Memorial (Decoration) Day, May 30th
In memory of my great, great uncle, Private Reuben Cory, Wayne, Michigan. Uncle Reuben was a member of Company D of the 24th Michigan Infantry of the famous Iron Brigade. He fought at Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Mine Run, and the Wilderness. He was killed in action at the Wilderness in May 1864. The G.A.R. post in Canton Township was named after Uncle Reuben.
After the battles of the Seven Days and Shiloh, President Lincoln called for an additional 300,000 volunteers. To answer the summons, Detroit planned a huge rally July 15, 1862 on Campus Martius with the 80-plus year old Lewis Cass as featured speaker. Mr. Cass led off with a rousing speech.
As the fourth speaker of the night was on the platform, a group of Copperhead Democrats from Detroit and southern agents crossing over from Windsor began to boo the speakers and spread rumors that there was to be an involuntary draft. They stirred up the crowd to rush the platform. Sheriff Mark Flanigan of Wayne County drew his pistols and held off the mob while Mr. Cass, Sen Howard, mayor Duncan, and Judge Morrow were taken to the safety of the Russell House.
Judge Morrow, Sheriff Flanigan, and some sheriff's volunteers held off the crowd at gunpoint from the porch of the Russell House till the mob dispersed. To redeem the honor of Detroit, Judge Morrow and Sheriff Flanigan volunteered to form a new regiment over and above the twenty-three regiments which were Michigan's revised quote. The 24th was thus the "extra" Michigan Regiment. Judge Henry Morrow was appointed as the Colonel while Sheriff Mark Flanigan was the Lieutenant Colonel. It took less than two weeks to recruit the regiment to full strength.
After arriving in Virginia, the regiment was assigned to the famous Iron Brigade which had distinguished itself at 2nd Bull Run, South Mountain, and Antietam and was sadly depleted in numbers. The regiment fought through the rest of the war with the Iron Brigade. They formed the honor guard at the burial of President Lincoln in Springfield, IL then moved to Detroit to muster out. Of the 1040 men who went to war with the 24th, 180 formed the final parade up Jefferson Avenue.
1,238 men served with the 24th during its two-plus years of service.
189 were killed in action or died of wounds
139 died of disease, accident, or as POW.
436 were wounded in action.
The 24th Michigan suffered the highest numeric loss of any Federal regiment at Gettysburg.
