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regiments, Governor Austin Blair sent seven. Upon the arrival of Michigan's 1st volunteers President Abraham Lincoln was prompted to remark, "Thank God for Michigan.".[1]
More than 90,000 Michigan men, nearly a quarter of the state's male population in 1860, served in the war.[2] In addition to the approximately 600 men who joined the Union Navy, Michigan raised 34 regiments of infantry volunteers, one regiment of sharpshooters, eleven cavalry regiments, one engineer regiment, and numerous small independent units.
Among the more celebrated units was the Michigan Wolverine" Cavalry effectively battled J.E.B. Stuart at Gettysburg on the East Cavalry Field.
Several Union generals hailed from Michigan, including: Custer, Elon J. Farnsworth, Byron Root Pierce, Orlando Metcalfe Poe, Israel Bush Richardson, and Orlando B. Willcox.
- General O. B. Willcox, Presentation of Civil War Flags to the State, July 4, 1866[3]
14,753 Michigan soldiers died in service, roughly 1 of every 6 who served. 4,448 of these deaths were combat deaths while the majority, over 9000, were from disease, a constant fear in crowded army camps with poor food, sanitation and exposure issues and pre-modern medicine.[4] This put Michigan's loss at sixth highest among the Union states (the non-state U.S. Colored Troops losses also exceeded Michigan's).
Michigan actively participated in the American Civil War sending thousands of volunteers.[5] A study of the cities of Grand Rapids and Niles shows an overwhelming surge of nationalism in 1861, whipping up enthusiasm for the war in all segments of society, and all political, religious, ethnic, and occupational groups. However by 1862 the casualties were mounting and the war was increasingly focused on freeing the slaves in addition to preserving the Union. Copperhead Democrats called the war a failure, and it became more and more a partisan Republican effort.[6] Michigan voters in remained evenly split between the parties in the presidential election of 1864.[7]
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