Published by The History Press
Charleston, SC
www.historypress.net
Copyright 2018 by Roger L. Rosentreter
All rights reserved
First published 2018
e-book edition 2018
ISBN 978.1.43966.455.1
Library of Congress Control Number: 2017963230
print edition ISBN 978.1.46711.919.1
Notice: The information in this book is true and complete to the best of our knowledge. It is offered without guarantee on the part of the author or The History Press. The author and The History Press disclaim all liability in connection with the use of this book.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form whatsoever without prior written permission from the publisher except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.
CONTENTS
Dedicated to the Grand Rapids Civil War Round Table
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Christmas, tax day, birthdays, a wedding anniversary or a doctors checkup are among our most important annual events. I would add my yearly presentation to the Grand Rapids Civil War Round Table. This standing invitation, which began many years ago, has greatly expanded my knowledge of Michigan and the war and is much appreciated.
My fourth grade teacher gets credit for sparking my initial interest in the Civil War. It was the early 1960s, and I wrote every Civil War centennial organization, pleading with them to send me all their free stuff. (I still have those materials.) College later offered me opportunities to study under Western Michigan University professor Albert Castel (a respected Civil War author) and Michigan State University professor Frederick D. Williams (a member of the Michigan Civil War Centennial Observance Commission). Both scholars furthered my Civil War interest and knowledge. With my college days behind me, Paul Mehney (my assistant editor at Michigan History magazine) introduced the fascinating world of Civil War artifact collecting, as well as reenacting (albeit the latter on only one memorable occasion). Since the early 1990s, teaching the Civil War course for MSUs History Department allowed me to continue studying the conflict while sharing it with hundreds of undergraduates. Finally, my years at Michigan History magazine presented opportunities to author an occasional article about Michiganians in the war. However, Grand Rapids and the Civil War is my first Civil War book-length effort.
As the states second-largest city in 1861, Grand Rapids (and the surrounding towns in Kent County) sent more than four thousand soldiers to war5 percent of the states boys in blue. Significant wartime accomplishments included helping Michigan earn a distinguished cavalier reputation, providing the architects of one of the most unique units and sending to war a dentist who entered as a captain and emerged four years later as a brevet major general. Finally, diary entries and select letters from Valley City women offer a valuable glimpse of the oft-overlooked homefront.
As all authors know, writing is not a solitary endeavor.
Dr. Le Roy Barnett (retired State of Michigan archivist), Dr. Samuel Thomas (MSU History Professor Emeritus) and copyeditor Ann Weller offered much-appreciated contributions and corrections to this endeavor.
The books images are greatly enhanced thanks to Dave Broene (Grand Rapids Civil War collector), Jennifer Andrew (Grand Rapids Public Library), Jessica Harden (State Archives of Michigan) and Bill Harrison (Custom Photo), who performed his usual magic cleaning up several of the images.
At The History Press, commissioning editor Ben Gibson kept me focused on getting the job done, while production editor Abigail Fleming corrected stylistic errors and led me through some of the minefields of recent trends in publishing.
It was a pleasant and rewarding experience working with all of these professionals.
Last, but not least, a special thanks to my coach, Lisa, and our ever-faithful four-legged buddy Louis (among the most devoted editorial assistants in my experience).
ROGER L. ROSENTRETER
Okemos, Michigan
OFF TO WAR
Private opinions and private feelings must give way to duty when war exists. And it is our duty and that of every patriot[ic] citizen to adhere to his loyalty and uphold his countrys flag.Politics may go to the shades, till the fight is over.
Grand Rapids Enquirer, April 20, 1861
The guns had hardly cooled in Charleston Harbor when northerners enthusiastically responded to President Abraham Lincolns call to put down an insurrection in the southern states. In Grand Rapids, the response was prompt, and the rush to arms instantaneous. On April 15, 1861, an overflowing crowd possessing a spirit of intense patriotism jammed into Luce Hall. Built in 1856 at the corner of Monroe and Ottawa Streets, Luce Hall was named for wealthy businessman Ransom C. Luce and accommodated about one thousand people. Mexican War veteran Andrew T. McReynolds, the first of several speakers, wondered if the North would tamely stand by and endure the insults and outrages of Southern Rebels. The assemblage offered a resounding no. The Reverend Stephen S.N. Greeley, pastor of the citys First Congregational Church, underscored what the nation needed was patriotism, not partisanship. Vowing that the Old Northwest Territory had always been in favor of freedom and human rights, Greeley guaranteed the North would respond to this contest with vigor and alacrity. George Gray, a future cavalry commandant, struck an even harsher tone. Time for talking had passed, the Grand Rapids lawyer declared. The South had violated the laws, and he predicted Valley City residents would arm themselves to a man and support the nations honor and its armies. Following the speeches, the citizens charged that the unprovoked attack on Fort Sumter merited the severest punishment which the government can inflict. The citizens also confirmed their veneration for the Constitution and promised to stand with President Lincoln in every attempt to put down the rebellion [and] to punish treason.
Less than a week after this initial meeting, Grand Rapids residents, both men and women, rammed, jammed and crammed Luce Hall once again. The singing of patriotic songs (including one titled Our Union, Right or Wrong) followed several speakers. On Saturday, April 27, residents gathered once again for another patriotic display. Businesses were closed during the afternoon, and the Stars and Stripes flew from many homes and stores. The Reverend Courtney Smith of the First Presbyterian Church opened the festivities with a prayer, followed by the raising of the Stars and Stripes and a thirteen-gun salute. Former mayor Thomas B. Church offered an earnest declaration, while Republican congressman Francis Kellogg won plaudits from a Democratic rival for his usual earnest and effective style. The citys fire companies and militia companies marched up Fulton Street to the city square, while Ada Webb won accolades for singing a song specially written for the gathering that expressed the most unflinching patriotic ideas. The festivities ended with everyone taking an oath of allegiance to the United States.
Despite a generally passionate response to the coming of war, some voices urged restraint in the days following Fort Sumters surrender. The Grand Rapids Enquirer
