Michigan in the Civil War

Starr, Eli Lake, 1841-1862.

Thirteen letters (1861-1862) written to members of his family while he was serving as sergeant in Company C, 4th Michigan Infantry. He describes the Springfield rifles; a day in camp at Camp Williams, Adrian; the treatment of the regiment by the people along the way to Washington, especially at Baltimore; his duties as sergeant of the guard; a long march as a member of the Pioneers, with picturesque details of night camp scenes; and the flight of the enemy at Fairfax Court House. Starr, from Centreville, Mich., was killed in action at Malvern Hill, Va.

The collection also contains one letter (May 10, 1861) written by Daniel H. Knipple from Cantonment Blair to Eli Starr urging Starr to join the regiment. Knipple was in Company G, 2nd Michigan Infantry, and died of an accidental gunshot wound in Aug. 1861.

This collection is available on microfilm for interlibrary loan.