Training
To view the caption and citation, place your cursor on the larger image.
A raw recruit's first stop was of a rendezvous camp or camp of instruction. A number of these camps were established throughout the state of Michigan and gave the recruit's their first introduction to military life. Compared to today's modern military, the training of the average soldier in the Civil War was often very rudimentary. However, to someone who had never experienced the life of a soldier, the regimented structure of military life could be shocking indeed.
Orders #1 – Eighth Michigan Infantry
Wm. M. Fenton Coll., Papers
concerning 8th MI infantry, Box 1,
McCreery Family papers
The officers were little better instructed than the private soldier, often learning the evolutions only days before the recruits. Especially early in the war, regimental officers were typically elected by popular vote. The American citizen soldier was an in dependant minded lot and often resented having authority imposed upon him. This method of choosing officers often led to a variety of problems that were typically only solved by battlefield attrition or resignations.
A monumental and often remembered experience in the life of the recruit was the presentation of the regimental colors. These flags were typically made or purchased by the local community where the regiment was organized and presented by the ladies of the town during impressive and patriotic ceremonies.
Presentation of colors. The First Michigan Infantry
received its colors at Campus Martius, Detroit, on
May 11, 1861. The presentation of a regiment’s
national flag, often paid for by local citizens, was a
memorable occasion in a regiment’s history.
Photos (32) slides, Box 2, Michigan and the Civil War
The experience of the 10th Michigan Infantry was probably fairly typical:
"The ladies and citizens of Flint, who had all along shown their kindness and generosity by acts which will not soon be forgotten, gave us another token of interest in the cause in which we were engaged, by presenting Col. Lum, April 11th, 1862, with a splendid " stars and stripes," on which was inscribed the motto of our State and the number and name of our regiment. It would be interesting to relate in minute the details of the presentation, but we can only say that the appearance of the soldiers in their new clothes on parade and drill that day was better than ever before, and every soldier and citizen appeared intent upon doing what they could to make all agreeable. "When the regiment was formed in hollow square, and the ladies, with a few gentlemen, admitted and the eager crowd surrounding the square gathered closer and yet closer, we could plainly read in their faces that they felt an interest for us, and again we were assured that we should be remembered. The presentation was made with appropriate speeches and ceremonies, heartily responded to by one and all in rounds of applause. Several songs- were sung (national and patriotic) with good effect, and here it may not be improper to insert a song composed and sung by Mrs. Capt. Deming, assisted by one Mr. Bullock.
THE FAREWELL SONG.
We are going far from home,
As our fathers did before,
To fight upon the battlefield,
Amid the cannon's roar.
To drive the traitors from our land,
With the sword of liberty,
And guard with brave and dauntless love
The banner of the free.
Chorus
So good bye! Good bye till then,
When we hope to meet again,
We never can forget you,
Oh no! we never can.
Shall we return again
When the war is over?
With happy hearts we hope to meet
With one and all once more;
But if we fall in battle,
For this, our native land,
We ask our parting blessing,
On this patriotic band.
Chorus
So farewell! farewell till then, etc.
Kind friends, we now must speak the word;
To one and all, farewell;
May heaven's blessing on you rest,
Say, will you sometimes think of us
When 'round your loved hearthstone,
And breathe a prayer to heaven,
For the soldiers far from home!
Chorus
Home! Home! Sweet home!
There 's no place like home,
There's no place like home.
After the ceremonies were ended, and the flag was really ours, so bright and beautiful (although stained and tarnished now, we felt glad, and a firm resolve to protect its sacred folds from insult, settled in our breasts, and is still rooted strongly there. After the speeches and songs, Col. Lum descended from the stand with the flag, and, placing it in the hands of the color Seargeant—William Lawrence, Co. H.—he charged the color company with its safe-keeping, giving it into their care in a kind and feeling manner.
Before the reducing of the square, Mrs. Morrison, Mrs.
Fenton, and Mrs. Thayer, assisted by other ladies, presented
each soldier with a testament, and their memories are blessed
by us to this day for that Christian deed; and this but added
another proof that they were the " soldier's friends."
After the dismissal of the battalion, and as the day wore away, greetings, true and heartfelt, were exchanged, which bound us closer to those we were preparing to protect. This was another day long to be remembered by the 10th. 2
1: William Davis, The Civil War : a historical account of America’s war of secession (New York NY: SMITHMARK, 1996).
2: Fletcher W. Hewes, History of the formation, movements, camps, scouts and battles of the Tenth Regiment Michigan Volunteer Infantry: containing a short historical sketch of every officer connected with the regiment (Detroit: John Slater’s Book and Job Print, 1864), http://catalog.hathitrust.org/Record/004923981.