Thirteenth Michigan Infantry February 1909 Collections

Where Sherman Lead

Comrade Edson Woodman, the president of the regiment, also appreciates that song. He recently made a trip to the south and wandered o’er many of the old battle fields for old time’s sake. “30,000 of Sherman’s men were lost,” said Comrade Woodman, and a cemetery full of soldiers can be found in almost every southern city through which Sherman led his command. And the worst part of it was that all this slaughter was among boys and young men. Statistics show that the war was fought and won by the young men under 21 years of age. And these young … Read more

Unable To March

“I don’t think I’ll go in the parade today,” said one of the old veterans who came to Kalamazoo to participate in the forty-fourth annual reunion of the Thirteenth Michigan infantry which opened here yesterday. “You see, there were a lot of our boys who were put out of the marching line down at Chickamauga and I’ve been out ever since. I got a clip in the knee with one of those Rebels and since that time I haven’t been able to walk far at a time. “But I would like to line up with the boys just once more. … Read more

To The Thirteenth Infantry

Following is a poem composed and read by Mrs. Kenyon, wife of Captain Kenyon of the old Fighting 13th: When Sumter fell by traitor hands, And war-clouds dark hung low, When anxious hearts prayed for one gleam Of light to cheer their woe: When men with patriotic zeal Sprang to their country’s aid; And mothers, wives and sweethearts, too, Upon the altar laid Their bleeding hearts; (Oh gift most rare) And bade their loved ones go Perchance to die, that the dear old flag Might never be laid low. Then came the “Boys” of Michigan, The boys we loved so … Read more

Third Letter from Edson Woodman

Dear Comrade: There were some things that I have omitted in the other “write-up” that I feel constrained to mention to you personally, you can use it or not as you choose. I had read of “The Fighting Edge,” “The Firing Line,” “The Danger Zone,” “The Double,” etc. How “Bacon and Hard Tack were Poor Food,” how the poor fellows “Were Sometimes Short of Coffee and Sugar,” how “They Rarely Got Vegetables,” how that “At One Time Only Had 10 Days’ Rations” to last 12 days, how on “Shipboard they Had No Ice,” how at one time they had To … Read more

The Volunteers

Take a green country lad who was raised on a farm, The first one you come to will do, Who, far from the city has missed all its harm And is innocent, honest and true, Who has followed in spring time the harrow and plow, In the summer has garnered the grain, Who has earned what he has by the sweat of his brow And is browned by the sun and the rain. Who esteems his own father and mother the best Of all parents who ever have been, And believes that his sweetheart in calico dressed Is the peer … Read more

So the Talk Went On

And so the old boys talked on and on, one after another. Story after story went the rounds, and the boys discussed, argued, and de-bated every inch of their victory over the rebel troops again. It was a fine spectacle and yet a sad sight. for as they talked and talked their enthusiasm, no longer youthful, dimmed and paled, and expired with the glowing embers of the camp fire. And so the grand camp fire of the gallant 13th passed into history. This noble regiment-the 13th Michigan volunteer infantry-holds an enviable record in the war. It was organized at Kalamazoo … Read more

Slightly Mixed Sometimes

How much the events of the war have been twisted, confused, and mixed up in the annual reunions, it is impossible for any but the most exact historian to tell. Some of the more important events of the war are slightly confused in the minds of many. W. R. Sirrine of Paw Paw, related an anecdote which shows to good advantage the discipline of the troops. “When we were at Lookout Mountain,” said Comrade Sirrine, “we established a convalescent camp which we maintained a half mile from the quarters of the regiment. I was detailed to take command of the … Read more

Secretary’s Address

Comrades of the Gallant Old 13th Infantry, Greeting: I have, and am, doing my “level best” to serve you and the Reunion Association. On account of having to pay a good price for the last Souvenir badges there was but little funds left to pay the current expenses. I have been to some little expense in getting out this little book-let and I am going to call on All The Members to chip in a quarter if they feel like it. In case there is more than enough to defray the expenses, it will all be placed to the credit … Read more

Second Letter from Edson Woodman

Last winter my wife and self visited Cuba and having read and heard so much of the campaigning on the Island of the American troops during the Spanish-American war of 1898, we were greatly interested in learning all we could of the exact facts, by gathering such statistics as we could and personally looking over their battle-fields, together with a considerable portion of the adjacent country. And while much could be said of this beautiful Island, space will permit us to speak only of the military operations there, which, though brief, were of the most vital importance to the Cubans, … Read more

Reunion of The Vets

The largest reunion in point of attendance that has been held in recent years by the survivors of the Thirteenth Michigan Infantry, closed here yesterday noon when the forty-fourth annual gathering of veterans who escaped the closing engagement of Bentonville came to an end. The next reunion will be held in Kalamazoo the last Thursday and Friday of October, 1909. This was decided upon at the close of yesterday’s session. Officers Are Elected. Captain H. H. Trask, of Hastings, was elected president, replacing Edson Wodman, of Paw Paw, who has held the position during the past year. Charles Hogle, of … Read more

Peace Declared

Peace Declared Again. dear Comrades, we have gathered From every clime and every shore. To rehearse the old, old story For our warfare is most o’er. Yes, dear Comrades, we’ve been marching In the line our Brothers fell. Through the Battles that were hottest Through the carnage that was hell. Now we are gathered in their memory, 0! the stories we could tell. How they fought, bled and suffered For our Country in which we dwell. Years have past it’s now so different, Time has changes Us; to a Man. Some have passed beyond the river Never to return again. … Read more

Men in Attendance

Men in attendance at the 44th anniversary of the 13th Michigan Infantry which fought in the Civil War. Company A George Allison. Milan. Joseph Hipp, Alamo. Henry P. Gillispie, Grand Junction. Phillip Bush, Gobleville. William Mabus, Elkhart., Ind. Martin Harter, Otsego. Byron Dean, Copemish. Orvill Finch, Plainwell. F. A. Blackman, Delton. John P. Hart, Prairieville. Walter M. Coe, Battle Creek. Charles H. Lawrence, Paw Paw. Horace Pulver, Dundee. Company B L. Y. Cady, Allegan. Luzerne Durand, Allegan. Howell H. Frank, Hastings. A. Symonds, Mancelona. Lewis Carls, Sturgis. W. C. Williams, Portland, Ore. I. N. Hubbard, Middleville. Company C E. D. … Read more

Letter From Comrade Edson Woodman

Very Interesting Letter From Comrade Edson Woodman, Of Paw Paw, Mich. In January, 1908, accompanied by Mrs. Woodman, I revisited some of the places once familiar to the old 13th Michigan Infantry, and made historic by deeds of daring, by desperate battles, weary marches and suffering, and an outpouring of young lives upon the altar of the country. An absence of over forty-three years had somewhat dimmed my recollection and made some things seem so far away that they became, for the time, but a memory. And I will confess to a swelling of my heart and a tightening of … Read more

Ladies in Attendance

The following ladies were in attendance at the 13th Michigan Infantry 44th Reunion. Mrs. H. B. Bond, Muskegon. Mrs. H. P. Gillispie, Grand Junction. Mrs. S. A. Hoffmaster, Hopkins: Mrs. F. Gray, Grand Rapids. Mrs. Viola A. Kenyon, Olympia, Washington. Mrs. M. Harter, Otsego. Mrs. William Tink, Portage. Mrs. H. S. Stratton, Plainwell. Mrs. Alfreda Rockwell, Hickory Corners. Mrs. R. S. Briggs, Belleview. Mrs. W. S. Roy, Harvey, Illinois. Mrs. G. W. Belden, Lawton. Mrs. E. Wilson, Gobleville. Mrs. Edson Woodman, Paw Paw. Mrs. John Starring, Monterey. Mrs. C. T. Hafner, Decatur. Mrs. Emily Bacon, Hopkins. Mrs. Electa E. Perkins, … Read more

If I Should Die Tonight

Battle Monument to the 13th Infantry, Chickamauga Battle Field If I Should Die Tonight If I should die tonight You earnestly ask me this Would I leave without regret Expecting future bliss? Would I fear the journey dark, O’er the shoreless sea of death? How would I meet the Monarch Grim, As I draw my dying breath? I would regret to go, To leave beloved ones fair, Whom I have tried and know Their love and friendship rare. Whose constancy has cheered Me, along life’s thorny way, ‘Twould cause me great regret, To leave them, and go to stay. But … Read more

Hastings Man

The 44th annual reunion of the 13th Michigan Infantry came to a close at 10:30 this Friday morning, at which time the business meeting of the regiment was held. At this meeting Captain H. H. Trask. of Hastings, was elected President for the ensuing year to succeed Edson Woodman, of Paw Paw, while Charles Hogle, of Kalamazoo, was elected Secretary to succeed himself. This reunion is considered by the old soldiers to be the most successful event of the kind ever held. The registration reached the high water mark with an enrollment of 112, and there were a large number … Read more

Came From Pacific Coast

Tonight the veterans will leave for home. The official roster shows that the visiting veterans came to Kalamazoo from all points of the compass and one daughter of the regiment, Mrs. Viola A. Kenyon, who hasn’t missed a reunion in several years, came half way across the continent, from Olympia, Washington, to attend the event. The Thirteenth Michigan was recruited largely from this section of the state and left here in the early part of the struggle of ’61 for the south country. It saw its hardest service at Chickamauga and the engagement of Stone River, about 30 miles out … Read more

A Wonderful Record

The Grand Army of the Republic is passing in review. The total number of survivors is now 620,000, figures being obtained as follows: The last official enrollment made by the pension authorities at Washington, June, 1907, was 655,338. Deducting 2,500 a month, for nine intervening months, there were 22,000 deaths. The old guard is dying off at the rate of ninety a day but the death losses each month are often higher. In 1906, grand army survivors died to the number of 29,208, and in 1907 the loss was 31,201; for the year 1908 the death rate will be unquestionably … Read more

44th Annual Reunion

The Thirteenth Michigan infantry is now holding its forty-fourth annual reunion in the G. A. R. hall, on North Park, and in the Park street church. This reunion has been looked forward to for a full year by the some hundred and fifty veterans of the war who are here to share its pleasures. The comrades are not disappointed. They hail from towns all over Michigan, and from many towns out-side of the state. Many of them have come a long way to be present at this event. One plucky daughter of the regiment, Mrs. Viola A. Kenyon, has come … Read more

13th Michigan Infantry Living Members

The following is a list of all known 13th Michigan Infantry who were still alive during their 44th Reunion. Company A Jessie M. Brown, Paw Paw. M. Harter, Otsego. John P. Hart, Prairieville. A. W. Sprague, R. F. D. No. 4, Cheshire. Phil Bush, Gobleville. Chas. H. Lawrence, Bloomingdale Horace Pubart, Dundee. E. B. Gillispie, Kibbies. Hendy E. Giddings, Lawton. O. A. Rice, Paw Paw. Orvill Finch, Hilliards. F. A. Blackman, Delton. Henry P. Gillespie, Grand Junction. Dewitt C. O’Neil, Kalispel, Mont Joe Hipp, Alamo. Jas. A. Lewis, Hopkins. Geo. Ellison, Mooreville. Wilder D. Easlick, Ridgeway. D. D. Chapman, Bangor. … Read more