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SOLDIERS AND SAILORS' MONUMENT.

The Michigan regiments were early in the field, and in rapid succession flung their flags to the breeze, until forty-nine regiments, with several independent companies, had gone to the front to battle for the Union, and included up to the close of the war over ninety thousand men, fourteen thousand and over of whom are recorded as martyrs for their country.

While flags and banners are made the medium of expressing to troops gratitude for their patriotism, and the expectation of their gallant services, as well as their acknowledgment, costly monuments and columns are reared to commemorate their sacrifices.

From the earliest periods, in all civilized nations and communities, monuments have been acknowledged evidences of an enlightened, grateful, and generous people, and are so considered at the present day. Some are reared as mementoes of great national events, or as recognitions of achievements or acknowledged worth of individuals, others to honor the memories of patriots who have made sacrifice for their country; while the most numerous are raised to mark the last resting place of the departed, and to inscribe thereon their brief and latest history.

Some monuments, commenced with a national purpose, are in ruins ere completed. Others, undertaken by populous states or cities, are left unfinished, both speaking loudly of neglect, if not of disgrace, and at least are evidences of a cooled ardor in the cause, or of a wanton forgetfulness of the worth or valor which they were intended to perpetuate; while the humble stone with the tender and loving inscription of the widowed mother to her departed child is completed and stands intact, the consummation of a fixed and hallowed purpose. With a grateful appreciation of the services and sacrifices of her sons who gave up their lives, the dearest boon to man, and of those who risked them in the same glorious cause, Michigan, early in the war, determined to perpetuate their memories and heroic deeds, by the erection of a monument chiseled from the white marble or the beautiful granite of America, elaborately and appropriately finished with bronze or marble figures.

At a public meeting held by the citizens of Detroit, on June 20th, 1861, the measure was inaugurated, and it was resolved to erect a monument to the

noble dead who might fall in defense of the Union. A committee to carry the resolution into effect was appointed, composed of Judge B. F. H. Witherell, Colonel E. Backus, U. S. A., Messrs. Charles C. Trowbridge, James W. Tillman, and Colonel Henry A. Morrow.

Following the battle of Bull Run, and the anticipated return of the 1st Regiment, which had lost heavily in that engagement, public sentiment was becoming much strengthened in favor of the measure, while the public press was being made use of in its behalf. In the Free Press of July 30th is found the following:

To the Editor of the Detroit Free Press:

Now that we are to extend a welcome to the 1st Michigan, or all that is left of them, is it not meet to take some steps for duly honoring the "unreturning brave?"

The men who fell at Manassas were not mercenary soldiers. They did not enlist for the eleven dollars a month and board. They were animated by the loftiest patriotism, and if Thermopyla had its monument with the inscription,

"Go, stranger, and at Lacedæmon tell

That here obedient to her laws we fell."

How much more shall our slain be honored. The Spartans fought to prevent invasion and consequent subjugation. Our men fought not for any such purpose, but for the triumph of constitutional liberty. Their homes and all their selfish interests were safe. They fought the battle for humanity, for the world, for posterity. It strikes me that the least we can do is to perpetuate the memory of their sacrifice. I would therefore suggest the erection of a monument in one of the public places of our city, by contributions from all the citizens of the State who appreciate valor.

The base is to be quadrangular or octagonal, as a committee may decide, with spaces for tablets. On one of these let there be cut an inscription of the following nature; "To the memory of the volunteers of the 1st Regiment of Michigan Infantry, who fell at the battle of Manassas, Sunday, July 21st, 1861, in defense of the Constitution and the laws."

Then let there follow the names of all who were killed or afterwards died of their wounds. What a consolation this would be to relatives and friends. With what a patriotic pride might a father, whose son had fallen, look upon the tablet and the tapering shaft. Let it be known and said of all such, he is the father of one of the heroes of Manassas. The other spaces might be left for the heroes of future battles.

With what renewed ardor our men would fight, content to suffer, knowing that, instead of being forgotten in a nameless grave on some battle field, a grateful people were erecting monuments to commemorate their heroic deeds.

Our Michigan soldiers have covered themselves with glory. Let it not be said that we, who shall reap the harvests of which their blood is the sowing, are careless of their memories.

T. W. PALMER.

The committee referred to met on the 6th day of August following, when Judge Witherell was appointed chairman; J. W. Tillman, treasurer; and T. W. Palmer, secretary.

Frequent meetings were afterwards held, together with consultations with friends of the measure, and finally it was deemed best to await the termination of the war and the end of the rebellion.

This desirable result having been accomplished, a meeting was held in Detroit, July 20th, 1865, at which a committee of seven were selected and appointed, composed of Messrs. C. C. Trowbridge, John Owen, J. F. Conover, T. W. Palmer, B. F. H. Witherell, John Robertson, and J. W. Tillman, to which the whole matter was referred, with instructions to prepare and report at a subsequent meeting a plan for organization, and also to present the names of suitable persons to fill the positions or offices which they might recommend, and with power to call the next meeting.

On the 11th of August, 1865, a meeting was held, at which the committee submitted their report, recommending the raising by subscription throughout the State of $50,000, and at the same time presented 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.
Hon. C. C. Trowbridge, Detroit.
J. W. Tillman, Esq., Detroit.
Gen. H. A. Morrow, Detroit.
T. W. Palmer, Esq., Detroit.
Hon. H. P. Baldwin, Detroit.
Hon. John Owen, Detroit.
Hon. Henry N. Walker, Detroit.
W. A. Butler, Esq., Detroit.
B. Vernor, Esq., Detroit.
C. F. Clark, Esq., Detroit.
Hon. W. A. Howard, Detroit.
Gen. John Robertson, Detroit.
Hon. J. F. Joy, Detroit.

Major Gen. E. O. C. Ord, Detroit.
Major Gen. O. B. Willcox, Detroit.
Major Gen. A. S. Williams, Detroit.
W. C. McConnell, Esq., Pontiac.
Witter J. Baxter, Esq., Jonesville.
Hon. Charles T. Gorham, Marshall.
Hon. John R. Kellogg, Allegan.
Hon. T. W. Ferry, Grand Haven.
Hon. Edwin Moore, Three Rivers.
Hon. A. H. Morrison, St. Joseph.
Hon. W. L. Bancroft, St. Clair county.
Hon. George Redfield, Cass county.
Morgan Bates, Esq., Grand Traverse.
R. Shelton, Esq., Houghton.
Wm. H. Maltby, Esq., Cheboygan.
Vm. McPherson, Esq., Livingston county.
Ion. Chauncey Davis, Muskegon.
Hon. G. T. Wendell, Mackinac.
Hon. Alex. Campbell, Marquette.
Hon. H. A. Waldron, Hillsdale county.
Hon. H. A. Divine, Montcalm county.
Major A. B. Watson, Newaygo county.
D. Bethune Duffield, Esq., Detroit.
J. F. Conover, Esq., Detroit.
1. Marxhausen, Esq., Detroit.

His Excellency Gov. H. H. Crapo, Flint.

Hon. E. H. Thompson, Flint.

Ex-Gov. Austin Blair, Jackson.

Hon. James Birney, Bay City.

Hon. E. J. Penniman, Plymouth.

James Burtenshaw, Esq., Ontonagon.

S. F. Page, Esq., Ionia.

Hon. Giles Hubbard, Mount Clemens.
John A. Kerr, Esq., Lansing.

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.

Col. W. L. Stoughton, St. Joseph county.
Milton Bradley, Esq., Isabella county.
Capt. Roe, Steamer Michigan.

Hon. C. A. Stacy, Lenawee county.
Hon. W. G. Beckwith, Cass county.
Hon. S. M. Cutcheon, Washtenaw county.
J. B. Crippen, Esq., Branch county.
Hon. James Armitage, Monroe county.
Hon. N. G. Isbell, Wayne county.

Hon. James B. Walker, Grand Traverse Co.
Hon. M. E. Crofoot, Oakland county.
Hon. Jas. A. Sweezy, Barry county.
J. E. Fisher, Esq., Leelanaw county.
Hon. Delos Filer, Manistee county.
Hon. Perry Hannah, Grand Traverse Co.
Hon. P. P. Barbeau, Chippewa county.
Hon. Townsend North, Tuscola county.
Hon. Edwin H. Lothrop, St. Joseph Co.
J. S. Farrand, Esq., Detroit.
Hon. V. P. Coilier, Calhoun county.
Jesse Crowell, Esq., Calhoun county.
Hon. Charles Mears, Mason county.

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