A. Lincoln: "Thank God for Michigan!"

Shortly after Fort Sumter was attacked in April 1861, President Lincoln called for volunteer troops to help preserve the Union. When the First Michigan Volunteer Infantry arrived in large numbers nearly 150 years ago, Lincoln was heard to exclaim “Thank God for Michigan!” Eventually 23 percent of Michigan’s male population would serve in the Union Army during the American Civil War.

The idea of volunteers banding together for the defense of their country in North America is as old as the Mayflower. These volunteers made up the ranks of the “Minutemen” of 1775. And the early pioneer settlers of Michigan carried on these traditions by forming local military organizations that met regularly, adopted uniforms, equipped themselves, and drilled on the local “Green”.

Farmington was no different; consider this entry in the 1877 History of Farmington Township:

“In the old times of military ardor, forty-five or fifty years ago, there existed in Farmington a fine independent military company, which was called the 'Farmington Riflemen' in accordance with the prevailing taste of that day, which ran almost exclusively in favor of the sharp-shooting arm of the service.”

“The company was organized in 1831, their officers being, Captain, [Warham] Lee; First Lieutenant, George Brown; Orderly Sergeant, Fitz Smith. Their uniform consisted of gray trousers and coat, with worsted on the shoulder, and chapeau surmounted by a green plume. Those who recollect the organization and uniform, remember both as being most creditable. They joined with the militia in the general trainings at Auburn or Walled Lake, and were regarded as 'minute-men,' to be called on to the northwestern frontier in case of sudden exigency.”

In addition to the local groups, Michigan also had a State Militia, referred to in the previous quote, which had participated in these Ante Bellum events: the War of 1812, the Blackhawk War, the Toledo War, the Patriot War and the Mexican War. So it was only natural that Michigan would generously answer Lincoln’s call for help in 1861.

Congress, later in 1861, authorized the acceptance of 500,000 volunteers nationally, with Michigan’s portion of this set at 21,337. By December 1861, Michigan sent to the front 13 infantry regiments, 3 cavalry regiments, and 5 batteries of light artillery, with a total strength of 16,475 officers and men. Of these, 10 regiments, one battery, and one company had been clothed, partly armed, and provisioned by the State of Michigan. These groups were organized in various localities around the state, where they trained and drilled before being “mustered in” as an officially recognized unit.