The 3rd Michigan Infantry

Old 3rd Book Titles

2025-11-24T10:02:00.006-05:00

Good morning everyone. For those interested in published versions of my Old 3rd Michigan research projects:

My History of the Old 3rd Michigan Infantry (1st organization) covering the years 1855-1927, from its beginning as local west Michigan militia companies to its final days as a fraternal society, can be found on Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DFTN52LB

The four volumes of biographical sketches of each of the 1,411 men who served in the Old 3rd during the war can be found on Amazon:

vol 1 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08978X1DP

vol 2 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0898ZY31Z

vol 3 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08928L8NZ

vol 4 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08928L8CD

And the transcripts of the three trials of George Vanderpool -- who once served in Company H of the Old 3rd -- and who was arrested and tried for the murder of his business partner in 1870, can also be found on Amazon as well:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DFT8ZQQS

Michigan Soldiers' Home Cemetery Map

2025-08-31T12:14:00.002-04:00

Map of the Michigan Veterans Home in Grand Rapids.

George Koch of Company C

2025-08-17T08:39:00.004-04:00

George J. Koch served in Company C 3rd Michigan Infantry and is buried in section 1 lot 175/173.

Company C was made up largely of German-speaking immigrants from the west side of Grand Rapids.

Mutter

Vater

Margaretha Koch (1839-1887)

George Koch (1830?-1889)

3rd Michigan Infantry Burials in the Michigan Veterans' Home Cemetery

2025-08-12T13:54:00.017-04:00

Authorized in 1885 by the state legislature, the Michigan Veterans Home opened in early 1886.

c. 1900-1910, Library of Congress

There is a map board at the entrance from inside the grounds and located across the bridge over the pond. There is no map at the Monroe Street entrance.

The cemetery layout is pretty straightforward seven sections (plots) laid out in rows numbered west to east and then graves numbered north to south.

The caption below each photo provides the location numbers: plot-row-grave which can be found on markers located along the edges of the plots (sections), like this one:

See my post for the burials of the 3rd Michigan Infantry reorganized soldiers.

Charles H. Adams (1836-1925) 7-20-8

John Alderson (1845-1913) 5-15-11

Charles A. Althouse (1835-1911) 5-10-14

Alfred Ames (1841-1921) 7-22-17

James Babe (1839-1903) 4-14-38

William Henry Baird (1839-1921) 7-15-22

George Bodendorfer (1826-1891) 3-8-3

Zimri Burnham (1824-1900) 4-9-29

William Courser (1836-1913) and Mary Courser (1848-1928)

6-8-9

6-8-10

Mary Sparling Dart's husband John Dart served in Company B. It appears he and Mary were estranged for many years. John died in 1903 and is buried in Blue Mound Cemetery, Milford, Nebraska.

5-14-5

George Decker (1841-1922) 7-17-5

James M. Ferris (1838-1901) 4-11-9

John Foulks (1833-1905) 4-17-29

Oscar O. Gaines (1843?-1887) 1-4-11

William H. Graham (1828-1899) 2-6-6

Lycurgus Granger (1839-1915) 7-4-37

Calvin Hall (1826-1898) 2-9-12

William Herrick (1818-1893) 4-3-6

Ira Hiler (1835-1920) 7-13-27

George Houseman (1841-1923) 7-19-33

William Jones (1833-1897) 1-1-3

Abram Ketchum (1823-1906) 4-19-30

George Korten (1845-1903) 4-15-33

Tyler Lawson (1840-1906) and his wife Susan Packard Lawson (1838-1906).

4-20-33

5-10-1

Thomas Lynch (1839-1891) 3-9-7

William Henry Harrison Marlett (1841-1917) 7-10-11

John Martin (1846-1909) 5-1-18

Charles W. McCalley (1820-1897) 1-2-27

George Kippen Nairn (1836-1905) 4-18-23

George Phillips served in both the 3rd Michigan Infantry and the 21st Michigan Infantry.

George W.Phillips (1838-1910) 5-7-5

Samuel Reed (1840-1913) and his wife Caroline Lenor Jones Reed (1836-1914).

6-7-5

6-7-4

James Reynolds of Company D presents an a bit of a mystery. He died at the Home in 1914 and is buried in the Home Cemetery both Home records and death certificate confirms this. However, there is a government headstone for him in Carson City Cemetery, Montcalm County. Online records for that cemetery intimate that he was "reburied" in 1886. The government's online records for veterans headstones notes the stone was acquired c. 1900.

Also of note is that his second wife Phoebe Armstrong Stevens is buried in the Home cemetery as well: 5-9-7 (under the name of Stevens); the marker lists her date of death as May 2, 1918; it was May 2, 1919.

James Reynolds (1840-1914) 7-1-5

Phebe (Reynolds) Stevens (1837-1919) 5-9-7

William Rusco (1836-1890) 3-3-1

John Sayles (1846-1921) and Mary Carpenter Sayles (1848-1926. John served in both the 3rd Michigan Infantry and the 6th Michigan Cavalry.

6-10-21 and 22

Charles H. C. Scaddin (1827-1916) 7-6-30

Ludwig Frederick Schmidt (1823-1905) 4-18-2

Harding (not Hearding) Smith (1822-1899) 2-6-4

Ezra Stewart (1836-1907) 4-21-33

Chauncey Brewer Taylor (1843-1920) 7-13-34

John Taylor (1824-1897) 1-2-33

Samuel Thurston (1841?-1897) 1-2-20

Charles S. Warren (1844-1917) and Mary Spencer Warren (1851-1926).

6-4-22

6-4-23

Charles M. Woodruff (1834-1915) and his wife Eliza Jane Collier Woodruff (1847-1917).

6-5-25

6-5-24

George Woodruff (1841-1904) 4-17-17

John Wright (1829-1900) 4-9-28

3rd Michigan Reorganized Men buried in the Michigan Soldiers' Home Cemetery

2025-08-05T09:06:00.004-04:00

The Old 3rd served with the Army of the Potomac mainly in Virginia from 1861-1864. The reorganized 3rd Michigan Infantry was a completely separate unit from the original (or "old") 3rd Michigan. The former served from 1864-1866 in the western theater of the war. For more information on the reorganized 3rd Michigan go here.

John Blanchard 4-2-12

Peter Burns 4-15-8

Malcolm Campbell 3-9-8

Peter Fontee 3-9-14

Robert Frost 5-3-26

Melvin Gregory 7-2-11

Truman Hayner 7-10-34

John Lardie 5-5-21

William J. Mills 4-18-7

Hiram Moore 7-23-7

Edgar G. Newman 5-8-12

Krusen Perry 4-17-3

Alexander Smith 7-5-61

Riley S. Stearns 7-3-12

Louis Uuper 4-11-30

Riley F. Warner 3-3-7

William H. Watts 4-14-9

Melvin A. Wells 7-8-36

Letters from the 3rd Michigan update

2025-07-04T13:26:00.001-04:00

Camp Blair above Chain Bridge, summer 1861

Over the years I've had the good fortune to acquire copies of diaries, letters and journals written by men of the 3rd Michigan. So its alway a treat when I find new letters to add to my biographical sketches. The following links are to letters courtesy of Spared&Shared23 (and thanks to John Braden for the tip!):

George Ball to his mother

Israel Geer to his cousin

Samuel Barber to Martha Ray

Michael Long to his brother

Andrew Nickerson to Emma Wade

Samuel Dowell to a friend

Caleb Tompkins to Orin Shepherd

3rd Michigan Photos from the Library of Congress

2025-04-16T11:41:00.000-04:00

A survey of the available photographic holdings in the Library of congress reveals the following images relevant to the 3rd Michigan Infantry.

First up is a photo taken by W. H. Tipton, a Gettysburg photographer and is a stereoview of the 3rd Michigan Monument in the Peach Orchard. Note the orchard in the background.

This was most likely taken c. 1889. Note that in his catalogue of Gettysburg battlefield monument images this image is not listed.

Next up are two images of Annie Etheridge (see her biographical sketch).

Next is Israel Canton Smith. He began as captain of Company E and ended the war as a brevet brigadier general. This photo is from 1862, possibly after he was transferred to command Company F.

Walter Bacon Morrison was a medical student at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor when the war broke out. He enlisted in the 3rd Michigan where he began service as a hospital steward and eventually became an assistance surgeon. See his full biographical sketch.

Also found in the LOC archives iia an image of Frederick Barker.

Next is an image of Moses S. Newman and his first wife Charlotte Cook Newman.

Robert Graham.

Byron Root Pierce began the war as captain of Company K and ended it as a brevet major general.

Harlan Colby essay on Grand Rapids 1855

2024-01-19T10:01:00.006-05:00

Description of Grand Rapids, written by H. P. Colby, March 13, 1855 [found in the Grand Rapids Historical Collection No. 013, Grand Rapids Public Library)

Teachers in the high school were --E. W. Chesebro, principal Geo. Chesebro , assistant Miss Winslow, Recitation rooms Miss E. Snow,

City of Grand Rapids Grand Rapids, the county seat of Kent co., lies on [the] Grand River, about forty miles above the confluence with the water of Lake Michigan. The different parts of the town are connected by a bridge, some 900 feet long. Till the year 1831, the site which the city now occupies, was an unbroken wilderness inhabited only by the red men of the forest. In that year, a few french families leave out from the eastern part of the state, and commencing a settlement, laid the foundation of a city destined at no distant day, to become second to none in Michigan.

Up to the year 1836, the population increased very slowly, consisting at that time, of about a dozen families.

Actuated by a spirit of speculation, this year beheld a large addition to the number of inhabitants, many of whom found to their sorrow and great disappointment that “all is not gold that glitters", that paper cities require a great deal of hard work before they become cities in reality. From that time till the present, it has steadily advanced in size and prosperity, numbering last year [1854] about 6,000 souls. The city received its charter in 1800 [?], the first mayor being the late H. R. Williams, succeeded by R. W. Cole, W. H. Withey, T. B. Church, and W. D. foster. There are five wards each of which is entitled to one alderman.

The people are generally emigrants [sic] from the east, the natives coming from New England, New York and Ohio, the foreigners from Ireland and Holland, composed of such discordant materials, society presents a very different appearance from that found in older settled countries [counties] at the eastern end of the state]. A stranger would find a great want of social feeling absorbable everywhere in communities composed of less antagonistic elements.

The site of the city comprises four square miles, lying the one half in the township of Grand Rapids, and the remaining in the township of Walker. The ground upon which the city is built is very uneven, being composed of sand bluffs, excepting a narrow strip along the river which is interspersed with swamps, and cut up by ravines and water courses. Although the situation of the town is so unpromising in this particular yet in consequence of its contiguity to an excellent water power, property commands a very high price. Within the bounds of the city the river falls about 19 feet affording mill privileges scarcely inferior to the Genesee at Rochester. Within the limits of the corporation there are 25 machine shops and mills driven principally by water which is directed from its course by a dam thrown across the river and a canal which conducts the water to points where it can be conveniently used.

To show the size of and importance of the town, it may be proper to give the following statistics:

hardware stores: 6
dry goods stores: 15
clothing stores: 8
hat and cap stores: 4
furniture stores: 4
curiosity shops: 1
drug stores: 6
book stores: 4 groceries: 30
meat markets: 5
baker shops: 2
wheel wright: 9
confectionary: 1
engine companies: 3 engines: 3
hose company: 1
firemen: 150
hotels: 8
liveries: 4
steamboats: 6
barges and tows: 8
saddle & harness 4
shoe shops: 8
streets: 100
jewelry stores: 4
printing offices: 2
private schools: 4
public schools: 3
physicians: 12
lawyers: 23
clergymen: 8

In the number and character of its professional men, Grand Rapids stands proudly prominent.

Our physicians are polite, attentive and skillful, one dosing you allepathecally another hydropathecally and a third homeopathecally, while each attempts to convince you that he is not treating you hobbypathecally. The legal fraternity ranks among its members some of the ablest men of the state, men distinguished for learning and patriotism, men who would do honor to any profession in any country. Nor are the clergy less noted for piety than the lawyers for patriotism. A band of men more devoted to the interests of those over whom it is their duty to watch, cannot be found.

"Go search the land of living men, Where will you find their like again?"

The churches are distributed among the different denominations as follows:

Episcopal, Rev. D r. Cumings, 400 members
Congregational, Rev. Mr. Hammond, 184 members
2nd Congregational, Rev. Mr. Ballard
Catholic, Rev. Mr. Van Pelmel and Rev. Mr. Van Erb 150 families
Methodist, Rev. Mr. Tappes, 250 families
Baptist, Rev Mr. Prescott, 108 families
Dutch Reformed, Rev. Mr. Klyme

The Episcopal which is the largest and most costly in the city, is built of limestone taken from the bed of the river just below the dam, as are also the Catholic and Old Dutch churches. The new Dutch edifice is of brick while the congregational, Methodist and Baptist houses are of wood. The county jail and an old building used sometimes as a church, and sometimes as a court-house, are situated on the west side of the river.

Although Grand Rapids is of such recent origin, yet its founders have neglected no effort to secure to their children the blessings arising from a good education. The greater part of the city limits divided into two school districts, the one lying on the east side and the other on the west side of the river.

The Union school on the east side of the river is situated on the summit of one of the noble hills which environ the city, and commands an extensive view of the delightful plains and hillsides forming the Grand River valley. Its dimensions are 64 by 44 feet, three stories in height, and surmounted by a cupola from which may be had a most delightful view of the city and surrounding country. This cupola also contains a bell which chimes most disagreeably upon the ear of the tardy schoolboys as

"With sachel and shining morning face, He creeps like a snail, unwillingly to school"

In all its interior arrangements and divisions, excepting its desks which are an instrument of barbarism yet most excruciating to the luckless scholar who is obliged to be jammed down to them all day, it [is] well adapted to the purpose for which it is designed. There are three large study rooms, six smaller recitation rooms, and two rooms the one used as a dressing room by the girls, and the other as a library and apparatus room. The city library comprising about 150 volumes and the mineralogical cabinet of the Grand Rapids Lyceum of Natural History, now in process of being collected, are kept here.

The "Faculty" consists of eight female and two male teachers. The school is divided into three departments, in the first of which are taught the alphabet, Reading, Arithmetical Tables, and Primary Geography. In the second department, Spelling, Reading, Writing, mental and written Arithmetic and Geography. In the third department are taught all the commonly in Union schools.

In summing up the character of the school, we may say that the buildings are substantial, its divisions good, its internal fixtures decidedly bad, and its teachings such as might be vastly improved did not a perverted public taste prevent a more strict and energetic government.

The school on the west side of the river is in a very flourishing condition under Mr. Milton S. Littlefield [successor to Col. Robert Shaw of the 54th Mass.] formerly of Syracuse, New York assisted by Misses Hyde and Chubb. It numbers about 100 pupils with a list constantly. The old hovel now occupied by this school might be supplanted during the coming summer, by a neat brick building, 40 by 70 feet, and two stories in height. "A consummation most devoutly to be wished". We can but wish them God-speed.

Situated in the midst of a fertile and rapidly populating country, remote from all other cities and large villages, cosily nestled in the Grand River Valley, secure from the chilling blasts which howl with such relentless fury across the great part of the western country, possessing a water power unrivaled in the state, and enjoying a locality healthy to a proverb, Grand Rapids bid fair, ere long, to become the first, as it is now the second town in Michigan. What shall prevent her?

We may confidently assert that it will not be far lack of superior advantages for she possesses them; it will not be on account of the envy or jealousy of her sister towns or villages in other parts of the state, for she has the power to render herself independent in a great measure of them all, but it will be on account of that excessive greed, that ardent desire, that burning thirst for riches which would bring down the golden shower like an avalanche from the mountain regardless of its blighting effects upon all the finer feelings of the soul. May the time be far distant when our citizens shall loose [sic] their public spirit in the inordinate love of self, when they shall clutch for the dross that perisheth unmindful of the privileges of their social position.

May Grand Rapids be carried forward on the swelling tide of prosperity, retaining ever a safe pilotage in the intelligence and virtue of her citizens, till she changes her anchorage from the "Valley City" to the "Empire city" of Michigan.

H. P. Colby March 8, 1855 Description of Grand Rapids, written by H. P. Colby, March 13, 1855

Teachers in the high school were --E. W. Chesebro, principal Geo. Chesebro , assistant Miss Winslow, Recitation rooms Miss E. Snow,

City of Grand Rapids Grand Rapids, the county seat of Kent co., lies on [the] Grand River, about forty miles above the confluence with the water of Lake Michigan. The different parts of the town are connected by a bridge, some 900 feet long. Till the year 1831, the site which the city now occupies, was an unbroken wilderness inhabited only by the red men of the forest. In that year, a few french families leave out from the eastern part of the state, and commencing a settlement, laid the foundation of a city destined at no distant day, to become second to none in Michigan.

Up to the year 1836, the population increased very slowly, consisting at that time, of about a dozen families.

Actuated by a spirit of speculation, this year beheld a large addition to the number of inhabitants, many of whom found to their sorrow and great disappointment that “all is not gold that glitters", that paper cities require a great deal of hard work before they become cities in reality. From that time till the present, it has steadily advanced in size and prosperity, numbering last year [1854] about 6,000 souls. The city received its charter in 1800 [?], the first mayor being the late H. R. Williams, succeeded by R. W. Cole, W. H. Withey, T. B. Church, and W. D. foster. There are five wards each of which is entitled to one alderman.

The people are generally emigrants [sic] from the east, the natives coming from New England, New York and Ohio, the foreigners from Ireland and Holland, composed of such discordant materials, society presents a very different appearance from that found in older settled countries [counties] at the eastern end of the state]. A stranger would find a great want of social feeling absorbable everywhere in communities composed of less antagonistic elements.

The site of the city comprises four square miles, lying the one half in the township of Grand Rapids, and the remaining in the township of Walker. The ground upon which the city is built is very uneven, being composed of sand bluffs, excepting a narrow strip along the river which is interspersed with swamps, and cut up by ravines and water courses. Although the situation of the town is so unpromising in this particular yet in consequence of its contiguity to an excellent water power, property commands a very high price. Within the bounds of the city the river falls about 19 feet affording mill privileges scarcely inferior to the Genesee at Rochester. Within the limits of the corporation there are 25 machine shops and mills driven principally by water which is directed from its course by a dam thrown across the river and a canal which conducts the water to points where it can be conveniently used.

To show the size of and importance of the town, it may be proper to give the following statistics:

Hardware stores: 6 dry goods stores: 15 clothing stores: 8 hat and cap stores: 4 furniture stores: 4 curiosity shops: 1 drug stores: 6 book stores: 4 groceries: 30 meat markets: 5 baker shops: 2 wheel wright: 9 confectionary: 1 engine companies: 3 engines: 3 hose company: 1 firemen: 150 hotels: 8 liveries: 4 steamboats: 6 barges and tows: 8 saddle & harness 4 shoe shops: 8 streets: 100 jewelry stores: 4 printing offices: 2 private schools: 4 public schools: 3 physicians: 12 lawyers: 23 clergymen: 8

In the number and character of its professional men, Grand Rapids stands proudly prominent.

Our physicians are polite, attentive and skillful, one dosing you allepathecally another hydropathecally and a third homeopathecally, while each attempts to convince you that he is not treating you hobbypathecally. The legal fraternity ranks among its members some of the ablest men of the state, men distinguished for learning and patriotism, men who would do honor to any profession in any country. Nor are the clergy less noted for piety than the lawyers for patriotism. A band of men more devoted to the interests of those over whom it is their duty to watch, cannot be found.

"Go search the land of living men, Where will you find their like again?"

The churches are distributed among the different denominations as follows:

Episcopal, Rev. Dr. Cumings, 400 members; Congregational, Rev. Mr. Hammond, 184 members; 2nd Congregational, Rev. Mr. Ballard; Catholic, Rev. Mr. Van Pelmel and Rev. Mr. Van Erb, 150 families; Methodist, Rev. Mr. Tappes, 250 families; Baptist, Rev Mr. Prescott, 108 families; Dutch Reformed, Rev. Mr. Klyme.

The Episcopal which is the largest and most costly in the city, is built of limestone taken from the bed of the river just below the dam, as are also the Catholic and Old Dutch churches. The new Dutch edifice is of brick while the congregational, Methodist and Baptist houses are of wood. The county jail and an old building used sometimes as a church, and sometimes as a court-house, are situated on the west side of the river.

Although Grand Rapids is of such recent origin, yet its founders have neglected no effort to secure to their children the blessings arising from a good education. The greater part of the city limits divided into two school districts, the one lying on the east side and the other on the west side of the river.

The Union school on the east side of the river is situated on the summit of one of the noble hills which environ the city, and commands an extensive view of the delightful plains and hillsides forming the Grand River valley. Its dimensions are 64 by 44 feet, three stories in height, and surmounted by a cupola from which may be had a most delightful view of the city and surrounding country. This cupola also contains a bell which chimes most disagreeably upon the ear of the tardy schoolboys as

"With sachel [sic] and shining morning face, He creeps like a snail, unwillingly to school"

In all its interior arrangements and divisions, excepting its desks which are an instrument of barbarism yet most excruciating to the luckless scholar who is obliged to be jammed down to them all day, it [is] well adapted to the purpose for which it is designed. There are three large study rooms, six smaller recitation rooms, and two rooms the one used as a dressing room by the girls, and the other as a library and apparatus room. The city library comprising about 150 volumes and the mineralogical cabinet of the Grand Rapids Lyceum of Natural History, now in process of being collected, are kept here.

The "Faculty" consists of eight female and two male teachers. The school is divided into three departments, in the first of which are taught the alphabet, Reading, Arithmetical Tables, and Primary Geography. In the second department, Spelling, Reading, Writing, mental and written Arithmetic and Geography. In the third department are taught all the commonly in Union schools.

In summing up the character of the school, we may say that the buildings are substantial, its divisions good, its internal fixtures decidedly bad, and its teachings such as might be vastly improved did not a perverted public taste prevent a more strict and energetic government.

The school on the west side of the river is in a very flourishing condition under Mr. Milton S. Littlefield [successor to Col. Robert Shaw of the 54th Mass.] formerly of Syracuse, New York assisted by Misses Hyde and Chubb. It numbers about 100 pupils with a list constantly. The old hovel now occupied by this school might be supplanted during the coming summer, by a neat brick building, 40 by 70 feet, and two stories in height. "A consummation most devoutly to be wished". We can but wish them God-speed.

Situated in the midst of a fertile and rapidly populating country, remote from all other cities and large villages, cosily nestled in the Grand River Valley, secure from the chilling blasts which howl with such relentless fury across the great part of the western country, possessing a water power unrivaled in the state, and enjoying a locality healthy to a proverb, Grand Rapids bid fair, ere long, to become the first, as it is now the second town in Michigan. What shall prevent her?

We may confidently assert that it will not be far lack of superior advantages for she possesses them; it will not be on account of the envy or jealousy of her sister towns or villages in other parts of the state, for she has the power to render herself independent in a great measure of them all, but it will be on account of that excessive greed, that ardent desire, that burning thirst for riches which would bring down the golden shower like an avalanche from the mountain regardless of its blighting effects upon all the finer feelings of the soul. May the time be far distant when our citizens shall loose [sic] their public spirit in the inordinate love of self, when they shall clutch for the dross that perisheth unmindful of the privileges of their social position.

May Grand Rapids be carried forward on the swelling tide of prosperity, retaining ever a safe pilotage in the intelligence and virtue of her citizens, till she changes her anchorage from the "Valley City" to the "Empire city" of Michigan.

[signed] H. P. Colby March 8, 1855

See his biographical sketch. Harlan is buried in Oak Hill (North) Cemetery, Grand Rapids, section 10 lot 102:

Steffens in Zeeland Cemetery

2023-12-29T10:27:00.006-05:00

Roelof Steffens of Company F and his family.

Veterans in Winchester Cemetery

2022-12-23T16:28:00.001-05:00

On a gorgeous September afternoon in 2022 I came across these three veterans buried in Winchester Cemetery, Byron Center, Michigan. Thought you'd like to meet them.

George Otto, 126th Infantry, died in France

Levi Higby, 6th Michigan Heavy Artillery, died in New Orleans, LA

James A. Burwell, 126th Infantry, killed in the Argonne Forest, France, buried in France

John E. Spalding 3rd reorganized

2021-08-19T17:13:00.001-04:00

John E. Spalding was 24 years old when he enlisted in Company E, 3rd Michigan Reorganized Infantry on September 3, 1864, at Grand Rapids, for three years and was mustered on September 9. He was discharged at Benton Barracks, MO, on September 28, 1865.

He eventually returned to Michigan and settled in Grand Rapids township. He is buried in Mason Cemetery.

Wounded

2021-04-05T01:00:00.004-04:00

Theodore Castor, Company C

Of 388 men who were wounded while serving in the 3rd Michigan, 335, or more than 86% of the total wounded, suffered gunshot wounds. (pictured: Theodore Castor, lost a leg at the Wilderness on May 5, 1864)

Wounds
Very few were wounded by cannon fire and there were no reports of men being wounded by bayonet although hand-to-hand combat did happen.

Company I had the highest number of men wounded (48), while Company A had the lowest number (28).

By engagement:

Fair Oaks, May 31, 1862 - 92
Groveton (Second Bull Run), August 31, 1862 - 100
Chancellorsville, May 5, 1863 - 41
Gettysburg, July 1-3, 1863 - 22
Mine Run, November 30, 1863 - 9
Wilderness , May 6, 1864 - 62
Spotsylvania, May 12, 1864 - 24

In the week of May 5-12, 1864, alone, the Old 3rd Michigan suffered 88 wounded (or nearly 23% of the total wounded).

First man wounded was Henry Kampe of Company C, at Germantown, Virginia, on July 17, 1861, the day before the Regiment was engaged at Blackburn’s Ford, near Bull Run.
Last man wounded in the regiment was Philo Wier of Company G on June 10, 1864; he subsequently died of his wounds on July 1
Last man wounded in wartime was George D. Hill, while serving as a member of the 1st Michigan cavalry, on April 9, 1865

Disabilities
During the war 434 men were discharged and 40 officers resigned from the 3rd Michigan on account of a disability of one type or another.

Another 65 men from the Old 3rd who had been consolidated into the 5th Michigan were discharged for disability.

Altogether some 539 or more than 38% of the total enrolled were discharged for disability.

At least 42 men suffered the loss of a limb. Some of the more common disabilities reported were: Asthma, bronchitis, consumption, deafness, dysentery, epilepsy, gunshot, heart disease, hemorrhoids, hernia, measles, pneumonia, rheumatic fever, rheumatism sunstroke, trauma or accident, typhoid fever, varicose veins and venereal disease

Additional service

2021-04-04T01:00:00.002-04:00

Reenlistees
Between late December of 1863 and March of 1864, 206 men reenlisted for three more years of service. Company G had the highest number of reenlistments, 24 (or 13.4% of the total reenlisted). Company B had the lowest with 11 (6.1%). The average reenlistment was 18 per company.

Transfer and Second Units
Aside from the 362 men who transferred into the 5th Michigan Infantry following consolidation in June of 1864, some 357 Old 3rd Michigan men were either transferred or discharged and reentered the military.

Of that number 57 would join a third unit.

At least 195 men entered a second Michigan unit.

If we add the 357 men who reentered a second unit to the 362 men who were transferred to the 5th Michigan infantry, we arrive at a grand total of 719 men who served in a second unit, or 51% of the overall total of men who served in the Old 3rd Michigan.

Former Old 3rd Michigan soldiers also enlisted in units of other states as well as the federal armed forces:

3 in Illinois
1 in Indiana
1 in Massachusetts
1 in Minnesota
1 in Missouri
1 in New Jersey
19 in New York
5 in Ohio
3 in Pennsylvania
3 in Wisconsin
47 in the U.S. Army, including 5 in various United States Colored units
1 in the U.S. Marine Corps
6 in the U.S. Navy
90 in the Veterans Reserve Corps

Promotions

2021-04-03T01:00:00.002-04:00

Five men who began their military career in the 3rd Michigan ended the war as brevet generals:

Brigadier General Stephen Champlin began the war as Major
Brigadier General Moses Houghton began as Captain of Company D
Brigadier General Israel Smith began as a lieutenant in Company F
Brigadier General Ambrose Stevens began as Lieutenant Colonel
Major General Byron R. Pierce began as Captain of Company K (pictured above)

Of these five, only Champlin did not survive the war.

Of the original Field & Staff:

Colonel Dan McConnell remained a Colonel
Lieutenant Colonel Ambrose Stevens became a Brevet Brigadier General
Major Stephen Champlin became a Brevet Brigadier General
Quartermaster Robert Collins ended the war as a Captain of Subsistence
Dr. D. W. Bliss ended the war as a Colonel
Dr. Zenas Bliss finished the war as Lieutenant Colonel
Drum Major Valentine Rebhun was discharged for disability and reentered the 19th Michigan infantry

Of the Musicians who served in the Old 3rd Michigan:

2 would become Captains
2 became First Lieutenants
1 became a Second Lieutenant

Of the 10 original Captains:

Samuel Judd of Company A died a Captain
Adolph Birkenstock of Company C ended the war a Sergeant
Byron Pierce of Company K became a Brevet Major General
Moses Houghton of Company D became a Brevet Brigadier General
the rest remained captains

Of the 10 original First Lieutenants:

5 became Captains
3 remained First Lieutenants
Charles Spang of Company H ended the war a Private
Fred Worden of Company F became a Lieutenant Colonel

Of the 9 original Second Lieutenants:

Israel Smith of Company E became a Brevet Brigadier General
William Ryan of Company H became a Major  2 became Captains
2 became First Lieutenants
2 remained Second Lieutenants
George Phillips of Company D ended the war a Sergeant

Of 48 Sergeants:

Dan Root of Company K ended the war a Lieutenant Colonel
Homer Thayer of Company G became a Major
George Remington of Company F became an Adjutant
13 became Captains
5 became First Lieutenants
6 became Second Lieutenants
10 remained Sergeants
1 ended the war a corporal
9 came out of the war as Privates

Of 78 Corporals:

Don Lovell of Company A became a Major
Peter Weber of Company A became a Major
Milton Leonard of Company F a Captain
8 became Lieutenants
8 ended the war as Sergeants
27 remained corporals
17 ended the war as Privates

Four Privates would become Majors: Emery Moon, Dan Kennicutt, George Nairn, and Michael Long

8 privates would become Captains
11 became First Lieutenants
3 became Second Lieutenants
1 was a Naval Ensign.

Curiously, not one man who enlisted in the Old 3rd Michigan after June of 1861 became a commissioned officer.

Prisoners of war

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From June of 1861 until April of 1865, and including all other units in which former members of the Old 3rd Michigan served, 135 men were taken prisoner.

By far the highest number of men in the 3rd Michigan captured was 27 (nearly a quarter of them from Company K) reported for the week between May 5 and May 12, 1864, during the Wilderness-Spotsylvania campaign.

The next highest number was 19 taken on July 1-2, 1862, at White Oak Swamp and Malvern Hill, Virginia. Ten men were taken on May 3, 1863, at Chancellorsville.

Nine soldiers were captured on November 30, 1863, at Mine Run, Virginia (with Company C losing 7 men or 77% of the total).

The regimental average was 10 men per company captured during the war, and the high scorer was Company C with 20. Company G suffered the lowest number of men taken prisoner (3).

Following consolidation with the 5th Michigan on June 10, 1864, some 24 former members of the 3rd Michigan were taken prisoner on October 27, 1864, at Boydton Plank road, Virginia.

(pictured above: Theodore Castor of Company C, was wounded in the leg and taken prisoner at the battle of the Wilderness on May 5, 1864.)

Misconduct

2021-04-01T01:00:00.002-04:00

LT James D. Bennett

Desertion
During the war at least 131 men were charged with desertion. Nine of those, however, were as a result of the chaos which ensued in wake of the fiasco at First Bull Run, July 21, 1861.

Straggling probably also accounted for another 44 men who were charged with desertion on or about September 21, 1862, at Upton's Hill, Virginia. (Many of those charges were removed after the war.)

Of the number charged with actually having deserted we know:

53 were discharged for disability
5 mustered out of service
3 died of disease
4 listed as No Further Record
21 transferred to the 5th Michigan infantry upon consolidation of the two regiments in June of 1864
3 transferred to U.S. regular army units
6 transferred to the Veterans Reserve Corps (also known as the Invalid Corps)

Court-Martial
During the war 34 men of the Old 3rd Michigan Infantry were court-martialed:
James Ayes
Joseph Badger - sent to the penitentiary
Ambrose Bell
LT James Bennett - cashiered (pictured above)
Charles Birkenstock (while serving in the 5th Michigan Infantry)
John Bissell
LT Almon Borden - cashiered
George Bridgman*
CAPT Emery Bryant
George Clay*
George Cook*
Charles Corey*
Zara Cotton*
George Decker
Charles Finch
Sylvester Gay Charles Henderson Edwin Hoard (while serving in the 5th Michigan Infantry)
Abram Ketchum
Ozias Martin
Abram Martindale
ames Maury - sent to prison
Ben Nestle - branded with a "D" on his hip and drummed out of the army
Moses Newman
Andrew Nickerson
Henry Parker
William Payne*
Abram Shear - sent to the penitentiary
Amos Stockwell
John H. Sumner (while serving in the Reorganized 3rd Michigan Infantry)
William Van Dyke*
William Von Wagner
Elijah Warner
Charles Wright (while serving in the 5th Michigan Infantry) *Probably court-martialed.

Personal background

2021-03-31T08:55:00.002-04:00

Rev. Francis Cuming

Age
The men of the 3rd Michigan Infantry were born between 1798 (Rev. Francis Cuming) and 1850 (Jacob Rebhun).

Not including the six men for whom we do not have a birth year, more than three-quarters of the total 1,411 enrolled were born after 1830 and one in five born after 1842:

11-16 years of age: 31
17-19 years: 275
20-29 years: 811
30-39 years: 204
over 40 years: 72
over 50 years: 10
over 60 years: 3

If we combine the numbers of all those men under 30, that group comprised nearly 80% of the total enrolled in the Regiment (1,412).

Height
Of the 922 reported physical measurements, four men were
5 feet or less: Tommy Byers, John McPherson, Albert Pelton and Jacob Rebhun. At the tall end, we have George Korten at 6'10, George Randall and Robert Swart at 6'6", Sam Aldrich and Ben Waite were 6'4", and Alex French and Calvin Wilsey 6'3". Over half of the men were between 5’6’” and 5’11”.

Education
At least 679 men were reported as able to read and write and 38 were listed as illiterate; both numbers were probably higher. We also know that at least 40 men attained “higher education” degrees in architecture, law, medicine, education and the ministry.

Religion
In religious matters the men were overwhelmingly Protestant, although this remains measured speculation. Of the 116 reported religious preferences we know that 84 were Protestant, 29 Catholic, 2 were Universalist, and 1 was Jewish.

Occupations
At least 788 (or more than 56%) of the 1,405 reported prewar occupations were directly related to the farm, and if one adds the 161 laborers, nearly 68% of the men who joined the Old 3rd Michigan Infantry were either farmers or laborers (and quite often both). The next highest represented occupation was carpentry with 67 men who had worked in that trade before the war, followed by 59 in the lumber industry, 35 clerks, 24 blacksmiths and 23 shoemakers.

If we add the farmer/laborer group to the next five occupations, more than 82% of the regiment fell into seven occupational categories.

3rd Michigan Infantry Association

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Between 1870 and 1927, 368 former members of (both 1st and 2nd organizations) of the Third Michigan Infantry, along with at least 120 family and friends (honorary members) joined together in a fraternal association.

They met annually for a reunion, which included a business meeting of association, followed by a banquet. For many years these reunions were held on the first Wednesday after the anniversary of the battle of Fredericksburg of December 13, 1862. Beginning in 1904, annual association meetings fell on or near June 13, the day the regiment left Grand Rapids in 1861.

The 1885 reunion was held in Grand Rapids in conjunction with the reunion of the Society of the Army of the Cumberland, which was also held in Grand Rapids. And while the records are unclear, the reunions of 1924, 1925 and 1926 were presumably held in Grand Rapids.

No reunions were held in 1873, 1875 or 1880 while the 1913 reunion was held in conjunction with the 50th anniversary celebration of the Battle of Gettysburg.

The 55th and final reunion was held at the Pantlind Hotel (today the Amway Grand) in Grand Rapids, Michigan in June of 1927; six of the fourteen remaining Association members attended.

(photo above: 1921 reunion)

Relationships and family

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Marriage
At least 957 men were married either before, during or after the war. Of that number 266 men married a second time, and 11 men married four times.

We know that 107 men were divorced or separated from their wives, 11 were divorced twice, and 3 men were divorced three times.

At least 291 men were reported at death as widowers, and at least 19 were widowers twice.

Families
At least 765 men had children and 20 of them had 10 or more children. Andrew Kirschman, Theodore McClain and Elam Moe tied for the record: each man had at least thirteen children. In Elam's case, two of his sons, Daniel and Robert also served in the Old 3rd Michigan, and all three survived the war.

Related to each other
Of the 1,411 men enrolled in the regiment, at least 289 were related in one way or another. (This does not include the many relationships by marriage or distant family connection such as first cousins, brothers-in-law, etc.) There were at least 10 known father-son combinations, 2 uncle-nephew combinations: Stephen and Clarence Lowing and Ezra and Dennis Guernsey, and at least 154 brother combinations.

(photo above: Warren Wilkinson and his wife Alice Foster)

Association Roster

2021-03-26T01:00:00.001-04:00

The following list is actually made up of at least two lists of Old 3rd Michigan Infantry Association members found in the Association records in Grand Rapids Public Library: a list from c. 1905 and one of honorary members.

It would appear from the records that at least one other list had been kept as a running record of members but this remains unclear.

Amos H. Abbott - 1905 roster; possibly Clarkson Abbott.
Roderick Ackley
Charles H. Adams
George Adams - 1905 roster
Miles Adams
Charles Althouse
A. B. Ames - 1905 roster
E. L. Anderson
George W. Arms
Richard E. Arthur
James Austin
N. L. Avery - honorary
Albert Babcock
James Babe
George W. Bailey
Henry Bailey
Mrs. Nora M. Barnum - honorary; possibly related to Andrew Barnum
John Bassett - honorary
Philip Bayne
William H. Baird
Benjamin Baker - 1905 roster
George Ball
Simon P. Barnhard
John Barnhard
George Barnier
Robert G. Barr
Robert Barry
Hiram Bateman
Alfred Bates - 1905 roster
Martin Beebe - 1905 roster
Capt. C. E. Belknap - honorary
Ambrose D. Bell
Harley C. Bement
George Bennett
Jonas Bennett
William W. Bennett
Daniel Benton
Danel E. Birdsall
Charles Birdsell - honorary
Dennis Birmingham
John Bissell
George W. Blain
Dr. Zenas E. Bliss
Mortimer Bonner
Mrs. Mortimer Bonner - honorary
Henry Booth
Baker Borden
Charles Bouton - 1905 roster
Hugh Boyd
Frank Bracelin - Old Third status unknown
Simon Brennan
Nelson Brashaw - probably Nelson Bressan
Joseph Brewer
Harvey S. Briggs
John Broad
Dan Bronson - honorary; Colonel Dan McConnell's "servant "and the only known African-American member of the Association
Eli W. Brown - 1905 roster
Harvey Brown - probably Henry Brown
Hiram Brown
Joseph Brown
Isaac Burbank - 1905 roster
John Henry Burke - 1905 roster
Thomas Byers
Charles Calkins - 1905 roster
Henry S. Calkins - 1905 roster
John Calkins
Adolphe Campau
George Carlisle
Albert Carpenter - 1905 roster
Benjamin Carpenter
John G. Carpenter
A. X. Cary - honorary
Edward Case
Theodore Castor
James Cavenaugh
Alex. G. Champlin - honorary
John W. Champlin - honorary
Mrs. Mary Champlin - honorary
Albert Chase- 1905 roster
Edward Chase
George Childs
Hobart H. Chipman
C. Christler - Old Third status unknown
A. L. Chubb - 1905 roster, Old Third status unknown
Leonard Church
Edgar W. Clark
Harlan P. Colby
Burnett C. Collins
Robert J. Compton
William Courser
J. H. Covert - honorary
David C. Crawford
Daniel G. Crotty
G. F. Crotty - honorary
Lawrence Croy
Noah Culver - 1905 roster
B. Cunningham - 1905 roster, Old Third status unknown
Calvin Curler
John J. Cutler
Henry Cutler
Emerson Danforth - 1905 roster
Mrs. John Dart - honorary
C. Davis - honorary
David L. Davis
Edward P. Davidson
David L. Davis
George W. Davis
James Davis - 1905 roster
John Davis - Old Third status unknown
John C. Davis - Old Third status unknown
Washington Davis
Mrs. Washington Davis - honorary
Martin De Boe
Meerweis De Kraker
John Dennis
John H. Dennis - honorary
Ezekial H. Dewey
Austin P. Dibble
John Dibble
Wallace W. Dickinson
Mrs. W. W. Dickinson - honorary
Andrew E. Dinsmore
George W. Dodge
William H. Drake
Joseph Dunn - 1905 roster
Samuel Duram
Aaron Durfee
Albert Durfee
Edward Earle
John D. Earle - honorary
Abraham Eddy
Charles Eddy
Charles Ellet
Charles Elliott - Old Third status unknown
Miner J. Emlaw
David Emmons
Anne Etheridge - honorary
Joseph Evered
Julius Faenger
Joseph C. Feheley
W. N. P. Ferris
Washington K. Ferris
Sanford Fish
Leonard Fleck
John Foulks - 1905 roster
Dewitt Foreman
Francis Forman
John Fortier - honorary
Oscar Foster
Roy Foster - honorary
Charles Fox - Old Third status unknown
J. R. Free - Old Third status unknown
George French
William S. Gallup
Alfred A. Garlock
Samuel S. Garrison
John Garrison - honorary
Israel Geer
Benjamin Gilden
Mrs. Benjamin Gilden - honorary
James Gillespie - 1905 roster
William H. Goff
Benjamin Gooch
Robert Graham
Lycurgus E. Granger
Samuel Greenwood - 1905 roster
Dr. James F. Grove
William E. Grove - honorary
Dennis Guernsey
Peter H. Haight - Old Third status unknown
Ralph Hanley
James Hanna
Charles Harris
George W. Harris
Albert Hayes
Don Henderson - honorary
Charles Henry
Byron Hess - 1905 roster
Levi Heth
August Heyer
Ira Hiler
Warren G. Hill
Henry H. Himelberger
Moses B. Houghton
Mrs. Moses B. Houghton - honorary
Theodore Houk
George Houseman
Ransom Howe
Ransom Howell - 1905 roster
George Hubbard
O. P. Huntley
William A. Hyde - honorary
Orvil C. Ingersoll
Geo. H. Irwin - honorary
John Jackson - honorary (R)
Samuel Jason - 1905 roster
Zeph Jeffries
Eli D. Johnson
Ira G. Johnson
Oscar Johnson
Nelson Jones - Old Third status unknown
Wilson Jones
William J. Jubb
George Judd
Samuel Judd - honorary
Louie Kanitz - honorary
Patrick Kearney
Lee Kelley
John A. Kellogg
Abram Ketchum
Jerome Kibbe
George B. Kibbee
Andrew J. Killpatrick
Henry E. Kingsbury
Mrs. Henry E. Kingsbury - honorary
Mrs. S. G. Kinkaid - honorary
Andrew Kirshman
John Frederick Klink
George Koch
William Koch
Conrad Kritzer
Herman Kusig
Mrs. Herman Kusig - honorary
Mrs. George Lamb - honorary
Lorenzo D. Lamphere
Charles Land
John Laraway
David C. Leach
Joseph Ledbeter
Edwin Lewis
Oliver Lewis
Smith K. Lewis
Henry Lindemeier - 1905 roster
John Lindsey
Mrs. John Lindsey - honorary
Stephen Longyear
Don G. Lovell - 1905 roster
Charles B. Lovrien
Charles Luce - honorary
Gregory Luce - honorary
Hiram Luce
Mrs. Hiram Luce - honorary
Ransom B. Luce - honorary
Charles D. Lyon
Hiram Madden - honorary
Henry Magoon - 1905 roster
Edwin H. Mallory
Frank Mallory - Old Third status unknown
C. B. Mann
William H. Marlett
John H. Martin - honorary
Frank Martig
Burdette Mason - 1905 roster
Mike McCarthy
Orange McClure
Daniel McConnell
Allen McKee
Joel McLenithan
W. A. McMann
John McNab
A. T. McReynolds - honorary
J. E. Messmore - honorary
A. J. Meyers
Alvah M. Miller - Old Third status unknown
Charles Miller
James Miller - Old Third status unknown
John Miller
George W. Mills
James Misner - 1905 roster
Robert Misner
Daniel S. Moe
Emery Moon
Wilbur H. Moon
E. Moore - Old Third status unknown
H. M. Moore - Old Third status unknown
Walter B. Morrison
Webster Morris
Allen D. Morse - honorary
Benjamin Morse
Edwin Morse
Henry M. Morse
Lewis P. Morse - honorary
M. W. Morse - honorary
Wilberd Morse - honorary
Frank Muhlberg
Walter Mundell
Samuel D. Murray
Robert Musgrove
Andrew T. Myers
Nicholas Myers - Old Third status unknown
Richard Myers - Old Third status unknown
George K. Nairn
Carlton Neal
Lucius J. Neal
John Nelthorpe
Judge R. L. Newham - honorary
Moses S. Newman
Edwin Nickerson
Willard Olds
King R. Olmstead
John B. Osgood - 1905 roster
Fernando Page
Heman Parish
A. A. Parker - Old Third status unknown
Albert C. Parker
Henry Parker - 1905 roster
James Parm - 1905 roster
Henry J. Patterson
William Paustle
Dayton S. Peck
Freling W. Peck
Robert H. Peck
Aldrich Pelton - honorary
Mrs. Albert Pelton - honorary
Alfred Pelton
Andrew J. Pelton
Mrs.Andrew J. Pelton - honorary
Silas M. Pelton
Lewis Perkins
Lewis Pettit
Charles Philbrick - honorary
Esquire C. Phillips
Byron R. Pierce
Edwin S. Pierce
H. W. V. Pierce - honorary
Silas K. Pierce - member 6th Michigan cavalry
Arthur A. Place
Ira Poats
George Powers
Mrs. Dr. George Powers - honorary
George Prescott
Rev. J. S. Preston - honorary
S. Preston - honorary
John R. Price
Samuel E. Pryor
Walter Quigley
Reuben Randall
Levi C. Rathbun
James Reed
Merrick D. Reed
James Reeves
George W. Remington
L. C. Remington - honorary
James Renwick
William Renwick
W. H. Reynolds - 1905 roster, Old Third status unknown
James Rhodes
J. B. Richardson - honorary
Franklin S. Robins
Daniel S. Root
Charles Rose
Charles W. Rose
E. O. Rose - honorary
Orlando Rowe - 1905 roster
Albert Rudolph - Old Third status unknown
Geo. Rutherford - honorary
William Ryan
Mrs. Wwilliam L. Ryan - honorary
S. S. Sampson - Old Third status unknown
Truman Sawdy
Chas. H. C. Scaddin
George Schermerhorn
Mrs. Georeg Schermerhorn - honorary
August Schmidt
Mrs. August Schmidt - honorary
Christian Schmidt
Ludwig Schmidt - 1905 roster
Michael Schmidt
George Schwegler
Job Scott
Wilbur C. Scott
Albert H. Scranton
George P. Scranton
George Shadduck
Allen S. Shattuck
Nelson Shattuck
John Shaw
Zeph Shaw - Old Third status unknown
D. O. Shaver - honorary
Mrs. Elmira Shear - honorary
R. G. Shear - Old Third status unknown
D. O. Sheres - honorary
Oscar M. Sherburn
Frederick Schriver
Isaac Sigler - honorary
Rufus W. Skeels
S. Skeely - Old Third status unknown
W. S. Slasson - Old Third status unknown
Charles W. Smith
Israel C. Smith
Mrs. Israel C. Smith - honorary
James V. Smith - 1905 roster
Nathan J. Smith
Riley Smith
Mrs. Riley Smith - honorary
Sidney B. Smith
Wm. A. Smith
Thomas Somerset
Ahira D. Southard
Minor P. Spaulding
Samuel J. Spaulding
John A. Stanton
Simond P. Stanton
Charles Starks
Sylvanus Staring
Ambrose A. Stevens
Elisha O. Stevens
Joseph Stevens
William F. Stevens - honorary
Ezra Stewart - 1905 roster
Warren Stone
Frederick A. Stowe
Geo. F. Stowe - honorary
R. F. Stowe - honorary
N. J. Streeter - honorary
John T. Strong
John H. Sumner
Joseph Sutton
Charles Swain
Charles Sweet - 1905 roster
Herbert S. Taft - 1905 roster
Levi Tanner
Alfred Tate
Thomas Tate
Mrs. Phebe Tate - honorary
Chauncey B. Taylor
Guilford D. Taylor
John A. Taylor
James M. Taylor
Martin V. Taylor
Edgar F. Teele
Mrs. E. E. Ten Eyck - honorary
A. A. Tewksbury
Homer Thayer
Bartlett Thompson - 1905 roster
Stephen D. Thompson
Thomas Thompson
Frederick Teadt
Horace Tompkins - Old Third status unknown
Albert B. Towne
Capt. Townsend, U.S.A. - honorary
Benjamin C. Tracy
Mrs. Ben C. Tracy - honorary
Franklin Tubbs
Andrew Tuttle
Charles H. VanDusen
N. H. Vincent - honorary
Charles H. Vosburgh
C. H. Wagner - 1905 roster, Old Third status unknown
Benjamin F. Waite
Isaac Waite
John N. Wait
Thomas Waite
William Waldig - 1905 roster
Isaac Walker
David Warner
Archibald Washburn - 1905 roster
Thomas Waters
Arthur Watkins - 1905 roster
E. C. Watkins - honorary
E. S. Watkins - Old Third status unknown
Andrew J. Webster
William H. H. Wells
D. M. Wetzell - honorary
Stephen Wheaton
Frank Wheeler
John Wheeler
Edward C. Wheelock
Mrs. F. H. White - honorary
James White - 1905 roster
Samuel White, Jr
Thomas White
Abraham J. Whitney
Warren G. Wilkinson
A. L. Williams - Old Third status unknown
James Williams - member 21st Michigan infantry
Thomas Williams
William L. Williams
William W. Williams - Old Third status unknown
Daniel E. Wilson
William P. Wilson
William Winegar - honorary
George Wiselogel - 1905 roster
J. H. Wood41 - 1905 roster, Old Third status unknown
William E. Woodruff
Abram Woodard
Caleb Woolpert
Frederick Worden
William Wright
Albert Wustrow
George Young - honorary
William Zilkey

No Further Record

2021-03-25T01:00:00.001-04:00

At least 30 men are listed as "no further record" in regimental documents and with the exception of Henry Smith, Thomas Henfry and Virgil Hamilton all were listed in an "Unassigned" company.

Clarkson Abbott
Charles Brown, substitute
Joseph Cantor, substitute
Edward Grayson, substitute
Edward Hall
Charles Hamill
Virgil Hamilton
John Hamilton, substitute
Gilbert Hansen
John Harper
John Harris
Thomas Henfry
Henry Jones
Nathaniel Lenning
John Marsh
Christy Martin
John Miller (2), substitute
William Monroe (2)
Edwin Moucham
Edward New, substitute
John Otto, substitute
Charles Palmer
Samuel Sikes
Henry Smith, substitute
Robert Smith
Alfred Spencer
Calvin Strain
Franz Sumner, substitute
Henry Ward, substitute
Charles White, substitute

Only Henfry and Hamill appear to have ended up in several different units: Henfry served in the 17th US infantry and Hamill served in the 12th Michigan infantry, the 1st US cavalry and in fact stayed in the army after the war serving out west for some years.

Eleven of the 30 were substitutes for men drafted.

Five of the 30 are known to have survived the war.

Enlisted in but never joined the regiment
Another seven men never joined the 3rd Michigan in Virginia: Rendel Fisher, William Sayles, Martin Bates, John Lucas, George Runyan, Edmund Bement and Preston Chaille. Aside from Fisher the other six joined a different Michigan unit: Sayles in the 6th cavalry, Bates in the 3rd cavalry, Lucas in the 10th cavalry, Runyan in the 5th infantry, Bement in the 12th infantry and Chaille in the Light Artillery. All but Fisher are known to have survived the war (what became of Fisher remains unknown).

Forgotten

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Left out of the "Brown Book" Regimental Record of Service

For reasons which are today unclear, 35 men were not listed in the official state-sponsored regimental record of history of service of the Old 3rd Michigan Infantry.

The so-called "Brown Book" series underwritten by the Michigan State Adjutant General's Office under the direction of then Adjutant General George Brown, consisted of one volume for each regiment listing each soldier's name followed by the company letter. "Unassigned" refers to a soldier who was never assigned to a company in the 3rd Michigan, often as the result of being assigned or transferred to another unit but that was not always the case. Unfortunately the record remains unclear on this.

Given their well-known reputation and status int he local West Michigan community, some of the missing names, such as Adolphe Campau, Edwin Pierce, Don Lovell and Daniel Littlefield are indeed surprising.

Daniel Littlefield

BELLOWS, George W. - E
BENSON, John - D
IGGS, Solomon D. - D
BRADFORD, James H. - C
BURBANK, Isaac - F
BURGESS, Maynard E. - Unassigned
CAMPAU, Adolph T. - A
CHAILLE, Preston - Unassigned
CLAY, George S. - E
DIBBLE, Austin P. - K
DRAPER, Charles S. - I
EBERLY, Antony - C
FISHER, Rendel - Unassigned
FOOTE, Allen Ripley - B
GARLOCK, Alfred A. - E
HAMILL, Charles O. - Unassigned
HARKER, John - Unassigned
HARRIS, John - Unassigned
KILBY, Patrick - G
LITTLEFIELD, Daniel W. - A
LOVELL, Don G. - A
LUCAS, John - Unassigned
MONROE, William - Unassigned
MOUCHAM, Edwin - Unassigned
NEAL, Carlton - K
OWEN, William M. or Marvin - D
PARM, James - I
PAUSTLE, Austin - H
PERRY, Silas S. - G
PIERCE, Edwin S. - E
SAYLES, William G. or R. - B
SEELAND, Edward - C
SHELDON, George W. - E
STRONG, John J. - G
TAYLOR, Lyman A. - H

Another 7 were listed only in the 5th Michigan Infantry regimental history:

BARKER, Fred - K
BISSOT, Henry - Unassigned
CHAMBERLAIN, Charles -Unassigned
KENNICUTT, Daniel - K
KORTEN, George - Unassigned
MONTAGUE, Charles - Unassigned
STEELE, Peter - G

Deaths

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unburied dead at the Rose Farm, Gettysburg, July 1863, by Timothy O'Sullivan

Of 1,411 men enrolled in the 3rd Michigan Infantry, we have death dates for 1,247.

From the middle of June of 1861 until the regiment was mustered out of federal service on June 10, 1864, 260 men of the Old 3rd Michigan died:

103 men killed in action
49 from wounds
97 of disease4 in accidents
1 suicide1 murdered
5 unknown cause

This represents a nearly 18% casualty rate (based on a total enrollment of 1,411).

When we take into account men consolidated into the 5th Michigan Infantry, transferred to other regiments or discharged from the 3rd Michigan and who subsequently reentered the military, another 90 men died by the time the war ended on May 6, 1865. Another 11 men did not live to see 1866. From the spring of 1861 until the end of 1865 at least 361 men of the 3rd Michigan infantry perished. As a group, the 3rd Michigan suffered a 25% casualty rate, or one of every four men who enrolled in the 3rd would not survive the end of 1865.

First to die
The first man to die was probably Joseph Proper or Propier, on May 8, 1861, at Cantonment Anderson in Grand Rapids. He was buried about one mile away from the camp in what is now Oak Hill (north) cemetery, at the corner of Eastern and Hall streets in Grand Rapids. (Note: Joseph is not included in the calculations here since he was never mustered into state, let alone federal service.)

Of those men mustered into service with the regiment Chauncey Strickland was the first to die. He perished of lung fever at camp in Grand Rapids on June 18, 1861.

His remains were returned to his family home in Clinton County. The first man to die after the regiment arrived in Virginia was probably William Choate of Company C; he died of disease at Camp Blair, Virginia, near the Chain Bridge and presumably buried near the camp. Homer Morgan of Company B was the first to die by violence, on July 20, 1861, allegedly a suicide.

Last to die
Originally in Company E Moses Monroe transferred to the 5th Michigan Infantry in June of 1864 when the regiments were consolidated. He was wounded on April 6, 1865 at Sayler’s Creek, Virginia, near Appomattox and died of his wounds on April 23.

Eleven other former members of the 3rd Michigan died in April of 1865, and another three in May. For example, Casper Thenner, sick from disease, had just returned to his home in Grand Rapids when he died on May 27, and was interred in what is now an unmarked grave in Oak Hill (south) cemetery. The last to die in 1865 was probably Asa Daniels, who had recently returned to Clinton County, Michigan when he died of unknown causes on December 13. Perhaps the last man to die as a direct consequence of the war was Samuel Thurston of Company C. According to the Grand Rapids Herald of February 9, 1897, “After carrying a rebel bullet in his right lung for over thirty years” Thurston, who was an inmate of the Michigan Soldiers' Home “has given up the fight. The bullet had for over thirty years been ploughing its way downward through the tissues of the lungs, and yesterday afternoon dropped out, death being almost instantaneous. The ball was covered with a linen patch, just as it had left the rifle of some rebel soldier, the patch and bullet being firmly connected. At 2 o'clock yesterday morning Thurston was taken to the hospital, having been in usual good health up to a short time before that. In the afternoon he complained to his nurse that his heart pained him, and while she was gone to secure a hot water application Thurston died.”

Last man standing. . .
The last known survivor of the Old 3rd Michigan Infantry, was probably Edward McArdle of Company E. He died on October 15, 1937, at the Pacific Branch, National Military Home, Los Angeles, California, and was buried in the National Cemetery in Los Angeles.

Burial places

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eight men of the Old Third are buried in
Dayton National Cemetery, Ohio.

Of the 1,411 men enrolled in the 3rd Michigan Infantry, we have burial locations for 1,265.

The men of the Old 3rd Michigan Infantry died literally all over the United States and Canada. They are buried as far west as California and British Columbia, as far south as Key West, Florida and as far north as Montana and Maine.

The great majority are buried in Michigan and Virginia, followed by Pennsylvania, New York and Ohio. In fact, at least 884 men who served in the Old 3rd Michigan Infantry, or nearly 62% of the total enrolled, died and were buried in Virginia or Michigan.

Of the 684 men reportedly buried in Michigan, by far the largest number (208) are found in Kent County, and of that number 43 are buried in the “Michigan Soldiers’ Home” Cemetery in Grand Rapids.

After Kent, the Michigan counties with the next highest number of burials are Ottawa (53), Ionia (50), Barry (37), Muskegon (27) and Newaygo (23).

Unknown  Many of the 195 men buried in Virginia are probably interred in unknown graves scattered throughout the state, like so many thousands of soldiers. For example, it is likely that of the estimated 35 men who died at Fair Oaks, Virginia, on May 31, 1862, all are interred in Seven Pines National Cemetery, although we know exact locations for only a fraction of that number. And the men who died at Groveton on August 29, 1862, their remains were reportedly brought to Arlington National Cemetery and interred in a mass grave very close to the Custis-Lee mansion.

The fact that so many men who died in prison camps remain listed as "unknown" is well-established. However, it is also quite likely that several of the Old 3rd soldiers who returned to Michigan during the war and died at home today rest in unmarked graves. This is particularly true for Samuel Camp in Lamont, Ottawa County, Francis Barlow, Henry Kampe and William Gibson in Grand Rapids, as well as Chauncey Strickland probably in Clinton County.

Birth places - updated 22 September 2022

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Of the 1,285 reported birthplaces of the men of the Old 3rd Michigan Infantry 217 were born in Europe, and 74 in Canada, or some or more than 22% of the reported places of birth. Another 998 in the United States.

From Europe the highest number came from present-day Germany (107), followed by England (39), Scotland (14) and Ireland (35).

In the United States, the overwhelming number of men were born were born in New York State (497), accounting for nearly39% of the total reported. Next was Michigan with 225 or about 18% of reported birthplaces; of that number 31 men were born in Kent County (the point of origin for the regiment). Third highest was Ohio (131).

Taken together, New York, Ohio and Michigan accounted for more than two-thirds (66.4%) of all reported birthplaces.