OCT 14: Michigan in the Civil War

“Get me a Michigan Regiment… quick!” – General Philip Kearny

A group of Michigan soldiers at camp. (Credit: Detroit Historical Society)

Much of Kearny’s confidence in the state’s cavalrymen came in the form of a true Michigan man, George Armstrong Custer, who served under Kearny in the early stages of the Civil War.

The Detroit Historical Society offers a traveling exhibit, “Michigan in the Civil War,” that examines different themes regarding the state’s role in the war.

DHS states, “Although no battles occurred on state soil, Michigan residents played a crucial role in the American Civil War, from the first shots at Fort Sumter, South Carolina until the final surrender at Appomattox Courthouse, Virginia. Not all Michiganders were in favor of going to war, but when the war came, thousands of Michigan men and women willingly stepped forward to help secure the Union. This traveling exhibition from the Detroit Historical Society features 10 free-standing kiosks. Over 60 artifacts and photos give the visitor insight into the ordinary and extraordinary lives that helped shape the history of the United States.”

For more information, go to: https://www.detroithistorical.org/exhibitions/michigan-civil-war