Michigan in the American Civil War part 3

Don’t Yield an Inch

By the end of the first day of Gettysburg (July 1), both commanders had realized that a battle was going to be fought on this ground. The Union forces were deployed in a “horseshoe” shaped formation on high ground around Gettysburg. The Confederates were determined to break through the “horseshoe.” They quickly realized that one point overlooked the Union positions: a large rocky hill known as Little Round Top. The Union generals knew that they had to send soldiers to occupy Little Round Top. A courier was sent with an order to redistribute troops to this critical spot. Colonel Strong Vincent met the courier and asked where he was going. He replied that he was going to ask General Barnes to send a brigade to occupy Little Round Top. “I will take the responsibility of taking my brigade there,” replied Colonel Vincent.

Colonel Vincent distributed the four regiments of his brigade on Little Round Top just before a heavy Confederate assault crashed against his position. Vincent’s men held their ground against one and then two heavy attacks. But another regiment of Confederates arrived and a third assault was launched—this time against the 16th Michigan, which did not contain nearly as many men as it was supposed to. Colonel Vincent knew that these men had to hold their position. He climbed on top of a boulder and shouted “Don’t yield an inch or all is lost!” Shortly after, the colonel was hit by a bullet. But the 16th held on long enough for the 140th New York to come to their assistance and secure Little Round Top.

Conclusion

The Civil War was an important era in the history of our nation. Heroes were revealed both from the Blue and the Gray. Every state sent troops to one army or the other (a few sent troops to both sides!) I chose Michigan for a number of reasons. I was born in Michigan and have lived there my entire life. But more importantly, I have at least one ancestor that served in a Michigan unit during the Civil War. His name was Joseph Stadler, and his unit was the 16th Michigan—the same 16th Michigan that held Little Round Top.

His family had emigrated from Germany in 1852. Joseph Stadler enlisted on January 27, 1864, to serve either 3 years or the duration of the war, whichever was shorter. His service included the dreadful Battle of the Wilderness, the brutal siege of Petersburg, and, ultimately, the surrender of Lee’s army. Following his honorable discharge, he served against the Indians in the 2nd United States Cavalry. His discharge papers from the 2nd U.S. Cavalry contain a short description of his character while on service: “Good conduct.”

Is not a commendation like that what we as Christians should be striving for? Yet this does not usually come by one great act. Instead it consists of many small acts—in short, doing the duty set out for you. Sometimes this daily service is more difficult than anything else. But we are looking for the commendation: “Well done, thou good and faithful servant.” (Matthew 25:23)

Michigan in the American Civil War--part 2




A painting of the 24th Michigan at Gettysburg by the renowned artist Don Troiani



The Iron Brigade

 

At the battle of Gettysburg, the Union Army of the Potomac was made up of soldiers from the East Coast, except for one brigade of foot soldiers from the West.  Known as the “Iron Brigade” for their determination, they comprised the 2^nd Wisconsin, 6^th Wisconsin, 7^th Wisconsin, 19^th Indiana, and 24^th Michigan.  On the first day of the battle of Gettysburg, the Iron Brigade bore the brunt of the Confederate attack.  The 26^th North Carolina, an excellent unit (commanded by the youngest colonel in Lee’s army, and recently issued with new uniforms) attacked the 24^th Michigan.  The Carolinians pushed the 24^th Michigan back to McPherson’s Woods.  There the Michigan men made their stand.  The two regiments engaged in a furious firefight, shooting it out at short range.

 

The 24^th Michigan finally brought the equally gallant 26^th North Carolina to a standstill.  During the night of July 1-2, the Iron Brigade was withdrawn from its old position to rejoin the main Federal army.  A newspaper of the time stated: “It was to the Iron Brigade more than any other that the nation owes its salvation at Gettysburg, and we say not more than history will verify, that of all the heroic regiments which fought there, the Twenty-fourth Michigan stands preeminent for its devotion and valor.  Against the overwhelming hordes of the enemy, it stood for hours, a wall of granite, which beat back, again and again, the resolute but baffled foe.”

Michigan in the American Civil War--Part 1

“Thank God for Michigan!” said President Abraham Lincoln, shortly after the American Civil War broke out. Michigan had been asked to provide four regiments of troops to defeat the newly-formed Confederacy, but they sent seven. Throughout the war, Michigan continued to contribute to the Union cause. I can only highlight just a few of the deeds of heroism performed by Michigan soldiers.

Custer and the Michigan Wolverines

Born in Ohio, George Armstrong Custer and his family moved to Michigan when he was young. He joined West Point, but did not distinguish himself in its classes. When he graduated, the Civil War had recently broken out and he was appointed to the 2nd United States Cavalry. Now a lieutenant, Custer was the first person to capture a Confederate flag. Just before the battle of Gettysburg, Custer was promoted from captain to brigadier-general of the Michigan Cavalry Brigade. He was a flashy cavalry officer, sporting a red necktie. Eventually, his cavalry brigade all sported red neckties in his honor.

On the third day of the Battle of Gettysburg, Confederate General J.E.B Stuart determined to circle around the Union infantry, hitting them hard from behind as George Pickett’s infantry attacked them from the front. Stuart’s troopers rode to a farmhouse owned by the Rummel family, where they encountered dismounted Union cavalrymen from the 5th Michigan Volunteer Cavalry. Stuart tried to brush them away and keep riding, but the Michigan troopers had excellent Spencer repeating carbines, which could fire 20 rounds a minute. Stuart’s men charged them and scattered the troopers, only to receive a counter-charge from George Custer. “Come on, you Wolverines!” Custer shouted as he led his men of the 7th Michigan Volunteer Cavalry into the charge. His cavalry halted the forward movement of the Confederates for a little while.

More Confederate horsemen were hurried forward to break Custer’s resistance and they succeeded. Confederate General Wade Hampton was sent forward with his cavalry to finally break the Union cavalry. Only one Union reserve was left to counter him: the 1st Michigan Volunteer Cavalry. Their colonel, Charles Town, ordered the advance. “Draw saber! Remember men be steady, be calm, be firm! Think of Michigan! Forward March!” The Union troopers attacked the center of the Confederate cavalry.

Seeing this, the New Jersey cavalry hit Hampton’s men from the left. The retreat of Hampton’s cavalry meant that J.E.B. Stuart’s original plan was impossible to carry out now. The Confederate troopers retreated and the battered Union cavalry did not chase them. The Michigan cavalry had played a decisive role in stopping—for the first time—the brilliant Southern cavalry leader.

Battle of Bannockburn--Part 6 of 6

Betrayal

If Scotland was independent in 1314, why is it under English rule today?  In 1606, Queen Elizabeth I of England died childless and James VI of Scotland became king because he was the nearest heir.  James was crowned James I of England while remaining James VI of Scotland.  England and Scotland were united, but only because they shared a king.  They were united like this until 1707.  In 1707, the English Parliament proposed an “Act of Union” to the Scottish Parliament, but bribed them to accept it.  After the Act of Union was passed, the English fired most of the Scottish Parliament.  A 1791 poem by Robert Burns contrasts the honor of Bruce and his men with the treachery of the Scots in Parliament:

“What force, or guile, could not subdue,

Through many warlike ages,

Is wrought now by a coward few,

For hireling traitors’ wages

The English steel we could disdain,

Secure in valor’s station;

But English gold has been our bane—

Such a parcel of rogues in a nation!”

Bannockburn won Scotland’s independence, and Scotland would become one of the most Reformed countries in the world.  Scots like John Witherspoon and Lord Stirling influenced the founding of this country.  But without God’s Providence at Bannockburn, none of this would have happened.

1. Numbers taken from In Freedom’s Cause by G. A. Henty, pgs. 175-6

2. This tactic is depicted in at least two scenes in the movie Pendragon: Sword of His Father: once at 11:15 and again at 1:27:11.

3. Quotations taken from en.wikisource.org/wiki/Declaration_Of_Arbroath

The Battle of Bannockburn--Part 5 of 6

Declaration of Arbroath

After Bannockburn, the war continued.  Edward II convinced the Pope to excommunicate Robert de Bruce as a traitor to England.  In reply, the Scots sent the Declaration of Arbroath to the Pope.  It stated that Scotland was an independent country until Edward I treacherously attacked them.  They suffered under his ravages, but Robert de Bruce defeated the English and restored their freedom.  However, Robert de Bruce must not join the English, or his throne will be forfeited.

The Scottish nobles then bound themselves with this line: “…for, as long as but a hundred of us remain alive, never will we on any conditions be brought under English rule.  It is in truth not for glory, nor riches, nor honours that we are fighting, but for freedom—for that alone, which no honest man gives up but with life itself.” 3. The Pope revoked the excommunication and the Declaration of Arbroath influenced our Declaration of Independence:

“…we commit the upholding of our cause to the Supreme King and Judge, entrusting our worries to Him and completely confident that He will fill us with courage and reduce our enemies to nothing.” (Declaration of Arbroath)

“And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor.” (Declaration of Independence)

Battle of Bannockburn--Part 4 of 6

The Second Day: June 24, 1314

The armies changed position for the second day’s battle.  The Scots put their backs to the road and anchored their lines on the two rivers.  This left a narrow D-shape for the English knights to cross the river and fight the Scots.

On the morning of June 24, 1314, the Scots were encamped.  A priest went around to the various Scottish divisions, praying with them.  Edward II saw them kneeling.

“See yonder folk kneel to ask for mercy!” Edward II said to one of his knights.

“Ay, sire, they kneel and ask for mercy, but not of you; it is for their sins they ask mercy of God.  I know these men, and have met and fought them, and I tell you that assuredly they will win or die, and not even when death looks them in the face will they turn to fly.”

The English trumpets sounded the charge and the knights crossed the river.  Their charge slammed into Edward Bruce’s schiltron.  The Scots stood firm against the English as they charged again and again.  The English knights could not break through the spears.  Douglas and Randolph moved their schiltrons to attack the English cavalry in reserve.  This relieved some of the pressure on Edward Bruce.

Edward II had English and Welsh longbowmen with him, and they opened fire on Robert de Bruce’s schiltron, which was taking little part in the battle.   They did not shoot their arrows outward, but upward, so that they rained down on the Scottish infantry.  2  Because the soldiers were bunched up in squares, the arrows found their mark easily.  If the Scots kept in a square, the archers had an easy mark.  If they moved into a line, the cavalry would ride right through them.  It looked as though the battle would be a Scottish disaster, like Falkirk.

But Edward had made one mistake, and Robert de Bruce exploited it.  There were no infantrymen protecting the archers.  The Scottish cavalry charged the archers and cut many down, scattering the rest.  The archers fled in disorder and their wild rout caused chaos in the English army.  The English army was disorganized, and the schiltrons now moved to attack.  “On! on! They fail!” the Scots shouted.

The final blow, however, came from the “Small Folk,” the camp followers.  Camp followers were male and female civilians who followed an army camp to provide cooking, laundering, horse driving, etc.  They and the camp had been set on a nearby hill, out of the way of the battle.  On seeing the English army disordered, the “Small Folk” attacked.

The English saw them and fled, thinking that a fresh division had joined the battle.  The Scots pursued, but in front of the English was the river.  Many knights drowned, while others who remained on land were killed by their pursuers.

Edward himself fled to Stirling Castle, but the governor turned him away, saying that the castle would now be captured by the Scots (which it was).  After a roundabout journey, Edward landed in England, never to return to Scotland again.

Battle of Bannockburn -- Part 3 of 6

The First Day: June 23, 1314

The governor of Stirling suggested that the English bypass the Scots, rather than attacking head-on.  This sounded like a good idea, so a division of English knights under Sir Robert Clifford crossed the river higher up.  Randolph and de Bruce were watching the battlefield when they noticed the division moving to Stirling.

Randolph’s division was at the tail of the column, so if the English passed it, they could enter Stirling Castle without any more hindrance.  After a rebuke from Bruce, Randolph flew to join his schiltron, which had barred the knights from coming any closer to the castle.  It was a hard fight.  The English knights tried to break through the spears, but could not.  The Scots stood their ground, and the English were beginning to break.  Sir James Douglas appeared with reinforcements, and the English fled, crossing the Bannock Burn back to their own lines.

Edward’s army moved close to the river, halting instead of crossing.  But two divisions mistakenly crossed the river.  At the same time, Robert de Bruce was riding in front of his men to encourage them.  An English knight, Sir Henry de Bohun, saw the Scottish king.  Putting spurs to his horse, de Bohun galloped to kill the Scottish king with his lance.  Bruce’s horse was not a war-horse, and he only held a battle-axe.  Robert de Bruce stood his ground, even though he could have escaped behind Scottish lines.  De Bohun thundered toward him.  He came closer and closer as the two armies breathlessly watched the single combat.   Just as de Bohun was almost ready to spear the King, Bruce dodged and brought his axe down on the English knight’s helmet.  De Bohun fell from his saddle, dead, and Robert de Bruce rode back to safety as his army cheered.