the most forcible mementos of the gallant regiments that so heroically upheld and so persistently stood by them and the country, even in the darkest days of the war. "They were as little specs in the long lines of the great American armies, yet they were often watched in the advancing columns with intense anxiety, but with strong confidence and hope by the greatest generals of the land. "To bear them aloft was a signal for rebel bullets, often bringing swift and certain death, but they were never trailed in the dust nor lacked a gallant bearer. On them many a noble son of Michigan has looked his last and bade farewell to life." On the 19th of May preceding an order was issued from the State Military Department, by direction of the Governor, determining the 4th of July for the presentation of these colors, and extending a cordial invitation to the officers and soldiers of all the regiments to be present. Following is an extract from that order, which finds a fitting place here: "The appropriateness of setting apart the national birthday for that purpose will be fully recognized and appreciated. Its hallowed memories will remind the patriots present of the gallant struggle of their patriotic forefathers in establishing the Government in the defence and maintenance of which they have been so successfully instrumental. "The State will be highly honored in receiving on that great national day the cherished evidences of the manhood, courage, and patriotism of its soldiers, and of their eminently gallant and meritorious services to the Republic in its great and successful battle for national existence, and it will proudly accept and faithfully retain and preserve them as sacred mementos thereof and of the loyalty and patriotism of its people. "The congregated emblems of National and State prowess, and of regimental bravery and fraternal associations there presented, will revive in the mind of every soldier recollections of great and gallant deeds, of days and nights fraught with anxiety, doubt, danger, and death, of sacrifices to patriotism, of hairbreadth escapes, of attacks, of repulses, of sad defeats, of glorious victories, of long and weary marches, of hunger, thirst, and cold, and of sorrow and sadness for fallen comrades; but all will look upon them with reverential pride, and recognize them as having been their guiding star in many brilliant but sanguinary conflicts, having followed them in the victorious charge of the assaulting column, having from them received silent directions when all orders were lost in the din and confusion of contending armies, and having under their tattered but glorious stars and stripes battled long and bravely for the right." On the 19th of June, in accordance with instructions from the War Department, Major John H. Knight, chief mustering officer, addressed the following letter to the Adjutant-General of the State, at which time the flags were officially delivered at the military headquarters of the State: OFFICE CHIEF MUSTERING OFFICER, DETROIT, MICH., June 19, 1866. BRIG. GEN. JOHN ROBERTSON, Adjutant General State of Michigan, Detroit, Michigan: GENERAL:-All the regiments sent from the State of Michigan to put down the rebellion of the Southern States having now been mustered out of service, paid off, and disbanded, the time has arrived when I should, in compliance with orders from the War Department, deliver to the Governor of the State the flags turned over to me by the officers of the disbanded regiments. I have the honor, this day, to deliver to you (you being at the head of the State Military Bureau and its chief officer) all of them in my possession. Please find a list of the flags inclosed. In turning them over to you I am sensibly reminded that they are the flags under which so many brave and successful deeds have been performed-so many valuable lives given up in the cause of the Union and republican liberty, and such beneficial results obtained. In the history of the world we are unable to find where mankind was engaged in a better or more glorious cause, or where the results have been more important to the cause of humanity and good government; and if the sons of Michigan have been called upon to give up their lives, and part with the dearest earthly objects, those whose immediate loss has been great thereby have a sweet consolation in the fact that their blood is the seed from which will grow up fruits dear to succeeding millions of freemen, and who will not fail to render that devout homage to their memory whenever they shall gather around the Altars of Liberty to offer up thanks to Him who is great over all, for the glorious heritage which those gallant defenders have so permanently secured. They will, therefore, live in their deeds, whilst a single pillar of the Republic stands. Those who under these flags survived the terrible battles which have been fought during the late rebellion, in the cause of our great and powerful Government, will see and enjoy the rich fruits of their heroic deeds, and with full hearts will join their fellow-countrymen in rendering tribute to the memory of their comrades who fell in the bloody strife. And when all who have participated in the war for the Union have passed away, succeeding generations will catch up the songs of praise now being sung over the glories achieved, and will chant them with renewed and grateful strains through all time to come. It was very proper that orders were made to deposit these flags with the State authorities. Torn and tattered into mere strips though they be, yet each piece will be most sacredly preserved by each succeeding State administration, and upon all great national occasions when they are brought forth, they will call together not only those who, under their folds battled for the preservation of the Republic, but lovers of liberty from all parts of the State; and they will continually remind the people of the priceless heritage which has been secured to themselves and to coming generations. Only those who carried them through the frightful scenes of suffering and death can fully realize the terrible ordeals through which our great nation has been preserved, yet all will be reminded how great is the boon of constitutional freedom; and the warning they will exhibit to treason will be sufficient to stay its hand and compel obedience when inclination would direct acts of rebellion. By depositing these flags with the State authorities in each State, the authorities of the Government have placed therein a monument in memory of its glories which will be most cherished, and whenever beheld by the people will far surpass, in the feelings of veneration which they will call forth, all the pillars of marble or granite which human genius could build. It will be remembered that they have passed through the scenes of strife, and that they have been carried by the hands of the brave men themselves, who fought and died for our national liberties. It will be seen that on them is inscribed the names of the battles passed through, where the fate of liberty was staked and decided; and with what feelings of reverence will these strips of bunting be looked upon by the father, mother, brother, or sister, whose son or brother marched to victory or glorious death under their folds. Whilst all patriots on viewing these battle-flags will remember and mourn the loss of life and regret the vast expenditures which have been made to preserve our liberties, yet all will rejoice over the glorious results which have been achieved. Permit me to congratulate, through you, the people of Michigan, for the brilliant and conspicuous part performed by Michigan regiments in the late war for the Union. I believe there is no blot upon their record, but all is bright, conspicuous and glorious, whilst an extraordinary number of personal distinctions shine upon the pages. Expressing my sensibility of the fortunate honor in being the instrument of the Government for delivering to the State these sacred colors, I remain your most obedient servant, JOHN H. KNIGHT, The invitation extended by the Governor to the soldiers of Michigan to be present, was responded to in keeping with the great love which they have always borne for the old flag, under all circumstances, and they rallied in great numbers under the war-worn folds of their old banner as in times gone by. On the day set apart for the purpose, the colors referred to were formally presented by the respective regiments, through his Excellency, to the State. "I saw the soldiers come to-day No conqueror rode before their way, But Captains, like themselves, on foot, All grandly eloquent, though mute, "Those banners soiled with dust and smoke, That through the serried phalanx broke, What terrors could they tell! What tales of sudden pain and death In every cannon's boom When e'en the bravest held his breath, And waited for his doom." The Hon. M. I. Mills, Mayor of Detroit, presided on the occasion, and, in a most happy speech, welcomed the troops present. The ceremonies were commenced with prayer, by the Rt. Rev. Bishop McCoskry. The flags were presented on behalf of the troops by General O. B. Wilcox, in a happily conceived and stirring speech, and were received in an eloquent and appropriate address by Governor Crapo, and the ceremonies were closed by the Rev. Dr. Duffield, with an impressive benediction. It is proper and just to mention that the action of the State authorities was cheerfully aided and most liberally sustained by the citizens of Detroit, and after the presentation, the returned troops partook of a substantial repast; prepared for them by the people, and were waited upon at the tables by over three hundred ladies and a large number of gentlemen. The affair was graced and honored by the largest and most magnificent celebration ever had in Michigan, and was participated in by the most 1 numerous assemblage of people, from all parts of the State, ever congregated within its borders. One hundred and twenty-three of these flags were presented, belonging to the various regiments, and are now deposited in the archives of Michigan, there to be sacredly kept and carefully preserved. Around them cluster hallowed memories of companions in arms, of regimental bravery, and State pride, of national grandeur and prowess, of individual heroism, of fallen comrades and family bereavements, and of a nation saved. THE HARPER HOSPITAL. In 1863 representations were made to the Government by Colonel Charles S. Tripler, surgeon United States Army, then United States Medical Director in the State, that the erection of a general hospital at Detroit, for the reception and care of sick and wounded Michigan soldiers, was an absolute necessity. Accompanying these representations was an urgent request for immediate action in the matter. Colonel Tripler was ably aided in this effort by Colonel George W. Lee, chief quartermaster, and Dr. D. O. Farrand, assistant surgeon, United States army. The object had also the influence and recommendation of the Governor and military authorities of the State. After much laborious correspondence and provoking delays, the authority was finally obtained, under an order from the Secretary of War, and the work on Harper Hospital was commenced early in 1864, under the superintendence of Colonel Lee. Instead of constructing the building with three stories or more, as had usually been the custom, the hospital was made up of eleven one-story buildings, with the offices and dispensary in the centre, and the whole range connected with each other by a covered aisle in the rear, rendering ingress and egress easy and comfortable. It cost about sixty thousand dollars, aside from the grounds, the use of which was given gratis by the trustees of the Harper Hospital Association. It had a capacity of about eight hundred patients. Particular attention having been given in its construction to ventilation and drainage, with superior water arrangements, coupled with exceedingly capable management, it was known as one of the most complete, comfortable, and bestregulated general hospitals in the West. When completed, Dr. Farrand was placed in charge, assisted by Dr. W. A. Chandler, Dr. William C. Catlin, Dr. E. W. Jenks, and Dr. G. W. Fitzpatrick. Early in the spring of 1865 Dr. Farrand was relieved by Dr. Byron Stanton, a surgeon of volunteers, who remained in charge only a few weeks, when he resigned to accept a position in an insane asylum in Ohio. Dr. Farrand was again placed in charge, and continued on duty until in June or July, when he was, at his own request, transferred to Fort Wayne, near Detroit, to take charge of the hospital at that post. Dr. Wynkoop, a surgeon of volunteers, from Philadelphia, succeeded Dr. Farrand, and remained in charge until the close of the hospital, in December, 1865. It was, soon after, given by the Government to the trustees of the Harper Hospital, a corporate body, having in view the establishment of a hospital by that name, for charitable purposes, on condition that sufficient accommodation should be at all times furnished as a "Soldiers' Home," for the invalid and destitute Michigan soldiers and sailors, and it is now being in part used for that purpose. N* The erection of this hospital, at that time affording so much comfort and aid to the sick and wounded who needed it so much, should be accepted by the people of Michigan as a most favorable and generous recognition of the great claims of the State and her soldiers upon the Government, and the efforts made to secure it by the gentlemen named, should entitle them to the grateful remembrance and thanks of every soldier, and to the kindest consideration of their friends. THE SOLDIERS AND SAILORS' MONUMENT. The people of Michigan, gratefully appreciating the services and sacrifices of her sons who gave up the dearest boon to man, life, and of those who risked it in the same glorious cause, early in the war determined to perpetuate their memories and great deeds by erecting a monument chisseled from the white marble or the beautiful granite of America, magnificently and appropriately ornamented with figures of bronze or marble. This measure was inaugurated at a public meeting held by citizens of Detroit on July 20th, 1861, when it was resolved to erect a monument to the noble dead who had fallen in the war. Judge B. F. H. Witherell, Col. E. Backus, U. S. A., Messrs. Charles C. Trowbridge, J. W. Tillman, and Col. H. A. Morrow were appointed a committee to carry out the resolution. This committee met on the 6th day of August following, and organized by the appointment of Judge Witherell chairman, J. W. Tillman treasurer, and T. W. Palmer secretary. After several meetings and consultations with friends of the measure it was deemed best to postpone immediate action and await the termination of the war and the crushing out of the rebellion. This desirable result having been reached, a meeting was held in Detroit on July 20th, 1865, when it was resolved to refer the whole matter to a committee of seven, with instructions to prepare and report at a subsequent meeting a full and complete plan of organization, and also to present the names of suitable persons to fill the positions or offices they might recommend. Messrs. J. W. Tillman, C. C. Trowbridge, John Owen, J. F. Conover, T. W. Palmer, B. F. H. Witherell, and John Robertson were appointed such committee, with power to call the next meeting. A meeting was held on the 11th of August following, when the committee in their report recommended that $50,000 be raised by subscription, and submitted a plan of organization and labor, naming as a board of directors for the management of the business of the association Hon. B. F. H. Witherell, Detroit. His Excellency Gov. H. H. Crapo, Flint. Hon. E. J. Penniman, Plymouth. James Burtenshaw, Esq., Ontonagon. Hon. Giles Hubbard, Mount Clemens. Dr. Potter, East Saginaw. Hon. Peter White, Marquette. Hon. T. D. Gilbert, Grand Rapids. Hon. Hezekiah G. Wells, Kalamazoo. Hon. R. C. Paine, Niles. Hon. W. S. Maynard, Ann Arbor. Talcott E. Wing, Esq., Monroe. Hon. R. R. Beecher, Adrian. |