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Primary Sources for the 1st Michigan Infantry


Diary of a Union Soldier, https://www.civilwardigital.com/html/civil_war_diaries.html

1861 Oct 4th Annapolis, Maryland

Started at 8 1/2 A. M. Passed Harker's Brigade at 9 A.M. didn't see anyone I knew. At 9 1/2 we passed a train of horses and mules 40 or 50 cars. Stopped for wood and water at Bellsville. 3 companies of Michigan 1st stationed along on the RailRoad as guards. Saw what we supposed were slaves gathering tobaco…

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Michigan Argus, December 6, 1861

CORRECTION. - A letter in the State News, of Tuesday, under date of First Michigan Infantry, Camp Michigan, Annapolis Junction, Nov. 24.“ notices the arrival of ninety-one men, officers and private, of Capt. G. P. SANFORD'S Company, and says that they are to be distributed among the other companies which “creates much dissatisfaction, causing threats of returning home, etc.” Capt. S. informs us that a letter of a much later date from his First Lieutenant, assures him that the matter has been satisfactorily arranged, that Co. C, which had no Captain, has been distributed, and that his Company has been designated Company C. Capt. S. left for Washington yesterday.

Capt. SANFORD informs us that Lieut. PEAVY of his Company died suddenly on Friday last. Lieut. P. has been two years in the University, and has many friends in our City.

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Detroit Free Press, January 10, 1862

Praiseworthy.—The First Michigan Regtment, at the Annapolis Junction, Md., on the last pay day, sent home $9,000 to their families; 2,000 being contributed by one company.

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“Camp Michigan Annapolis Junction, Maryland

January 23rd 1862

Dear Mother,

I got your letter tonight and was happy to hear that you was well. I have written one letter to you this week to let you know that I had sent ten dollars to the Express office for you at Owosso. I have no news to write of interest. I sent you a paper that has some news in. If you get the Detroit papers every week I want you to send them to me. I will send the Baltimore papers to you sometimes.

I guess I shall be back to home by spring. I have been to work at carpenter work for the last three weeks. I have just got the best gold pen that ever you saw. I will send you some postal stamps so you will not be troubled for them. I know it is some bother to get them there. I wish I was to home tonight to answer all your question. I will tell you what the two words mean. Taps is the last beat of the drum at night. When all lights must be put out and every must go to bed and make no noise. Reveille calls us up in the morning when we must be present at roll call in our regiment. Taps and all other calls are sounded with the bugle. I got a letter from both of the girls last week. I can’t write much this time for I don’t know what to write. If I were we would find enough to write about, talk about I mean. Give my love to Duck and Pa. Tell them that I should like to see them very much. I wrote to Tom Gulford but he has not wrote to me. I don’t know why. If you see him tell him to write to me.

But I guess I have wrote nonsense enough for you this time. If we get into any fight at all it will be this month, for they are making a forward movement all along the line. General McClellan has ordered us to be in readiness to mass up to support the rear of the army. I don’t think we shall go into the field of battle though. I suppose the rebels are catching if from all sides now. But I must stop.

William McMurphy”

Letter of William McMurphy, for sale online - https://www.excelsiorbrigade.com/products/details/LTR-540


Detroit Free Press, February 7, 1862

ACCIDENT IN THE Michigan First.—The Washington Chronicle says: “George Wright, a member of the First Michigan Regiment was accidentally shot by a comrade at Laurel, on the Washington Branch Railroad, on Monday last. The two soldiers were practicing the bayonet exercise by way of amusement, when one of their muskets was accidentally discharged, and the ball passed through the body of Wright, killing him instantly. He belonged to Rock Island, Illinois.”

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Binghamton (NY) Broome Republican, February 26, 1862

Correspondence of the Binghamton Daily Republican.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 15 '62.

VISIT TO ANNAPOLIS JUNCTION AND COL. JOHN C. ROBINSON.

This morning I went to Annapolis Junction, which you know became quite la mode in the earlier career of Rebeldom as a military point. It is about half way between Washington and Baltimore. My object was to see Col. Robinson, who commands what is called the Railroad Brigade, having control over the railroad between Washington and Baltimore. About half […] of the First Michigan Infantry, over which Col. Robinson is Colonel, is stationed at the Junction the rest of the Brigade being scattered along the road. Col. R. is the Military Superintendent of the road. He has been acting for some time as Brigadier General, tho' without the rank and emoluments of the office to which he is justly entitled, and which I trust he will soon receive. The proclamation of Mr. Stanton, Secretary of War, to the effect that hereafter promotions and appointments to such offices shall be made for gallant deeds in the field, is in the right spirit, and will infuse a new stimulus in the ranks of our noble army, and serve to actions of high empri[…] its heroic sons. It is time, I think, that mere political civilians should cease to be appointed over the heads of officers of merit in the regular army. The policy is a bad one, and leads to discouragement and lukewarmness. Col. Robinson has been in active service for many years, and has devoted his manhood to the cause of his country. Such men should be considered in this hour of our country's peril. The way to ensure gallant deeds on the field is to be just, nay, generous to the officers of the army. I found the Colonel comfortably situated - the camps there being snug and roomy wooden tenements, erected on high dry ground, but a few rods from the railroad depot. The Colonel was suffering from a severe cold, and was in the hands of his physician, who intardicted his going out; so I was deprived of his company in looking around. - The cold and snow of the morning, had prevented a regular parade of the troops, but I saw the drilling of the Guards and enjoyed the fine music of the Band. The calling notes of the bugle on the field have a thrilling effect on the ear, and must serve to stimulate a lagging courage in the dread road of battle. Augustus Robinson, son of your respected loyal citizen, E. D. Robinson, and nephew of the Colonel, is a member of the Band. He is a picture of rosy health and manly energy.

The Colonel showed me a new and magnificent stand of colors made in New York, and about to be presented to the First Michigan Infantry. Who could not fight under such inspiring […]sory of the Stars and Stripes? But I had little, comparitively, to see, and the Colonel being hors de combat, with a cold, I hastened back to Washington in the 11 o'clock train. I much regretted to lose an opportunity of seeing the dress parade of the Regiment - it is said not be be surpassed for beauty and excellence in the field. When next I hear of or see the Colonel, I hope it will be as Brigadier General Robinson.

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1st_michigan_infantry_sources.1560510609.txt.gz · Last modified: 2019/06/14 11:10 by admin