Monroe County, Michigan, Had Eight Medal of Honor Recipients in Civil War

From the November 6, 2022, Monroe News by Tom Adamich.

Monroe's military history and contributions to major conflicts dates back to the American Revolution and War of 1812 periods.  But, also, Monroe has had an inordinate impact on Civil War history.  Local historians credit the county as having the highest enrollment of volunteers propotionately of any county in the United States.

The Medal of Honor is the highest and most prestigious military honor that can be awarded to the military.   And eight Monroe County residents received one during the war.

**  First Lieutenant  James Christancy of the 9th Michigan Cavalry.  As an aide, he voluntarily led a group in the Battle of Haw's Shop near Cold Harbor, Virginia, in May 1864 where he was  wounded twice.

**  Second Lieutenant Thomas  Custer, younger brother of General George Custer (who was from Monroe).  Thomas Custer was part of the 21st Ohio.  At Sailor's Creek, near Farmville, Virginia, part of the Appomattox Campaign, he leaped his horse over Confederate earthworks and captured two flags and was wounded.

--Old Secesh

Monroe County, Michigan, in the Civil War

From the April 20, 2011, Toledo (Oh) Blade.

During the war, nearly 90,000 Michigan men served in Union forces, nearly a quarter of the males in the state in the 1860 census.

Some 2,270 were from Monoe County with 430 dying from disease, wounds or killed in action.

Lenawee County sent 4,000, the second highest number for a state county.  At least 35 of them died at Andersonville.

George Armstrong Custer became a general at age 23, the youngest Union general at the time he was promoted.

Must Be a Wolverine Thing.  --Old Secesh

Michigan's Col. Hall in the Civil War

From the April 20, 2011, Toledo (Ohio) Blade "Monroe County remembers its native son at Fort Sumter" by Mark Reiter.

The only Michigan soldier at Fort Sumter was Norman Hall from Raisinville Township in Monroe County.  He was a West Point graduate and fought at other battles during the course of the war.  At Gettysburg, Col. Hall's 3rd Brigade is credited with fighting off the Confederate charge that won the battle.

However, much more attention is given to Monroe County's better-known person, George Armstrong Custer.  Norman Hall died at age 30 after the war and is buried at West Point, 30 yards away from Custer.

Never Heard of Col. Hall.  --Old Secesh

Some More on Custer and Monroe, Mi

Custer got married Elizabeth on Feb. 9, 1864. She remained his biggest fan and pusher until her death at age 92.

The Battle of Trevalian Station humiliated Custer. He had his division trains captured and lost his personal baggage. Union casualties were about 1000, with 102 killed, 470 wounded, and 435 missing or captured.

The Monroe Museum is in an old post office which was built on the site of the Custer home. It houses one of the largest collections of 18th and 19th century artifacts in southeast Michigan.

On September 23rd, the museum opened a WWII exhibit in conjunction with Ken Burns' "The War" PBS miniseries.

The second floor of the museum houses one of the largest George Armstrong Custer collections in the world.

Custer was born in Ohio, but attended school in Monroe.

Now You Know Some More. --Blockade-Head