fired, boiled fricasseed, etc., etc. in tin cups, pans, plates; made into mush, and a hundred other dishes of indefinite taste and flavors. Is one successful in the production of a few masticable lumps, he at once becomes the center of attraction for scores of wandering eyes; does luck forsake him, and bring forth a burnt blackened, sightless “cake” shouts of laughter and derision put him to blush and far out of the ranks of company cooks. But every man manages to get a mouthful, and when hard tack they make up for lost time. By the way, our last installment of army bread is from Chicago, Illinois, and is the finest I have ever seen. It is very light, sweet and tender, unlike some that we have been eating which have been all the way to the Whitehouse and Harrison’s landing, Va.; and back to us. There were also a few boxes of bacon which became so habituated to moving that it had commenced to crawl of its own inherent powers. But we find a philosophic joke now and then or a bundle of fun that takes away all acute sense of sight and smell.
Our friends will laugh at the grotesque pictures we present and the capers cut by their soldier boys in their camp and cooking arrangements. Company cooking, since we have been on the march, pretty much played out, only occasionally a ration of beef is boiled in order to avail ourselves of the “soup.” As we call the pot-liquor or water, in which the meat is cooked as also to save the marrow and portions of the meat which adheres to and must otherwise be thrown away with the bones. Our kitchen cooking, and dining utensils are about as follows: to each company , four or five camp kettles holding from ten to sixteen quarts, and eight or ten mess-pans of six or eight quarts. These and the kettles are made of sheet iron and at first numbered , for each company thirteen kettles and thirty-three pans most of which have been lost or left for want of transportations. Each soldier has or should have one tin plate, an iron spoon and fork, and a common wooden-handle bread knife, with a tin cup holding a pint. By means of these we cook and eat and some of us are “getting fat;” but there are many things to be told and many more that never could be set forth in words.
We shall probably march again to-morrow as we have orders to pack three days rations in haversacks.
The weather is fine, but cool since the snow storm of last Friday.
S.D.G.
November 25, 1862
Arrest of Deserter –
On Sunday night John Larkin, a deserter from the Twenty-fourth Infantry
was arrested by officer Bosworth as he was stepping into a boat to cross over to
Windsor, and was taken to the station house. Here he made an attempt to escape, in which he was foiled,
and was then locked up in a cell.
Larkin has been living in Canada for the past two weeks, and has been in the habit of visiting this side at stated intervals for a jollification with old acquaintances. He is said to be a hard case.
Special correspondence of the Detroit Free Press
“Rainy Hollow”, Potomac Creek, November 19, 1862
We left camp near Warrenton early on Monday morning, and in two days made some twenty-five miles. This morning we were early on the road, and now, at 4 o’clock P.M. are but one mile and a half from last night’s camp. A drizzly rain all day, though very light has softened the ground so that the roads are badly cut by the heavy trains; and it is with the greatest difficulty that any movement can be made. The line of march is towards the railroad which connects Aquia Creek and Fredericksburg. This way, instead of towards Gordonsville, as rumor had it. The division is now crossing Potomac Creek, a small stream running in a rocky bed in a ravine bordered by steep bluffs, up the side of which the road winds among large stones and rocks set deep – fathoms deep it seems in some places – in soft sticky detestable “mud”. By this road must be dragged our heavy artillery, ammunition, caissons, and wagon trains, this is what kills horses and men too, such a day and over such roads. One by one toiling as they go, the drivers shout and the men lift at the wheels, till the top of the hill is gained. Our regiment lies by the creek waiting till the wagons have passed expecting the word to move at any moment, but still the train drags its slow length along, not “like a wounded snake,” but floundering in the mud.
We crossed the Orange and Alexandria Railroad on Monday at Bealton Station. As one approaches this station this thought is forced with intense weight upon the mind: “Dilapidations, desolation, decay” must be written here in gigantic capital letters. And thus has it been through nearly all the sections of country through which our route has lain. Deserted by all but old men, women, and children, including the Negroes who laugh and grin and cheer alike in prosperity and adversity. Virginia, rich honored, influential, mother of presidents and statesmen – Virginia is terribly cursed and ground under the heel of the “Southern Confederacy” let us follow the advice of our young commander now in exile from his comrades in arms, though none the less beloved by them – let us carry the war henceforward “for our rights as citizens,” and our life as a nation, and we shall succeed.
S.D.G.
Camp near Fayetteville, Nov. 16
After five days of expectation and inaction, at 8 o’clock this (Sunday) evening, we received orders to be ready to march at 7 to-morrow morning, with three days rations in our haversacks.
The band has just struck up some of the old loved tunes of Detroit remembrance, which very well, though not quite equal, as yet, to the “City” or Dodsworth’s. Our drum and fife majors have probably reached home by this time as they left at Warrenton, having been decided unnecessary appendages to the fighting stock of the regiment. The silver top of the huge baton flashes no more in the sunlight at guard mounting or parade.
All mail both yesterday and to-day has cheered many of us with letters and papers; others have been disappointed. I hear much complaint that many of the transient papers sent by their friends to members of the regiment do not reach their destination. Where the fault lies I cannot tell. I only know that a newspaper is sure to go the rounds of the company in short order. The chaplain took a text today where upon he engraved some appropriate remarks in this connection. He is now acting Postmaster, Connor being at present clerk to Judge Advocate Speed.
Nine O’clock P.M.
It has commenced snowing slightly and we are just call to fall out for rations in the dark and drizzle. “Who wouldn’t be a soldier?”
But few of your readers could guess how this hast letter was written. Seated on the ground beside a huge fire of pine logs, the wind whistling smoke and ashes in clouds over my head, I write.
At a quarter past 9 o’clock the snow has changed to a fine drizzling rain and we hardy veterans seek shelter beneath our “shelter tents,” preferring to take rations in a hurry on the morrow. A bit of candle – ours by right of discovery – with a bayonet stuck in the ground for a candlestick, serves for a light while I crawl under our tent and lying on one elbow, pursue my theme under difficulties, a comrade on either side of me fast subsiding into salubrious and sonorous slumber. The camp fire burns low, a squad in a hallow below murmurs at the insinuating drops that creep through the roof of their shelter of pine boughs; the regiments around are becoming quiet, my candle – withering- is drawing to an end, and I am admonished to retire.
“How do I perform that operation?” Briefly; pull off my cap, coat and boots – no shoes – mud, that looms fearfully deep and nasty in my mind’s eye. Master Makers we cry “boots” but in vain. I spread my overcoat upon the “ground floor” of the tent, deposit my body thereupon with the head upon a knapsack, draw a blanket over all – head and ears included, the weather is wet or windy and go to sleep as comfortably as if wafted away by Morpheus on a bed of roses.
To-day several slips from the Free Press coming from the “Twenty-fourth” and which have been received by letters, have been going through the camp. Anything to beguile an otherwise lonesome, weary hour occasionally.
Our sutler came in today; so “camp rumor,” which placed him in the hands of the guerillas is gain at fault. His principal stock is tobacco; three penny papers calling for about fifteen cents each. But if it were fifty the boys must have it. They have been very short of the weed for some days, and this, too, in Old Virginia, so famous for its “tobacco-warehouses” in the experience of our brave officers and soldiers who have fallen in the hands of the “Confeds.” My candle is played out.
Au revoir
S.D.G.
July 4, 1863
Colonel H. Morrow, slightly wounded; Lieutnenat Colonel Flanigan, leg amputated; Major Wight, slightly wounded in right eye; Capt. Rexford Acting Adjutant several wounds in leg; Capt. O’Donnell, killed; Capts. Diollon, Speed, Hoyt, and Hutchinson weounded; Liets. Whitney, Dodsley, and Sprague wounded; Lieuts. Shattuck, Humpreville, and Dykee killed.
Our losses though enormously heavy especially among field and line officers; neither are we warranted in guessing how seriously the rebels have suffered.
The following Michigan soldiers were in hospitals in Washington on July 2nd in charge of J. H. Baxter.
John M. Drig I
24th
Jas McGragan I 24th
Henry H. Mills D 24th
William H. Quince C 24th
John B. Turney D 24th
[I have included only the soldiers
from the 24th, Ed]
Lieutenant Michael Dempsey of Company E, 24th Michigan Infantry arrived in this city last evening, having left his regiment on the morning of the 4th inst. From him we learn further particulars of the part sustained by the Twenty-fourth in the late battle, and also some additional names of the killed and wounded of the regiment.
Colonel Morrow’s injury consists of a slight scalp wound. He was taken prisoner, but was rescued when our forces re-occupied Gettysburg, and has re-joined his regiment and again assumed command.
Lieutenant Colonel Flanigan was wounded early on the 1st, and was removed to the hospital at Gettysburg, where his leg was amputated. During the day our forces were driven back and the place occupied by the enemy who are said to have bestowed the best of attention upon our wounded, treating them as well as their own. The city was held by the rebels during that day, and also on the 2d and 3d, but on the 4th they were driven out, and all our wounded who had fallen into their hands were re-taken. At the time of the departure of Lieutenant Dempsey (which as before stated was on the morning of the 4th) Lieut. Col. Flanigan was alive and said to be doing well, although suffering from mental aberration in consequence of fever. What may have happened since, Lieutenant Dempsey is, of course, unable to state, having been on his journey homeward, and consequently not in a position to obtain as late news as has been received by telegraph.
Captain Malachi O’Donnell was killed early in the action of the 1st, a ball entering the back of his head just above the junction with the neck. Lieutenant Dempsey endeavored to secure his captain’s sword but, the latter having fallen forward upon his face, and the enemy at the same time hotly pressing our troops, they were forced to retire, leaving his body on the field. Search afterwards was made upon the field of battle for his body, but owing to the length of time which had elapsed, and also to the fact that the rebels had stripped every dead body wearing a good uniform, it was impossible to identify his remains.
Lieutenant Dempsey was slightly wounded in the right hip by a spent ball, but is able to move about without serious inconvenience and will probably be able to re-join his regiment, which he intends doing at no distant day. He is one of a number who went into the Twenty-fourth from the Free Press establishment, and nearly all of whom were wounded - one killed- in the late battle. The Lieutenant’s numerous friends will be glad to hear that, with the exception of the slight wound referred to, he is in excellent health and spirits, not withstanding the hardships of a soldier’s life, and also the fact that he has participated in four battles – three of them hard fought contests – in less than a year viz.: the two battles of Fredericksburg and those of Chancellorsville and Gettysburg. A partial list of killed and wounded is annexed furnished by Lieut. D. with the exception of Company E, the list is not probably complete as in the confusion after an engagement much time is necessary to make up an accurate statement of losses. A portion of the names have been previously published but are reprinted giving the companies to which they severally belonged.
Company C: Capt. Hoyt Missing, Lieuts. Safford and Shattuck killed
The first four mentioned in Company E were formerly
employed in this office.
Company E Captain Malachi O’Donnell Killed; Wounded
Lieut. Michael Dempsey slightly, Sergeant Joseph R. Bayles badly; Private Thomas
S Orton slightly; Sergeants Roche and Rogan missing, John Blackwell wounded,
Corporal Charles Bellare, killed; Private William Floyd wounded slightly; Frank
Kendrick and Martin Deving slightly; James D. Jackson, Bayonet wound in hand;
Eugene Smith in hand; James Laird in hand badly; Edward Tracy in left side, John
Fletcher right shoulder; Corporal William Powers in breast, Private Joseph
Flirsch wounded, Frank Snyder leg, badly; Corporal William Bruske, wounded
Company H First Lieut. Grace supposed killed, Second Lieutenant Dodsley in right shoulder
Company I Captain Gordon and Lieut. Earnshaw missing supposed killed.
Company K, Captain Wight wounded slightly, Lieutenants Wallace, Humphreville, killed
The above embraces all the names furnished by Lieutenant Dempsey. It will be observed that all the companies are not enumerated and also that with the exception of Company E only the names of the officers are mentioned. Other names have previously been published and further reports will probably show that still a larger number of Michigan’s gallant sons laid down their lives or were disabled at the memorable Battle of Gettysburg.
The correspondent of the New York World gives the following description of scenes on the battlefield… With hundreds of others I groped through this tempest of death for the shelter of a bluff, and old man, a private in a company belonging to the Twenty-fourth Michigan. – Scarcely 10 feet away by a cannon ball which tore through him, exhorting such an intense cry of mortal pain as I pray God I shall ever again hear. The hill which seemed so devastated by the rain of death was clear of all its unsheltered places within 5 minutes after the fire began.
September 25, 1863
A war meeting will be held this (Friday, September 25) afternoon at 2 o'clock, at the house of George M. Wilson (River Side House) in the township of Springwellls for the purpose of obtaining volunteers to relieve the township from the draft. Recruiting officers and others interested in the matter are expected to attend.
April 5, 1864
There will be a war meeting at Dearborn on Wednesday, the 6th inst. at 2p.m. Colonel Morrow of the 24th and other speakers will address the meeting.
Some of the articles included on this page were found in the archives of the Dearborn Historical Society, while others are from the Wayne Historical Museum.
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