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Civil War Decoration Day Photo From Keeler Cemetery
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1861           «   Civil War   »        1865

  Killed in Action     Wounded in action      POW/MIA    
  Died during active duty      + Contracted disease-illness-disability during service

Submitted by Laurie Warner Jacobs on 5-31-07:

From the Record First Michigan Sharpshooters, First and Second U.S. Sharpshooters, Company D Western Sharpshooters Civil War 1861-1865 published by the State of Michigan, as pertains to the dress of the Western Sharpshooters:

"It was armed with the American Deer and Target Rifle. The accoutrements were not of the kind prescribed by army regulations, but consisted of a bullet pouch of bear skin covering and a powder horn or in some cases a flask. In the bullet pouch was a compartment where the soldier carried his screw drivers, bullet moulds and patch cutter, singular implements for a soldier; but Birge's boys moulded their own bullets, greased them and patched them with as much care as an old hunter would, and used them as effectively. It was the design of General Fremont to give them a complete hunter dress, but this was vetoed by Halleck, and the only thing peculiar about the dress was the hat, which was a gray sugar loaf shaped affair, with three squirrel tails running from both back and front and meeting at the apex of the crown in an undescribable knot."

In service 1864 to 1865

US Army - Infantry
Corporal
b 1-28-1845    d 11-5-1910   
Age 65y, 9m, 8d
Died at Hartford MI 
Buried in Keeler Cemetery
Keeler MI

  He served with General Sherman in all engagements.  John was knocked down by a bullet that had passed through and killed the soldier in front of him. He brought the battered bullet home with him.  His daughter Ethel has it and she says she often wonders who the man was who lost his life that her father's life might be spared. Mr. McAlpine was promoted to corporal, was in the grand review at Washington and was  honorably discharged. 

In service 
2-15-1864 to 7-11-1865

From 
Past Creek, Chemung Co., NY
Lived in Keeler, MI 
Moved to Hartford MI in 1904 

In the Civil War photo of the
 old military boys from Keeler

Photo submitted by great granddaughter, Laurie Warner Jacobs 5-2007
 

Click here to view Civil War Veterans photo in Keeler Cemetery

Click here to view Civil War Veterans photo in Keeler Cemetery

Click here to view Civil War Veterans photo in Keeler Cemetery

Alfred Robinson is a great grandfather to Nancy Dyer Huffman, Robert Dyer, and William (Bill) Dyer. Robert and Bill served in the Korean War.



Medals Jamie Dyer won with his Henry Rifle and black powder revolver in National competition in 2003.

The Henry rifle touts a legend in Civil War history. The Volcanic Co. went bankrupt in 1857 and was reorganized as the New Haven Arms Co. by Oliver Winchester.   Benjamin Tyler Henry, New Haven Arms plant superintendent redesigned the Volcanic repeating rifle to fire a .44 caliber rimfire brass cartridge loaded with 25 grains of powder behind a 216 grain bullet. Thus, evolving the Henry rifle - the first practical, lever action repeating rifle, which was patented in 1860. The first Henry rifles appeared on the market during the summer of 1862, by October only 900 guns had been manufactured. Late in 1864, production peaked at 290 rifles per month, and a total of 13,000 were manufactured through 1866. Due to it's accuracy and rapid rate of fire, the Henry became popular with military and civilian purchasers.   Only about 1731 Henry rifles were purchased by the Ordnance Dept. between 1862 and 1865. Among units wholly or partially armed with the Henry were the 7th, 16th, 23rd, 51st, 66th, and 80th Illinois Volunteer Infantry outfits. A confederate officer is credited with the "It's a rifle that you could load on Sunday and shoot all week long". Federal ordnance officers largely ignored the Henry and soldiers bought the guns at their own expense.  The Henry had a list price of $42 with a sling.  The rifles were often purchased through payroll deduction. A private soldier's salary was $13 per month, making the Henry rifle expensive...for many it was well worth the price.

In 2004, original Henry rifles are rare and valuable collectibles, bringing a price of about $14,000.

*19th Michigan Volunteer Infantry is part of the Northwest Territory of the North-South Skirmish Assn. Inc.  During 2004, this unit consists of 7 men and 3 women.  Since this is not an actual governmental function, no military ranking is attained.  The association hosts summer regional shoots, with spring and fall national shoots in Virginia. Visit the NSSA website for more information www.n-ssa.org. 

     Root, Milo
Birge's Western 
Sharpshooters
Company D

In service 
11-11-1862 to ?
Wounded in action at 
Balls Knob GA on 5-9-1864, afterwards transferred to Co. E, 23rd Regiment, 
Veterans Reserve Corps.

Age 22

From Bangor, MI

Birge's Western 
Sharpshooters
Company D
b 1834              d 4-26-1862
New York         Owl Creek TN
Buried in Keeler Cemetery
Keeler MI

In service
Enlisted 9-24-1861 at Keeler MI 
Mustered in 11-9-1861 at St Louis MO

On the North Missouri campaign, in the battle of Mt. Zion MO Dec 28, 1861, On the Donelson campaign and in the battle of Ft. Donelson TN Feb 13-16, 1862. In the battle of Shiloh Apr 6-7, 1862.

9-28-2004 - Information provided by Michael Schroeder, St. Joseph MI. Michael is related through John's mother, Maria Havens, daughter of William Havens and Hannah Hale, pioneers of Keeler  pioneers of Keeler Township, MI

Hartford Day Spring
May 23, 1923. 
____________________________



Camp Davies, Miss., April 2, 1863.

 Uncle William:  I take the opportunity to write a few lines to you to inform you that I am well and hope these few lines may find you and your family as well.  I had not heard from you in a long time so I though I would write to you once more.  I don't know as I can think of much to write but I will write what I can.

Our boys are all well at present and able to eat their rations, the weather is warm and pleasant here and soldiering goes well.  We get plenty to eat and drink and wear, and not much to do now days.  We have a little guard duty to do and some scouting to do.

We have been out on two days scout and we just got back last night.  We went down south of here about thirty miles.  We heard that there was a rebel camp down there so we thought we would go down there and see about it.  When we got down there we found a guerilla band there of about one hundred.  When they saw us coming they got up and skedaddled, but we got six of them.  Among the six we got the old guerilla chief and one of his captains and four privates, I don't know what they will do with the old chief, but I think he will not leave our camp.  We got a rope around the old fellow's neck and we made him own every thing.  He owned that he had burned bridges and burned cotton that belonged to the government and he had stolen horses and robbed the cotton buyer.  Said that he and his wife sold the cotton buyer fourteen hundred worth of cotton and he watched him until he got out a little ways then he followed him up and robbed him and burned the cotton.

This old chief said that he had taken 13 or 14 boys that belonged to our regiment.  The old chief said he expected to die now that he had got into the hands of the Yankees.

We treat guerillas here as spies so I expect that the old chief's sentence is death.  I think we ought to just take and shoot all such men as them.  What do you think about it?  Well, uncle William, I will tell you about this war.  It would be a bad place for you or any other new recruit.  When you had to come down to pilot bread and sow belly.  But us fellows that have been here so long can stand it.  One day after another passes off and I don't know where it goes to.  Time don't seem half as long as it did one year ago.  Well, I don't know as I can think of anything more at present, only I would like to see you all first rate.  It was 18 months ago yesterday since I have seen any of you.  Nothing more at present, and no news here.  I send my best respects to you and all.  You must excuse this poor writing, and write soon.

This  letter was written during the Civil War by William Rupert to his uncle, William Havens of Hartford.
 

September 27, 2004, the letter was submitted for publication on this website by Michael Schroeder, St. Joseph MI. Michael is an ancestor to John and William Rupert. 
 

WEBMASTER NOTE:  
     »The communities of Hartford, Keeler, Decatur, Lawrence, Bangor, Millburg, Bainbridge, and Arlington have been added to the Civil War Veterans listed above because of the close proximity to the Hartford-Keeler area. The Birge's Western Sharpshooters listed above were from a "History of the Regiment" by Sergeant Ren Barker, of Company D." and were found listed on the internet site http://www.michiganinthewar.org/sharpshooters/western.htm.   Many of the names show "Van Buren Co." as the hometown; some were definitely from the Hartford area, but the actual home town of others are unknown. This is the reason for inclusion of the Van Buren Co. names. Other local communities in Van Buren and Berrien Counties are also listed at this site. 
      »Updated information is from With The Western Sharpshooters Michigan Boys of Company D 66th Illinois by Lorenzo A. Barker 1905.  New edition information with additional material, 1994, was provided by William (Bill) Dyer in August, 2002.
      »As the Michigan men who volunteered exceeded Michigan's quotas, many men joined units in other states.
      »The Michigan Calvary Brigade was made up of the 1st, 5th, 6th, and 7th units under the command of Brigadier General George Custer of Monroe Michigan.  At the conclusion of the war, some of these regiments were kept in federal service against their will to suppress the Indian uprisings in the west. 

Submitted by Laurie Warner Jacobs on 5-31-07:

From the Record First Michigan Sharpshooters, First and Second U.S. Sharpshooters, Company D Western Sharpshooters Civil War 1861-1865 published by the State of Michigan, as pertains to the dress of the Western Sharpshooters:

"It was armed with the American Deer and Target Rifle. The accoutrements were not of the kind prescribed by army regulations, but consisted of a bullet pouch of bear skin covering and a powder horn or in some cases a flask. In the bullet pouch was a compartment where the soldier carried his screw drivers, bullet moulds and patch cutter, singular implements for a soldier; but Birge's boys moulded their own bullets, greased them and patched them with as much care as an old hunter would, and used them as effectively. It was the design of General Fremont to give them a complete hunter dress, but this was vetoed by Halleck, and the only thing peculiar about the dress was the hat, which was a gray sugar loaf shaped affair, with three squirrel tails running from both back and front and meeting at the apex of the crown in an undescribable knot."

     Not all names have been entered to this Civil War site and will be entered as soon as possible.

This site will change when names and photos become available.  Check back often for updates.  Please use the on-line submission form or send an email if you have any information on any one who served in the military and lived in Hartford or Keeler at any time during their life.  I would appreciate knowing of any incorrect information displayed on the site so it can be corrected.