Michigan in the Civil War
Longyear, John Wesley, 1820-1875.
Longyear was elected in 1862 as a Republican to the U.S. House of Representatives from Michigan's 3rd district, composed of Calhoun, Eaton, Ingham, Jackson, and Washtenaw Counties. He was reelected in 1864 and served on the Committee on Common Expenditures and as chairman of the Committee on Public Buildings. His papers include letters from a number of soldiers, most of them relating to requests for commissions or release from service. The letters include:
Henry D. Bath, of Mason, Mich., Invalid Corps, formerly Company B, 7th Michigan Infantry (Feb. 4, 1864).
Howard M. Beebe, 2nd Regiment, Veteran Reserve Corps (Jan. 17 and Jan. 28, 1865).
Byron M. Cutcheon,
from his The Story
of the Twentieth
Michigan Infantry.
Lansing, 1904.
Wilbur F. DuBois, of Lansing, Mich., was Longyear's nephew. He served in Company A, 20th Michigan Infantry, and beginning in July 1864 was second lieutenant in the 108th U.S. Colored Infantry. At least 20 letters (1863-1865), including descriptions of the battles of Spotsylvania, Cold Harbor, and Petersburg.
John A. Elder, from Wells B. Fox,
What I Remember of the Great
Rebellion. Lansing, 1892.
Charles S. Hunt, a prisoner (July 12, 1864).
James J. Jeffries, of Lansing, Mich., Company D, 14th Michigan Infantry (Mar. 15, 1864).
Franklin Johnson, of Jackson, Mich., Company K, 26th Michigan Infantry, discharged for disability Nov. 1864 (Jan. 24, Feb. 14, Dec. 9, and Dec. 15, 1864).
William D. Longyear, of Onondaga, Mich., Company C, 8th Michigan Infantry (July 3, 1864).
Hiram J. Lovejoy, of Locke, Mich., Company A, 20th Michigan Infantry (June 18, 1864).
Henry A. Morrow, from O. B. Curtis,
History of the Twenty-fourth
Michigan of the Iron Brigade.
Detroit, 1891.
Jesse W. Parker, 94th New York Volunteers, Company D (Feb. 10, Feb. 21, July 20, and Nov. 3, 1864).
David H. Patterson, of Grass Lake, Mich., Company K, 26th Michigan Infantry (Apr. 8 and Apr. 11, 1864).
Edwin P. Pitkin, 132nd Company, 1st Battalion Invalid Corps, formerly of Company H, 20th Michigan Infantry (Dec. 19, 1863).
William Richards, Company C, 17th Michigan Infantry, 3rd Division, 9th Army Corps (June 20, 1864).
John Q. A. Sessions, from his Historical
Sketch of the Seventh Regiment Michigan
Volunteer Cavalry. New York, 1893.
Homer L. Thayer, of Lansing, Mich., U.S. Volunteers, 2nd Brigade, 3rd Division, 2nd Corps, formerly Company G, 3rd Michigan Infantry, (Apr. 5 and Dec. 19, 1864).
A. C. Voris?, 8th Infantry? (Apr. 3, 1864).
N. P. Ward, 2nd Brigade, 1st Division, 3rd Corps (Mar. 12, 1864).
Testimonials (1863) to the service of George A. Woodruff (1st U.S. Artillery), Montgomery S. Woodruff (Company F, Merrill's Horse), and William S. Woodruff (Company E, 1st Michigan Infantry), from John Sedgwick, Winfield S. Hancock, George B. McClellan, Henry H. Crapo, Austin Blair, Lewis Merrill, and William A. Throop (copies).
E. L. Wright, Company G, 106th New York Volunteers (Feb. 23, 1865).