Download Blue and Gray Cup - Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War

DUTY / VALOR
ESPRIT
DE CORPS
EVENTUAL
BROTHERHOOD
THE
BLUE and GRAY
CUP
The Civil War and Hockey
SPONSORED BY:
THE MICHIGAN
COMMANDERY
OF THE
MILITARY
ORDER OF THE
LOYAL LEGION
OF THE
UNITED
STATES
At the mention of the words
“Civil War” and “hockey” in the
same sentence, a puzzled look appears on peoples face as they attempt to imagine how there could be
a connection.
In July of 2012, Mr. Phil Sweeney,
head coach of the Davenport University hockey team of Grand Rapids,
Michigan, contacted me to ask that
very question - was there a way to
share the history of the Civil War on
an ice rink versus a classroom.
Phil’s question was whether the
subject of the Civil War could be
combined with an annual three game
hockey series between the Panthers
of Davenport University and the
Flames of Liberty University from
Lynchburg, Virginia. Liberty head
coach Mr. Kirk Handy had expressed
genuine interest as well.
I too had that puzzled look on my
face but then started thinking about
Michigan and Virginia...North and
South...Blue and Gray...fields of valor
and a sporting event...victors and the
defeated...esprit de corps and team-
CONTACT:
BRUCE B.
BUTGEREIT
1691
SUMMERFIELD
STREET SE
GRAND
RAPIDS, MI
49508
616-827-3369
CIVIL-WAR@
COMCAST.NET
work...brotherhood and sportsmanship.
Seeing the opportunity the historical past provided, my immediate
concern was how to be respectful of
the fact that in the Civil War, young
men fought and died and, while intense and spirited, a hockey game is
just that, a hockey game.
1861-1865 and could apply today to
these young hockey players as well.
We just needed to find the historical
bridge from the past to the present
With the knowledge that the
Third Michigan Infantry Regiment and
the Sixth and Seventh Michigan Cavalry Regiments had formed in Grand
Rapids, I conducted some research
for units from Lynchburg and learned
of the Eleventh Virginia Infantry and
the Second Virginia Cavalry Regiments. (More information about
those units is provided later in this
document.)
My name is Bruce B. Butgereit
and I serve as the Commander of the
Michigan Commandery of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the
United States (MOLLUS).
I then determined that many
historical moments provide examples
which can use to effect change or to
build upon. The words of DUTY,
VALOR, ESPRIT de CORPS, and
EVENTUAL BROTHERHOOD had
applied to those boys of Blue & Gray
The Commandery proudly announces the creation of the -
BLUE & GRAY CUP
- to be awarded annually to the
school which is the victor in two of
the three games played between
Davenport and Liberty Universities.
The Civil War Sesquicentennial
Both Michigan and Virginia
are commemorating the 150th
anniversary of the American Civil
War from 2011-2015.
er to promote events, facilitate
communication, and to ensure
that “Michigan Remembers the
Civil War.”
In Michigan, there is a partnership between the Michigan
Civil War Sesquicentennial History Partners and the Civil War
Sesquicentennial Committee of
the Michigan Historical Commission. This alliance works togeth-
The Partners include: the
Michigan Commandery of the
Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States; the
Department of Michigan, Sons of
Union Veterans of the Civil War;
iMichigan Productions; Historic
Fort Wayne, and History Remembered, Inc.
History Partners Website
www.micw150.us/
Seeking Michigan Website
seekingmichigan.org/civil-war
Virginia Sesquicentennial Website
http://www.virginiacivilwar.org/
MILITARY
NEWSLETTER
DATE
Civil War Basics
The idea that a nation could
exist without a ruling king or
dictator had never been tested
before America claimed her
freedom in 1776.
soldiers from North and South
returned home, and became the
leaders of the industrial revolution and were active in their
communities. They formed veterans groups to maintain the
camaraderie they had established
in the War.
They would also shake hands
in an effort to bring unity back to
the nation.
The Spanish-American War
would also serve to reunite
these formers foes and serve to
restore a truly united America.
The Civil War was the first
test of that new government.
Fought for many issues that are
still important in our lives today civil rights, states rights, individual freedoms, taxation, tariffs, and
more - the Civil War was necessary to not only bring about the
end of slavery but to effect
change in so many other areas.
Following the Civil War, the
The Blue & Gray Cup
The soldiers from Grand
Rapids, Michigan and Lynchburg, Virginia met on the
field of battle numerous
times throughout the Civil
War.
Although far removed
from the service and sacrifice made by the soldiers of
the Civil War, the rivalry
between the Davenport and
Liberty Universities is often
intense and spirited too.
The tradition of opponents shaking hands after a
hard-fought hockey game is
similar to the handshakes
that were eventually shared
SPECIAL POINTS OF
INTEREST FROM
CIVIL WAR TRUST:
How many soldiers fought Blue 2,128,948
Gray 1,082,119
How many soldiers died* Blue 360,222
Gray 260,000
*Recent research into medical and
pension records indicate this number
may be low.
What caused the Civil War? While many still debate the ultimate
causes of the Civil War, Pulitzer Prize
-winning author James McPherson
writes that, "The Civil War started
because of uncompromising differences between the free and slave
states over the power of the national
government to prohibit slavery in the
territories that had not yet become
states. When Abraham Lincoln won
election in 1860 as the first Republican president on a platform pledging
to keep slavery out of the territories,
seven slave states in the deep South
seceded and formed a new nation, the
Confederate States of America. The
incoming Lincoln administration and
most of the Northern people refused
to recognize the legitimacy of secession. They feared that it would discredit democracy and create a fatal
precedent that would eventually fragment the no-longer United States into
several small, squabbling countries."
by soldiers both Blue and
Gray.
This trophy is meant to
symbolize that in victory or
defeat, we can demonstrate
proper character through
respect and understanding
FRONT
Text on
Trophy Base
Each year, the victorious team will tie a ribbon to one of
the handles of the trophy - BLUE for Davenport University
and GRAY for Liberty University. In the future, a count of
the number of ribbons attached will help identify which
team was victorious most often.
The
Blue & Gray
Cup
Awarded annually to the
victor of the
Davenport University &
Liberty University
Hockey Series
LEFT
RIGHT
Third Michigan Infantry Regiment
Eleventh Virginia Infantry Regiment
June 10, 1861 - June 20, 1864
Grand Rapids, Michigan
May 15, 1861 - April 9, 1865
Lynchburg, Virginia
Blackburn’s Ford / First Bull Run
Peninsula Campaign / Second Bull Run
Chancellorsville / Gettysburg
Wilderness / Spotsylvania / Cold Harbor
Blackburn’s Ford / First Manassas
Seven Days Battles / Second Manassas
South Mountain / Sharpsburg
Fredericksburg / Gettysburg / Cold Harbor
Petersburg / Appomattox
Sixth Michigan Cavalry Regiment
October 10, 1862 - November 24, 1865
Seventh Michigan Cavalry Regiment
January 16, 1863 - December 15, 1865
Grand Rapids, Michigan
Brandy Station / Gettysburg / Cold Harbor
Winchester / Cedar Creek
Five Forks / Appomattox
BACK
Established in 2012 By:
Michigan Commandery Of The
Military Order Of The Loyal Legion
of the United States
During the Sesquicentennial OF
1861-1865 The Civil War 2011-2015
To Commemorate The Soldiers
Both North and South
DUTY / VALOR
ESPRIT de CORPS
AND EVENTUAL BROTHERHOOD
Second Virginia Cavalry Regiment
May 11, 1861 - April 10, 1865
Lynchburg, Virginia
First Manassas / Jackson’s Valley Campaign
Seven Days Battles / Second Manassas
Sharpsburg / Chancellorsville / Brandy Sta.
Gettysburg / Petersburg / Appomattox
Images of the Third Michigan courtesy of Steve Soper: http://thirdmichigan.blogspot.com/
Third Michigan Infantry
Some of the men who served
in this regiment:
Color Sgt. Daniel Crotty
Abraham Lincoln,
President of the
United States of
America
Unknown group of Sergeants
Pvt. John Strong
“...Now we are
engaged in a
great civil war,
testing whether
that nation, or
1st Lt. Ernst Synold
Pvt. George Wiselogel
1st Lt. Fred Stow
Pvt. Andrew Webster
Sgt. Martin Taylor
Pvt. Isaac Waite
any nation so
conceived and so
dedicated, can
long endure…”
Byron R. Pierce,
Third Michigan,
Brevet
Major General
U.S. Volunteers
Gettysburg, July 2nd 1863:
This regiment, deployed as skirmishers, held the line extending
from the Peach Orchard east to
the woods, was the right of de
Trobriand's Brigade, and connected with the left of Graham's.
Went into action with 19 officers,
267 men. - Total 286
Casualties - 7 men killed, 3 officers
and 28 men wounded, 7 men missing - Total 45.
Photo courtesy of:
http://www.gettysburg.stonesentinels.com/MI/3MI.php
Images of the Eleventh Virginia courtesy of Library of Congress
Eleventh Virginia Infantry
Some of the men who served in this regiment:
Pvt. Peter Arthur
Jefferson Davis,
President of the
Confederate
States of America
William Henry Taylor and Stephen Stewart
Pvt. John Anthony
“I worked night
and day
for twelve years to
prevent the war,
Pvt. J. Ray
Unknown
Unknown
Gettysburg:
Longstreet's Corps Pickett's Division
Kemper's Brigade
1st, 3rd, 7th, 11th, & 24th Virginia Inf.
July 2. Arrived about sunset and bivouacked on the western border of Spangler's Woods.
July 3. In the forenoon formed line in the
field east of the woods with right flank
near Spangler's Barn. At the close of the
cannonade advanced and took part in
Longstreet's assault upon the Union position in the vicinity of the Angle. Exposed to
a severe fire of artillery and vigorously
assailed beyond the Emmitsburg Road by
infantry on the right flank with ranks
thinned and much disorganized by its losses especially of officers it pressed on
against the Union line at the stone wall
where after a fierce encounter the struggle ended. Gen. J. L. Kemper fell wounded in front of the stone wall.
July 4. Spent the day in reorganization and during the night began the march to
Hagerstown.
Present 1575. Killed 56, Wounded 356, Missing 317 - Total 731
Photo courtesy of:
http://www.gettysburg.stonesentinels.com/HQ-CSA/ANV-1-Pickett-Kemper.php
Unknown
but I could not.
The North was mad
and blind, would
not let us govern
ourselves, and so
the war came.”
Samuel
Garland, Jr.,
Eleventh Virginia,
Brig. General
Killed at the
Battle of
South Mountain,
Sept. 14, 1862
Images of the Sixth & Seventh Cavalry courtesy of the Library of Congress and public domain
Sixth & Seventh Michigan Cavalry
Some of the men who served in this regiment:
Capt. James Kidd
George A. Custer,
Brevet
Major General of
U.S. Volunteers
Unknown group
Pvt. Orrin Arnold
“I would be
willing, yes glad,
to see a battle
every day during
my life.”
Lt. Edwin Havens
Thomas Custer,
(brother to
George)
Sixth Michigan,
Lt. Colonel,
Two-time
recipient of the
Medal of Honor
Pvt. Jacob Sciler
Maj. C.W. Deane
Gettysburg: At the same time as Pickett's Charge, Brig. Gen. George A.
Custer's Michigan Cavalry Brigade helped turn back an attempt by Confederate Cavalry commander J.E.B. Stuart to outflank the Union Army on
what is now the East Cavalry Battlefield. The Wolverine Brigade - the 1st,
5th, 6th and 7th Michigan Cavalry Regiments - would go on under the Boy
General to become one of the hardest-hitting, elite units of the Union Army
- and to have the highest casualty rates of any Union cavalry in the war.
Photos courtesy of:
http://www.gettysburg.stonesentinels.com/MI/Wolverine.php
Images of the Second Cavalry courtesy of the Library of Congress and public domain
Second Virginia Cavalry
Some of the men who served in this regiment:
Pvt. George Gilmer
Pvt. James Woodson
James Ewell Brown
“Jeb” Stuart,
Maj. General,
C.S.A Cavalry
Maj. General Fitzhugh Lee
General Stuart,
speaking of
Fitzhugh Lee after
the Battle of
Pvt. James Watts
Pvt. Jesse Rusher
Pvt. John Cundiff
Pvt. Thomas Robertson
Gettysburg was
quoted as saying,
“one of the finest
cavalry leaders on
the continent, and
Gettysburg:
Army of Northern Virginia
Stuart's Cavalry Division
FItzhugh Lee's Brigade
1st Maryland Battalion and
1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th Virginia Cavalry
July 3. The Battalion being on duty
with Ewell's Corps the Brigade brought
only five regiments to this field where it
arrived soon after midday and took position on the left of Hampton's Brigade on
the edge of the neighboring woods. It
participated actively in the conflict which ensued.
Losses: Killed 5, Wounded 16, Missing 29 Total 50
Photo courtesy of:
http://www.gettysburg.stonesentinels.com/HQ-CSA/ANV-Cav-FitzLee.php
richly [entitled] to
promotion.”
Thomas Munford,
Colonel,
Second Virginia
Cavalry,
Brig. General,
C.S.A. Cavalry
MEN OF CHARACTER - THE PRICE PAID
When the Third Michigan
Infantry left Grand Rapids
June 13, 1861, they numbered 1,042 strong. Their
first engagement was Blackburn’s
Ford, Virginia on July 12, 1861,
followed three days later at First
Bull Run where they covered the
Union retreat to Washington,
D.C. At Gettysburg on July
2, 1863, they went into action with only 286 men they would lose 45 in killed,
wounded and missing.
The regiment suffered terrible losses in its last six weeks of
existence (1864). On July 20,
1864, Major Daniel Root of the
(consolidated) Fifth Michigan,
writing from a camp near Petersburg, informed Michigan Adjutant
General John Robertson, that
the Third Michigan
“accompanied the army in all its
marches and was on duty up to
the last of its term of service.
Not a man flinched from his duty
though several were killed but a
The Eleventh Virginia Infantry would have 1,544 men
serve in its ranks during the
war. Their first engagement
would also be at Blackburn’s
Ford in July of 1861. On July
3rd, the regiment would be
decimated during the assault
that became known as
Pickett's Charge. Forming
up in the late morning, the
regiment stepped off in the
middle of the afternoon and
within the hour, its men
soaked the lush fields with
their precious blood. The
unit participated in the Battle of
Cold Harbor and the siege of
Petersburg. When the regiment surrendered at Appomattox on April 9, 1865;
there was only 1 officer and
28 men left.
few days before their term expired. The regiment has been
engaged in twelve different actions, since the commencement
of the present campaign, and was
under fire constantly for sixty
(60) days. The endurance of the
officers and men was severely
tried by the incessant night
marches and digging in the
trenches and the excitement of
being constantly under fire. In
the first engagement May 6th it
numbered two hundred and
ninety (290) [and] of this number
two hundred and twenty (220)
have been killed, wounded and
taken, not over twenty are missing. The Third effectively mustered out with only several hundred men fit for duty and those
men had been transferred to the
Fifth Michigan Infantry Regiment..
Some Numbers
Of the leading 48 battles
studied, it was concluded that
out of every 1,000 Federals in
battle, 112 were wounded. Of
every 1,000 Confederates, 150
were hit. Mortality was greater
among Confederate wounded
because of inferior medical service and lack of supplies.
Gettysburg
Union
Confederate
3,155
dead
3,903
14,529 wounded 18,735
5,365
missing 5,425
23,049 total
28,063
Total: 51,112 for three days
2,108
9,549
753
12,410
Antietam
dead
2,700
wounded 9,024
missing 2,000
total
13,724
The Wilderness, May 5-7:
17,666
Spotsylvania, May 10 and 12:
10,920
Cold Harbor, June 1-3: 12,000
Petersburg, June 15-30: 16,569
Total: 26,134 for one day
Some of the bloodiest battles of
the War came as Grant drove
on Richmond in the spring of
1864. Confederate casualties are
missing for this campaign, but
were enormous. The Federal
toll:
Horses were not immune from
the slaughter of battle either,
with over 5,000 horses killed at
Gettysburg. One artillery battalion, the 9th Massachusetts, lost
80 of its 88 animals on the Trostle Farm.
Images courtesy of the Library of Congress and public domain
MEN OF CHARACTER - THE PRICE PAID
The Third Michigan at Fair Oaks and Groveton
As students of Civil War history, we can only read the stories or letters that describe daily life and battles. For those of us who have
never served or faced possible death on a battlefield, we will never know the feelings of apprehension, fear, or courage that drove these
men, just ordinary men, to charge into the jaws of death. Wallace W. Dickinson, Co. K, Third Michigan wrote to the Mecosta County Pioneer, June 9, 1862 describing the battle of Fair Oaks, Virginia:
“…The “Gallant Third,” which had for many months been anxious to meet the enemies of their country, led the advance; and having
reached the wood in which lay concealed their mortal foes, they sent up a shout that announced to the enemy that they were again face-toface with “the brigade of sharp-shooters” that drove them from the woods and slashings at Williamsburgh (sic). The Third found themselves
opposed by four regiments, but by a well-directed fire, and several splendid bayonet charges, scattered them like sheep. The Michigan 2nd,
5th, and New York 37th fought with their usual coolness and bravery.
Our loss is 30 killed, 124 wounded and 15 missing…Colonel Champlin was wounded in the hip during the early part of the engagement…Our Colors were brought down four times. The Color Sergeant and one of the guard was killed, and three of the guard was
wounded…”
Colonel Champlin was not yet fully recovered from the hip wound he had received just three months before when he was again back
with the regiment. George French, Co. K, Third Michigan wrote to his brother describing the events surrounding the Seven Days Campaign
of 1862, the battle of Groveton, Virginia: “The Third went into the fight with 283 men, and out of that number there was 139
men killed and badly wounded…We were all in the fight and what saved any of us God only knows, for it was a horrid place. There
was rebels on the left and front of us, and on our right was a battery throwing an enfilading fire of grape, canister and shell, while a fancy
Pennsylvania regiment was firing on us from behind. Poor old Third! She caught —then. Our United States flag was shot to bits until there
was not a piece as big as your hand left; and finally the standard was shattered and left on the field covered with the blood of the men who
had so proudly borne it through all the battles of the Peninsula. Our State colors fared but little better, but we brought it back with us.”
W.W. Dickinson also described the battle of Groveton in another letter dated September 26, 1862 (the numbers reported in battle and
killed, wounded or missing often varied from soldier to soldier):
“…The bravery of the “Gallant Third,” that has been tested at the battles of Fair Oaks and Malvern Hill, was to be tried again, if possible, by
a more terrible ordeal. That your readers may form some idea of the murderous fire from which it was received, I have only to state that
out of 260 men that went into the fight, only 120 came off the field unharmed!
Within the space of fifteen minutes 140 of our number was either killed or wounded!…Col. Champlin, not yet recovered from
wounds received at Fair Oaks, was at the head of his regiment and led them into the fight. But in the early part of the engagement his partly
healed wounds received fresh injury and he left the field, leaving the command to our gallant Major Byron R. Pierce…”
Currier and Ives and Kurz and Allison were two companies that created very colorful lithographic prints of battle scenes that were nothing
like the actual action on the field. The above Currier and Ives image of the Battle of Fair Oaks includes Professor Thaddeus Lowe’s balloon
the “Intrepid,” the first aerial reconnaissance of a battle in history.
Image courtesy of the Library of Congress
Defending the Flag
Most regiments had a stand
of colors - usually a national flag,
U.S. or C.S.A. and a regimental
state flag, often sewn by the
women of the community from
which the regiment mustered
into the service. Presentation
ceremonies included exhortations to never lower the flag in
defeat and never let it be disgraced or captured by the enemy.
The flag was “guarded” by a
unit called the Color Guard
which consisted of Sergeants that
carried the flag(s) and corporals
who were ready at anytime to
defend the flag against capture or
to carry the flag if a color bearer
was killed or wounded. The flags
also served to guide a regiment
under fire on a battlefield thence
the term, “Rally around the flag
boys.” The flags, on a nearly tenfoot pole and six feet six inches
on the fly and six feet on the
pike could be seen above the
smoke on the battlefield.
Both Blue and Gray recognized the importance of these
flags and members of the Color
Guard were some of the first
targets in a battle - whether
from an effort to capture the flag
or to kill the Color Guard - in an
effort to create confusion on the
field.
At Gettysburg, the TwentyFourth Michigan Regiment lost
eleven men who carried their
flags - eight were killed and three
wounded - in about an hours
time.
The Color Sergeant of the
Third Michigan was Daniel Crotty. In his book, “Four Years
Campaigning in the Army of the
Potomac” he describes a scene
involving his flag at the Battle of
the Wilderness:
“An incident happened during
this days' fight that I never shall
forget. As we are going forward
on the charge, a wounded
soldier, as he is borne to the
rear on a stretcher, caught
sight of my tattered banner, and
begun the song, "Rally
Round the Flag, Boys." Every
man took up the words and
went in with renewed vigor,
driving the rebel lines inside their
works. They reform and drive us
back...Some of our lines commence to fall back, and a huge
rebel asks me to surrender my
colors, but those I never intend
to let go out of my hands till I
have no life in me to carry
them.”
The Eleventh Virginia Infantry
has a different story to tell regarding their flag as researched
by Mr. Kevin Shroyer of the
Eleventh Virginia Infantry reenactors.
The following is a summary of
the events surrounding the capture of the Eleventh Virginia
Infantry’s battle flag at the Battle
of Five Forks, Virginia on April 1,
1865.
The battle flag was captured
by 1st Lieutenant William Wirt
Winegar, 19th New York Cavalry (1st New York Dragoons).
The 11th Virginia officer in
charge of the color guard at the
Battle of
Five
Forks,
Virginia
was 1st
Lieutenant
Martin
Van Buren
Hickok of Company D “Fincastle
Rifles”. Winegar was awarded
the Medal of Honor for his heroic actions that day. Winegar’s
Medal of Honor citation reads,
“The President of the United
States of America, in the name of
Congress, takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor to
First Lieutenant (Cavalry) William Wirt Winegar, United
States Army, for extraordinary
heroism on 1 April 1865, while
serving with Company B, 19th
New York Cavalry (1st New
York Dragoons), in action at Five
Forks, Virginia. While advancing
in front of his company and
alone, First Lieutenant Winegar
found himself surrounded by the
enemy. He accosted a nearby
enemy flag-bearer demanding
surrender of the group. His
effective firing of one shot so
demoralized the unit that it surrendered with flag.” As a result
of his actions at Five Forks, Virginia, Winegar was brevetted to
the rank of Captain.
in both legs in the knee area, and
was struck in the side by a piece
of shell as he planted the 11th
Virginia colors on the stone wall
on Cemetery Ridge during
Pickett’s Charge on July 3, 1863.
Note: At the time of this publication, there is an effort underway in Lynchburg to raise funds
for the preservation of the Eleventh Virginia Infantry flag.
The 11th Virginia Infantry Flag
As for Hickok, like Winegar’s
Medal of Honor citation notes,
he is believed to have been captured along with the other members of the 11th Virginia colorguard, although no confirmation
of this has been found. Hickok
reportedly was wounded five
times during the war. Allegedly,
at Gettysburg, Hickok was shot
Images courtesy of Kevin Shroyer, Asst. Adjutant, 11th Virginia Infantry Re-enactors
Second, Third and Fifth Michigan Infantry Regiments
Annie Etheridge - Daughter of the Regiment
“The world never produced
but very few such women, for
she is along with us through
storm and sunshine, in the heat
of the battle caring for the
wounded, and in the camp looking after the poor sick soldier,
and to have a smile and a cheering word for every one who
comes in her way. Every soldier
is alike to her. She is with us to
administer to all our little wants,
which are not few. To praise
her would not be enough, but
suffice to say, that as long as one
of the old Third shall live, she
will always be held in the greatest esteem, and remembered
with kindly feelings for her goodness and virtues.”
These words were written by
Color Sergeant Daniel Crotty, of
the Third Michigan Volunteer
Infantry, in his book ‘Four Years
Campaigning in the Army of the
Potomac. “ They describe his
respect and appreciation for Civil
War nurse Annie Etheridge of
Michigan who performed extraordinary deeds on the frontlines of battle amidst all the same
dangers and peril the soldiers
themselves faced.
Early Years Annie Etheridge started in
this life as Lorinda Anna Blair,
born May 3, 1839, in Michigan.
In 1863, an article in the Detroit
Advertiser and Tribune describes
her “of Dutch descent, about five
feet three inches tall, with a fair
complexion, brown hair and a
vigorous constitution, and decidedly good looking.
Annie was in Detroit with
her second husband, James
Etheridge, when Abraham Lin-
coln called for troops in 1861.
He joined the Second Michigan
Volunteer Infantry, which was
forming under Colonel Israel B.
Richardson in that city. Annie,
accompanied the regiment to
Washington on June 5, 1861 as a
volunteer nurse. Her duties also
included cooking and laundering.
Annie served for the entire four
years as a volunteer nurse playing a vital role in the histories of
the Second, Third and Fifth Michigan Infantry Regiments.
A week later, the Third Michigan Infantry left Grand Rapids
on June 13, 1861, and joined the
Second Michigan in Washington.
Both regiments were placed in
the Army of the Potomac so
they often fought side by side.
On July 18, Annie and the Michigan troops saw their first action
at Blackburn’s Ford, Virginia,
followed by the first major battle
of the war at Bull Run on the
21st. The brave men of the
Second and Third Michigan covered the Union retreat while
Annie worked tirelessly to help
the wounded.
In August, 1862, Annie was at
the Second Battle of Bull Run, on
August 29. While she was administering aid to a wounded
soldier from the Seventh New
York Infantry, an artillery shell
burst and “tore the soldier to
pieces.” Later that day, General
Philip Kearny saw her binding up
wounds of a soldier while under
fire. “That is right”; he said. “I
am glad to see you here helping
these poor fellows, and when
this is over, I will have you made
a regimental sergeant.”
Although given the Sergeant
chevrons, Annie never received
that appointment because General Kearny was killed two days
later at Chantilly. And in spite of
the fact that she was given neither official rank nor pay; the
men still called her their little
Sergeant in Petticoats.
Despite social disapproval of
a woman serving in such a position, Annie’s character and virtue
were above reproach. A February 16, 1863 article in the Detroit Advertiser and Tribune
states “Her demeanor is perfectly modest, quiet and retiring, and
her habits and conduct are correct and exemplary; yet on the
battlefield she seems to be alone
possessed and animated with the
desire to be effective in saving
the lives of wounded soldiers.
No vulgar word was ever known
to be uttered by her, and she is
held in the highest veneration
and esteem by the soldiers as an
angel of mercy. She is indeed
the idol of the brigade, every
man of which would submit to
almost any sacrifice in her behalf.
She takes the deepest interest in
the result of this contest, eagerly
reading all the papers to which
she can obtain access, and keeping thoroughly posted as to the
progress of the war. She says
she feels as if she stood alone in
the world, as it were, and desires
to do good. She knows that she
is the instrument of saving many
lives and alleviating much suffering in her present position, and
feels it her duty to continue in so
doing.”
The article continued, “These
facts can be substantiated by
testimony of the highest charac-
ter, and they deserve to go forth
to the world to show that if
England can boast of the achievements of a Florence Nightingale,
we of America can present a still
higher example of female heroism and exalted acts of humanity
in the person of Anna Etheridge.”
Annie was brave and dedicated in her work. The Detroit
Advertiser and Tribune also
reported that “At the commencement of a battle, she fills
her saddle bags with lint and
bandages, mounts her horse, and
gallops to the front, passes under
fire, and, regardless of shot and
shell, engages in the work of
stanching and binding up the
wounds of our soldiers…on
many occasions her dress has
been pierced by bullets and fragments of shell, yet she has never
flinched and never been wounded.”
“No history on the war
would be complete that did not
contain some mention of the
noble services performed by
Mrs. Anna Etheridge of Detroit… “ (Detroit Free Press,
1881)
Annie would serve for four
years in a role that we would call
a combat medic. She served in
nearly every battle of the Army
of the Potomac including Fair
Oaks, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Wilderness, Spotsylvania,
Cold Harbor and others.
After the war, Annie lived in
Washington, DC where she died
in 1913 and is buried in Arlington
Cemetery.
Images courtesy of U.S. Army Heritage Center and State of Michigan Historical Archives
MILITARY ORDER OF THE LOYAL LEGION
OF THE UNITED STATES
Early History
On April 15, 1865, as word of President Abraham Lincoln’s death spread throughout the country, three Union Army officer friends met
in Philadelphia to discuss the tragic news. Rumors from Washington of a conspiracy to destroy the Federal government by assassination of
its leaders prompted the three officers to call other officers and ex-officers together to form an organization that could help thwart future
threats to the national government.
A mass meeting of Philadelphia veterans was held on April 20, 1865 to pledge renewed allegiance to the Union and to plan for participation in the funeral arrangements for the President. The Philadelphia officers, who served as an honor guard for President Lincoln’s funeral
cortege, met again after the funeral was over to establish a permanent organization of officers and ex-officers. The name they chose, the
Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States, first appeared in a notice calling for a meeting on May 31, 1865 at Independence
Hall.
By 1899, the MOLLUS had more than 8,000 Civil War officer members on its rosters and was sometimes referred to simply as the Loyal
Legion. At its zenith, practically every prominent officer could be counted among the ranks of the MOLLUS. In addition to Ulysses S. Grant
and Rutherford B. Hayes, Original Companions Chester A. Arthur, Benjamin Harrison, and William McKinley served as President of the
United States.
Objects and Activities
Although originally organized to promote fraternal ties between Companions, advance the interests of veterans, provide relief to widows
and children of deceased comrades, and promote allegiance to the United States government, the focus of the MOLLUS today also includes
perpetuating the memory of those who fought to preserve the unity of the Republic and honoring the memory of wartime President, Abraham Lincoln and promoting his ideals.
We do this by sponsoring and participating in ceremonies honoring President Lincoln and memorializing events of the Civil War and the
men and women who were active in them; by furthering the study of military and naval science with ROTC awards; by promoting research
and writing about Lincoln and Civil War subjects through the presentation of literary awards; by erecting, restoring, and maintaining plaques
and monuments commemorating events and personalities of the Civil War; by publishing a historical journal, The Loyal Legion Historical
Journal; and by engaging in other patriotic and educational activities.
MICHIGAN COMMANDERY
Established 4 February, 1885 in Detroit, Michigan. For many years, the Commandery met at the Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Memorial (GAR Building). Original companions included: Bvt. Maj. General (U.S.V. ) Russell A. Alger; Bvt. Brig. General (U.S.V.) James H. Kidd; Bvt. Maj. General
(U.S.V) Byron E. Pierce; 2nd Lt., 4th Mich. Cavalry James Vernor.
Enemy Combatants 1861-1865
Opponents 2012