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The 17th Michigan Volunteer Infantry Regiment |
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Company E Inc's: |
"A Jubilee at Grass Lake"
A Homecoming
Celebration at the End of the War
with a Surprise Ending for us Today.
The surviving members of the Seventeenth mustered out of the army in Washington DC on 3 June 1865. They arrived in Detroit on 7 June 1865 by boat, the Morning Star.
The enthusiasm as the boat neared the wharf knew no bounds. Cheer after cheer went up, and was responded to by the soldiers on board, who have learned well how to shout. The ladies rushed forward, waving their handkerchiefs, and tossed boquets [sic] to the men, who scrambled after the flowers to obtain possession of them...
After the men disembarked, they stacked arms on the dock. The marched up stairs to the freight depot and enjoyed a "splendid" breakfast. The room had been decorated with national flags and "festoons of evergreens." A large "Welcome Home" banner was hung in one room.
One breakfast was completed the men lined up on the dock and a Reverend Mr. Taylor presented a brief welcome. Colonel William Withington, the first commander of the regiment, was then received with hearty cheers as he expressed his thoughts of welcome. He admitted the "heart pangs" felt in his chest when he looked at the line of soldiers before him and then remembered the greater numbers in their "noble" columns that had marched through the streets of Detroit three years before.
After the reception remarks the men marched up Jefferson Avenue to the old Detroit Barracks where they first mustered into Federal service in August 1862. The streets were lined with cheering crowds. The officers were invited to a reception at the Biddle House.
Also coming back with the Seventeenth was the daughter of a black woman who had been a servant for officers in the regiment in Petersburg. The girls name and particulars of her coming to Detroit or her fate are unknown.
Some members of the Seventeenth had returned to Detroit sick, crippled and disfigured by war. Some were discharged and others were still in local hospitals like Harper and St. Marty's. A few were still in hospitals back east. Of course there were 283 who would never return. Ninety-two had been killed, thirty-nine died of wounds and 152 died of disease.
The local excitement remained at a high level and as the men reached their hometowns they were given even warmer and more personal welcome.
On such celebration was a reception and pic-nic for the returned veterans at Grass lake on 3 August 1865. It was a "jubilee" celebration for the citizens of lima, Sylvan, Sharon, Grass lake, Waterloo and Leoni to show the pride felt for the accomplishments during the war.
Delegations from these downs began arriving in the village of Grass Lake around ten in the morning. The first was from Sylvan and consisted of...
"...a string of carriages headed by a four-horse team drawing a wagon, in the corners of which were placed four large tamaracks, from which arches were formed, with a lace-work of evergreens and flowers for a canopy. Forty-two beautiful young girls, dressed in white, bearing garlands of flowers, were represented in the tableau."
Almost every team in the delegation had banners with appropriate mottos and were festooned with flowers and evergreen garlands. The Waterloo delegation had a vehicle drawn by six horses in which fifty- two girls rode, among them the goddesses of Liberty, Justice and War. The remaining delegations were just as splendidly done up and the procession was three miles. Several brass bands were in the line. In all there were 750 soldiers escorting them, representing at lest two or three regiments including the Seventeenth.
The procession and throng of four to five thousand people made its way to a grove at the west side of Grass Lake, where "an abundant supply of creature comforts" had been provided.
After dinner, speeches were made, responses added, until day waned into twilight, and darkness warned the vast company that the hour for breaking up had come, by the way, the citizens of Plymouth and Northville held a reception for members of the Second, Fifth, Sixteenth, twenty-fourth Infantry and First and Fifth Cavalry on 10 August 1865.
After dinner, speeches were made, responses added, until day waned into twilight, and darkness warned the vast company that the hour for breaking up had come, by the way, the citizens of Plymouth and Northville held a reception for members of the Second, Fifth, Sixteenth, twenty-fourth Infantry and First and Fifth Cavalry on 10 August 1865.
We are all familiar with the photograph of the officer's of the Seventeenth Michigan, which was taken at Grass Lake during the August 1865 celebration.
Officers of the 17th Michigan Volunteer Infantry Regiment
Note: This is the photograph the author is referring to. The original of this image is in the archives of the State Library in Lansing, Michigan. The civilian standing in the center wearing the top hat is Horace Gallup, one of the chaplains of the Seventeenth. Seated directly below him is Lt. Colonel Frederick Swift. To the left of Swift is Colonel Constant Luce. Major Thomas Mathews is seated on the ground between them.
Just this week I learned that at least one other image was taken at the same time. This one shows the members of the Seventeenth who were in Grass Lake that day. The regiment returned to Detroit with 395 men in June. The image shows around 150 men, who were probably those living in Jackson County or western Washtenaw County and available to attend the event. This is the only know group picture of the regiment.
At this time I do not have permission from the current owner (in Pennsylvania) to display the image. He does plan to make it available as soon as further analysis of the officers and men shown in the image is complete. Note: With permission granted in 2005, the "image" is displayed below.
"Last Muster for the 'Stonewall Regiment.'" Military Images magazine (September/October 2005 - vol. 27, no. 2)
I can tell you that the men are lined up in by company in a column of divisions dressed on the center. You can see both the national and regimental flags plus one guidon. The enlisted men are all wearing sack coats. All but a few are wearing forage caps, the others appear to have civilian slouch hats. The officers are dressed the same as those officer-only image.
In the background are some tents and tent flys. They appear to be "A" tents and there is one Sibley tent. There are drummers off to one side and a few men soldiers not in formation. The picture was taken in an open field and the photographer was on a elevated point looking down at the formation. There are no clear landmarks in the background and only a few trees.
William Winegar, an officer in the Seventeenth who resigned due to medical reasons in 1863, lived in Grass Lake at the time. The family home is still there and I believe the image was taken near the intersection of Wilis and Winegar Roads just on the southwestern edge of the lake and a mile, or so out of town.
At the first opportunity I will make sure that a copy of the image is forwarded to you!
[Source of all quotes: Detroit Free Press, 8 June and 4 August 1865]
