Table of Contents

Welcome from the Holland Museum ................................................................................................ Page 3

The Holland Museum Celebrates 75 years ..................................................................................... Page 4

Thank you Sponsors .............................................................................................................................. Page 5

History of the VanRaalte Farm & Home ............................................................................................ Page 6

A Word from DeGraaf Nature Center ................................................................................................. Page 8

Historical Map & Summary of Antietam ........................................................................................ Page 10

How I Became a Reenactor ................................................................................................................ Page 13

Van Raalte Farm Muster Event Map ............................................................................................... Page 14

Schedule of Events .............................................................................................................................. Page 16

Finding Your Civil War Ancestor ....................................................................................................... Page 17

Holland Honor Roll ............................................................................................................................... Page 18

Local Monuments ................................................................................................................................. Page 20

Holland Soldiers Guard Lincoln’s Body ........................................................................................ Page 22

The Angel of the Battlefield: Clara Barton ................................................................................... Page 23

How did Citizens React to the Emancipation Proclamation? ................................................ Page 25

Thank You to Volunteers & Boy Scouts ......................................................................................... Page 27

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Civil War Muster program brought to you by the

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Welcomefrom the Committee & Museum Board Chairs

Richard J. Veenhoven Geoffrey Reynolds

Fourth Annual Civil War MusterWelcome to the Holland Museum’s fourth annual Civil War Muster. This is a great year for the Holland Museum! Not only are we celebrating 4 years of bringing the Civil War to life, we are also celebrating 75 years as an institution bringing the City of Holland’s history to life. As we look to the future, the Museum is excited to keep presenting events like this for the West Michigan community.

Over the past four years the Muster has continued to expand. This year will be the second year that we partner with DeGraaf Nature Center’s Heritage Days. Last year we decided to combine events that occurred in the same month on the same site, and what a partnership it has been! Both events have added to each other allowing them to grow in ways they might not have if not for the partnership.

We have also been able to add a day for local schools to participate. Our educa-tion day is called “The Civil War Class-

room”, and it is for 5th grade students. This program happens the Friday before the event, serving up to 500 students from our local schools for free!

Another exciting development has been that this year we altered our battlefield. Thanks to the City of Holland and the Michigan Farm Bureau we planted corn to simulate Miller’s cornfield from the Antietam Battlefield.

The Van Raalte Civil War Muster has been so successful over the past four years because of the hard work and dedication of the staffs of the Holland Museum and DeGraaf Nature Center, the Muster planning committee, the 3rd Michigan reenactors, local busi-ness owners, and YOU: the people who choose to attend our event!

As you enjoy the event by strolling the camps, visiting the sutlers, watching crafters and participating in hands on activities, please remember this is a

donation-supported event. There will be donation buckets before the battle and in the parking lots. By leaving a dona-tion you are not only supporting your local museum, but you will also play an integral part in bringing the event back next year. Any donation is greatly appre-ciated and will help the Holland Museum continue to be able to offer other quality programming like the Muster.

Thank you for your support and enjoy the Holland Museum’s Van Raalte Farm Civil War Muster!

Richard J. VeenhovenMuster Committee Executive Chair

Geoffrey ReynoldsChair of the Holland Museum Board of Trustees

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October 6, 201210 a.m. - 2 p.m.

at the Holland Museum

Three Museums Tell The Story of Holland’s Settlement

Holland, Michigan’s three museums - the Holland Museum, the Cappon House Mu-

seum, and the Settlers House Museum - are located within a few city blocks of each

other. The Holland Museum features permanent exhibits on Holland’s history “from settlement to city” and over 400 years of Dutch History in our Dutch Galleries. On its lower level, the Archives

and Research Library houses the museum’s collection of books, papers and photographs related to Holland’s history. The Cappon and

Settlers Houses, a few blocks to the west, enhance the story of Holland’s early settlers with the beautifully preserved and restored

living environments of a common worker’s family and that of Holland’s first mayor. The Holland Museum is an AAM accredited museum.

Holland, Michigan, nearly 170 years on the road from settlement to urban center, has collected objects all along the way. Many of these objects now reside in the collections of the Holland Museum. They tell stories about the journeys of the people of this place. Those objects define us and our place in history.

In honor of the Museum’s 75th anniversary, a tem-porary exhibition of some of these objects and their stories will open on September 28, 2012, in the Wichers Gallery.

The Board of Trustees of the Holland Historical Trust is hosting a special Community Celebration on:

Cappon House 228 West 9th Street, Holland

Holland Museum 31 West 10th Street, Holland

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HomesteadThe Van Raalte Farm

By Carolina Marquis

A Place Called HomeThis city owned park was originally the home-stead of Benjamin Van Raalte, the second son of Rev. Albertus Christiaan Van Raalte. Ben’s father gave him the initial 80 acres; Ben then purchased an additional 80 acres from his older brother Albertus. Both Ben and his younger brother Dirk served in Company I, 25th Michigan Infantry during the Civil War from 1862 – 1865. Ben and his father were zealots for the Union cause.

Having served with distinction during the war Ben returned to Holland to start a family and a business. The first buildings constructed on the site were 3 barns. Two of these barns still exist. The grey barn was used for livestock and hay. The red barn was a “showroom” for his farm implement business. The foundation of the third barn is located behind the grey barn.

In 1871 Ben began construction of the clas-sical revival inspired Italianate home for his new bride Julia Gaddis Gilmore of Fairview, Illinois. This white clapboard home still sits proudly on the highest promontory in Hol-land and overlooks the former farm fields and the north fork of the Black River running through the wetlands. Ben added to the state-ly home by planting maple trees around the house. The family has referred to the home-stead as “The Maples” ever since.

The house originally contained a parlor, dining room with a bay window, kitchen and pantry on the main floor, and there are three bedrooms on the second floor where Ben’s children were born, Julia C. (Lu) Van Raalte in1873 and Benjamin, Jr. in 1876. In the 1940’s descendants put an addition on the rear of the house, which includes a family room, bedroom, and office.

City of HollandFollowing Ben’s death in 1917 the family used the homestead as a vacation residence until it was sold to the City of Holland for $350,000 in 1983. It is the largest park in Holland. Cur-rently DeGraff Nature Center uses the barns and grounds for community programming. The 1940’s addition is used as a classroom.

The Holland Museum graciously thanks the City of Holland for allowing us to use the farm site for our Civil War Muster. It is the perfect setting for this event, and we enjoy coming back every year.

Rev. Albertus Van Raalte

Benjamin Van Raalte

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Historic SiteMichigan Registered

Images Courtesy of the Holland Museum Archives and Research Library

SGT. Benjamin Van Raalte

Company 1, 25th

MI Volunteers Benjamin Van Raalte was born on May 8, 1840 in the Overijssel Prov-ince of the Netherlands. He immi-grated to the United States with his father, Rev. Albertus Van Raalte. In 1862, Benjamin Van Raalte enlisted in Company I, 25th MichiganVolunteer Infantry. The 25thserved in the Western Theatre of theCivil War, participating in a series

of garrison details prior to takingpart in Maj. Gen. William T.Sherman’s Atlanta Campaign andsubsequent March to the Sea.

During his time in service,through meritorious action, Ben waspromoted to sergeant and assignedto the color company of the 25th.This was accomplished through asingle action where Ben Van Raalterescued the unit’s colors underenemy fire. The regimentalstandard he saved became hischarge for the remainder of the warand now resides in the Michigan

Historical Museum in Lansing, along with the rest of Michigan’s Civil Warbanners.

After the war, Ben returned homeand his father, A.C. Van Raalte,gave him the land that today makesup Van Raalte Farm. During histime here, Ben formed the A.C. VanRaalte post of the Grand Army of theRepublic. He served as the post’ssecond commander, and remainedactive in veterans affairs for the restof his life.

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In 1983, the City of Holland purchased the 160 acre Van Raalte Farm property from the Reimold family, descendents of Rev. Albertus Van Raalte. Once in the city’s hands, the planning process began for the future of the property. After a number of planning sessions, focus groups and meetings with com-munity members, a master plan was in place taking into account many of the ideas present-ed. The original master plan called for preserv-ing the original Van Raalte home-stead for the “leg-acy to future generations” as stated by then mayor Terry Hofmeyer to city coun-cil. It was also proposed and seriously considered, that the original farmstead be restored to a working historic farm. Many citizens showed interest in keep-ing the land as natural as possible to provide a place to hike, observe nature, jogging, biking and cross country ski-ing. Very few people wanted to see the property become a site for recreational fields for soccer, baseball, etc. “I like the idea of keeping the house and barns as they are. Would it be possible for this to

be a working farm? It is very difficult to take recreational facilities (i.e. ball parks, tennis court) and revert them into a farm or natural habitat, but bulldozers and other equipment can do the reverse in hours! Save the farm.” stated one concerned citizen while another said “In 50-100 years when houses are side by side in developments, green space and

open country will be priceless. Its value lies in its link to the past and its unique setting- not in “recreational” experiences which can be developed else-where.” At that point, it was the intention of the Holland His-torical Cultural Commission that the 160-acre Van Raalte Farm “re-main as a symbol of the past to remind the City of Holland of its cultural back-ground.” The

original Master Plan for the property in-cluded maintaining the homestead and working farm complete with feed lot, vegetable garden, ornamental garden, grazing pasture, hay pasture and an or-chard. There was also to be a large grass meadow with picnic area and play field, an amphitheater for concerts and other entertainment, sledding hill, and a natu-ral area complete with walking trails. In the end, some things from the original master plan have been implemented, and others are still on the shelf.

Saturday 22 & Sunday 23

Heritage Harvest Days Activities at

the Van Raalte Farm Civil War

Muster 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.

. . . and the Van Raalte Farm

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Maple Sugar Time in March shows visitors the process of making maple syrup through the years.

In 2005, the center set up a sugar house near the barns in a stand of Sugar Maple trees. Starting in the spring of 2006, the maple sugar program moved from the nature center to the farm where they are able to demonstrate the process as well as produce pure maple syrup to sell in the Science and Nature Store located at the center.

Today, they also use the farm for a Halloween event every October that includes crafts and treats for kids, live animals, hay wagon rides, and a camp-fire with refreshments. This event is in its eighth year and has been a very well attended event over the years.

DeGraaf’s newest event at the farm is Heritage Days which is in its fourth year and has seen good growth in attendance since joining the Holland Museum’s Civil War Muster. This event gives visitors a chance to see and do things that were a part of everyday life 150 years ago. Visitors can make hand-dipped candles, pioneer crafts, play with pioneer toys and games, and learn about spinning wool, knitting, rug hooking, basket mak-ing, blacksmithing, old-time woodwork-ing and more.

Outdoor Classroom

In 2003, the previous residents, John and Judy Madison, moved out of the historic farmhouse. Around that time, the DeGraaf Nature Center adopted the property as an extension of their outdoor classroom space. The acreage at the Van Raalte Farm, as well as the many different habitat types, made it the perfect place to expand the center’s edu-cational offerings. The programs added to the field trip opportunities for upper elementary students included: A River Runs Through It, Plants on the Move, Orienteering, Birds, Beaks and Binoculars and a Habitat program.

Also at this time, the nature center started an internship program for recent college graduates and the farmhouse served as housing as well as classroom space for these new programs. Currently the DeGraaf Nature Center sees 2000 stu-dents per year at Van Raalte Farm programs. The farm is also used for many summer programs and special events.

By Mike Graves

DeGraaf Nature Center has many activities, programs, events and trips planned throughout the year at the Van Raalte Farm, the DeGraaf Nature Center, and other locations in the area.

If you would like to see what is offered, please visit the website at www.degraaf.org, by phone at (616)355-1057, or stop by: 600 Graafschap Rd. Holland, MI 49423 and we will be happy to help.

Come Visit

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September 17, 1862

Battle of Antietam

By civilwar.org

Fight for the Cornfield7:00am to 7:40am

On September 16, 1862 Maj. Gen. George B. McClellan and his Union Army of the Potomac confronted Robert E. Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia at Sharpsburg, Maryland.

At dawn on September 17, Maj. General Joseph Hooker’s Union corps mounted a powerful assault on Lee’s left flank that began the single bloodiest day in Ameri-can military history.

Repeated Union attacks, and equally vi-cious Confederate counterattacks, swept back and forth across Miller’s cornfield and the West Woods. Despite the great Union numerical advantage, Stonewall Jackson’s forces near the Dunker Church would hold their ground this bloody morning.

Meanwhile, towards the center of the battlefield, Union assaults against the

Sunken Road would pierce the Confed-erate center after a terrible struggle for this key defensive position. Unfortu-nately for the Union army this temporal advantage in the center was not fol-lowed up with further advances.

Late in the day, Maj. General Ambrose Burnside’s corps pushed across a bullet-strewn stone bridge over Antietam Creek and with some difficulty man-aged to imperil the Confederate right. At a crucial moment, A.P. Hill’s division arrived from Harpers Ferry, and coun-terattacked, driving back Burnside and saving the day for the Army of Northern Virginia.

Despite being outnumbered two-to-one, Lee committed his entire force at the Battle of Antietam, while McClellan sent in less than three-quarters of his Federal force. McClellan’s piecemeal ap-proach to the battle failed to fully lever-age his superior numbers and allowed Lee to shift forces from threat to threat.

During the night, both armies tended to their wounded and consolidated their lines. In spite of crippling casualties, Lee continued to skirmish with McClellan on the 18th, while removing his wounded south of the Potomac. McClellan, much to the chagrin of Abraham Lincoln, did not vigorously pursue the wounded Confederate army.

While Antietam is considered a draw from a military point of view, Abraham Lincoln and the Union claimed victory. This hard-fought battle, which drove Lee’s forces from Maryland, would give Lincoln the “victory” that he needed before delivering the Emancipation Proclamation - a document that would forever change the geopolitical course of the American Civil War.

Maj. Gen. George B. McClellan

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ANTIETAMQuick Facts

This Battle was a part of the Maryland Campaign.

The three other battles in the campaign were South

Mountain, Shepherdstown, and Harpers Ferry.

Total Number of Troops Involved

132,000Union: 87,000

Confederate: 45,000

Total Estimated Casualties

22,717

Union ConfederateKilled 2,108 1,546

Wounded 9,540 7,752

Missing or Captured 753 1,018

TOTAL 12,401 10,316

CommandersUnion: General George McClellan

Confederate: General Robert E. Lee

Result Inconclusive

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How I Became a Reenactor

As you explore the camps surrounding Van Raalte Farms, keep in mind that the people portraying life during the 1860’s are not paid professional actors. They are reenac-tors or living historians. They come from a variety of backgrounds, giving their time to recreate for you a living portrait of life; both military and civilian, during one of the most challenging time periods in Amer-ican History. To many, it’s a family hobby including dad, mom and the kids. Most reenactors will tell you that they participate in the hobby so they can better understand the military history, political environment, and social structure that existed one hun-dred and fifty years ago.

One can gain only so much knowledge from reading books. However, wearing a wool uniform, or a long dress with several layers on a 90 degree day, gives one a whole new appreciation for the lives our ancestors endured. Also, the smells of food cooking on open fires, the feel of wet wool uniforms after a sudden shower, the sounds of explo-sions, and the beautiful period music are all part of the experience reenactors seek dur-ing their weekend hobby.

My personal Civil War interest began back in 1962, when I had the opportunity to explore most of the battlefields from Get-

tysburg to Richmond while spending my summers in Virginia. My love of History continued through college and into my adult years. In 1988, on the eve of the 125th an-niversary of the Battle of Gettysburg, I en-listed in the Union Army! There were over

12,000 military troops at that reenactment and I was hooked. Since then, I’ve been involved in over a hundred reenactments. I have been an extra in three mov-ies, and have done numerous school presentations and living history camps every year. Most importantly, I continue to enjoy the companionship of my fel-low reenactors, both military and civilian. Together we learn and continue to increase our understanding of the Civil War period. Please take the time today to visit the camps and talk with the re-enactors. Many have travelled to Holland from other parts of Michigan and some from out of state. They will eagerly share their experiences and knowl-

edge of the Civil War period. We sincerely hope that each of you will take home an increased interest and appreciation for the study of America’s most turbulent time period. Should you desire to take a step a back in time, we are always enlisting new recruits in our hobby. Next year, you can be part of the action, not part of the crowd!

For further information on participation in reenactment units visit the Holland Museum website at: hollandmuseum.org

Respectfully submitted by

Dan PennyRecruiting Officer 3rd Michigan Volunteer Infantry Co F of Grand Rapids

Thanks for coming and we hope

you had a great time.

Take a StepBack in Time By Dan Penny

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“A frenzy seized each man and impa-tient with their small muzzle loaded guns, they tore the loaded ones from the hands of the dead and fired them with fearful rapidity, sending ramrods along with the bullets for double execution.” - Pvt. G. L. Kilmer, Company I, 14th New York Artillery, John P. Smith, “History of the Antietam Fight,” in Scrapbook of J.P. Smith.

William Child, Major and Surgeon with the 5th Regiment New Hampshire VolunteersSeptember 22, 1862 (Battlefield Hospital near Sharpsburg)

“My Dear Wife;

Day before yesterday I dressed the wounds of 64 dif-ferent men – some having two or three each. Yester-day I was at work from daylight til dark – today I am completely exhausted – but stall soon be able to go at it again. The days after the battle are a thousand times worse that the day of the battle – and the physical pain is not the greatest pain suffered.

How auful it is – you have not can have until you see it any idea of affairs after a battle. The dead appear sick-ening but they suffer no pain. But the poor wounded mutilated soldiers that yet have life and sensation make a most horrid picture. I pray God may stop such infer-nal work – through perhaps he has sent it upon us for our sins. Great indeed must have been our sins if such is our punishment.”

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Schedule of EventsFriday 21 9:00 Education Day

7:00 Dance at the Holland Armory

Saturday 22 9:00 Camps Open

10:00 Military Drill

10:00 Heritage Harvest Days Activities Begin

10:30 5th MI Band

11:45 Cavalry Pistol and Saber Course

12:45 Lincoln

2:00 Battle Begins

2:55 Medical Scenario

3:30 Lincoln

4:00 Fashion Show

4:00 Heritage Harvest Days Activities End

5:00 Reenactor Dinner

7:00 Dance Begins

9:00 Camps Close

9:30 Last Shuttle

Sunday 23 9:00 Camps Open

10:00 Heritage Harvest Days Activities Begin

10:00 Period Church Service

11:45 Kids Drill

12:15 5th Michigan Band

1:00 Lincoln

2:00 Battle

3:30 Unit Dismissal

Camps open to vehicle traffic

4:00 Heritage Harvest Days Activities End

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Let’s get started.

If you are intimidated with computer technol-ogy, ask your ten-year-old grandson or your eight–year-old granddaughter for their help. You will both learn a lot by doing this together. You will learn new technology. Your grandchild will experience a new-found ownership and family connection to the past. In order to get started you will at least need a name and state from which your ancestor may have served. A fam-ily surname is essential. Knowledge of a person’s first name and middle initial will be most helpful.

Let’s begin the search. Using your com-puter log on to the Civil War Soldier and Sailor database at http://www.nps.gov/civilwar/soldiers-and-sailors-database.htm. This website has information for those who served from both the North and South and all military branches.

On this home page, click on either Soldier or Sailor. On the next screen, fill in your ancestor’s name. Again the last name is crucial and the first name will be of great help. Looking on the same page click on either Union or Confeder-ate. Supply the name of the home state of residence at the time of service. If you know the numeral of the regiment in which he/she served enter that under Unit. (Yes, women did serve in the ranks during the war, but this is another story) Under Function enter the branch of ser-vice if you know it. With this information now entered, click on Submit Query.

Now the fun begins for you will be taken to a page that lists all of the soldiers with that name from that particular state. Immediately you will see why a middle initial or name can help to spot your Civil War ancestor. Sadly, if you were searching for a “John Smith” from Pennsylvania you will be overwhelmed

FindingYour Civil War Ancestor

By Al McGeehan

Welcome to the annual Holland Museum Civil War Muster. As you walk the grounds at Holland’s historic Van Raalte farm, you are experiencing some of the sights and sounds that 150 years ago were not “history” but were the “current events” of those tragic years of 1861-1865. While enjoying this prop-erty which was originally owned and operated by a Civil War veteran, you will hear the roar of the cannons, smell the burning black gunpowder and feel the pounding of “soldier’s “feet marching in cadence with the beat of the drum. As you visit the soldier camps, and witness the battle you will be transported back to time when the future of this great American experiment in republican democracy was in great doubt.

Truly, you will not be the only visitor to wonder if you had a family member who fought for either the North or South. If you already knew that answer, you may be one who has an interest in discov-ering even more about your ancestor who wore either the blue or the gray. In today’s world of the computer and the internet, the ability to research your family member’s possible involvement in the Civil War is now easier than it has ever been.

by several hundred names. However, if you were searching for a “John Q. Smith”, you have a confirmation.

Click on the soldier’s name and on your screen appears the soldiers from that state who share this name.

With these names on your screen you have two options to access further information. By clicking on each name you will be able to read the soldier’s company, rank and regiment. By click-ing on the actual regiment you will be able to discover where the unit was mustered into service. Knowing the town or county where he lived can help to narrow the search. You will also now be able to confirm family legend and discover whether your great grandfather was truly at the Battle of Antietam!

Armed with this very preliminary infor-mation you can visit another website that contains a wealth of additional in-formation. Thanks to the government of the United States our National Archives contain a treasure trove of documents related to those who fought in America’s greatest conflict.

Step #1 Log onto www.nara.gov Step #2 Click on Obtain Copies in the left-hand column Step #3 On the new screen click onMilitary Service Records Step #4 On the new screen click on Pre-WW I Records Step #5 Under Military Service Records scroll down and click on Order OnlineStep #6 On this new screen click on Compiled Military Service File (NATF 86) Step #7 On this next screen click on Add to CartStep #8 Create an account by providing a User ID and PasswordStep #9 Finally on this screen you will enter all that you know about your ancestor’s name, rank, branch of service and home stateStep#10 Continue to Pay and Ship The fee is $25.00. Many applicants receive copies of dozens of pages of relevant information. Some receive more and others less. If nothing is found in government files, you are not charged the fee.

Now your wait begins. Please be advised that this wait can sometimes be 60 to 90 days due to the great numbers of folks such as yourself who are submitting these requests.

GOOD LUCK AND GOOD HUNTING!

Image Courtesy of www.popsci.com

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Civil War Honor RollThe Honor Roll is a list of Dutch colonists who served in the Civil War from Holland, Zeeland, Fillmore, and Overisel as well as Grand Haven, Kalamazoo, Grand-ville, and Grand Rapids. It was assembled by Gerrit Van Schel-ven and taken from Historische Schetsen uit het Kolonial Leven. Begonnen in No. 20, Jaargaug 51. 22 April 1913.

1st Reg. Mich Infy. Semeijin, Leonard2nd Regt. Mich Infy. Gunst, Peter VanZwalnwenberg, Gerrit3rd Regt. Mish Infy. Dijkema, Hendrik Poel, Hendrik N. De Groot, Jan L. Ranke, Frederick De Kraker, Meeuwes Steffens, Jan Kuijers, Roelof Steffens, Roelof Kuijers, Jacob Kleijn, Pieter Kleijn, Jacob G. Mol, Cornelius Nagel, Rudolph Scholten, Hendrik Schram, Peter G. Van Dijk, Willem VanderPoel, Geo. 8th Regt. Mich Infy Beukema, Aleck Boot, Anthony Belt, Daniel D. Bongaerts, Martinus Bongaerts, Adrianus Drost, Komerinus O. Doesburg, Otto De Groot, Simon De Jong, Jan De Kief, Arie De Boer, Jakob De Boer, Jan De Fouw, Willem Farma, Hendrik Grootenhuis, James Grebel, Hendrik Geelhoed, Jacob Goedgeluk, Willem Idema, Hendrik

Idema, Lamper Dramer, Frederik Knoop, Jan J. Keppel, Derk Knol, Hendrik Kraai, Thomas Langen, Jan Meppen, Hendrik Mokma, Maarten Molesteeg, Hendrik Mulder, Karel Nijland, Hendrikus Polsma, Rense P. Ruters, Bertus Sempel, Geert Streng, Jan A. Slager Jan Slaghuis, Abram Van Rij, Frank Van Dijk, Jan Van Nuil, Wouter Verhoeks, Gijsb’rt VanZantwijk, Alex VanDijk, Jacob J. Vand.Veen, Arend V.d.Tak, Adrianus Wagenaar, Adriaan Wakker, Stef B. Wolters, Pieter10th Regt. Mich Infy Hofman, Jan

12th Regt. Mich Infy. Hildebrand, Wm. Johannesssen, Joh.13th Regt. Mich Infy. Anijs, Willem G. Bultman, Jacob Broekman, Jan Broekman, Evert Bos, Andries J. Danenberg, Jan Hekhuis, Jan Heinz, Hendrik Hekman, Hendrik Heijboer, Gerard Heeringa, Hend’k Kuite, Marinus Kramer, Jan Kramer, Martinus Kooiman, Jacobus Keppel, Teunis Leenhouts, Issac Rutgers, Lambertus Riepma, R. Sapes, Jermome Slotman, Jan H. Schepers, Jacob V.d. Boogaert, Jan D. V.d.Veer, Oscar L.

V.den Berg, Gerrit Van Dijk, Fank Vredenburg, Hend’k VanDijk, Broer V.der Hoop, Bertus Wissink, Jan Wm. Ypma, Roelof Zwartwoud, August14th Regt. Mich. Infy. Despelder, Jan V. Helder, Jr., J. Valkenburg, Lamert 16th Regt. Mich Inf. Bongaerts, Roelof Boonstra, Sake DeKraker, Sr., Louis De Spelder, Pieter DeKruif, Johannes P. Visscher, Willem17th Regt. Mich Infy. Aling, Albert DeKlerk, Abram Leroy, Simon Klink, Jan19th Regt. Mich Infy. Botzen, Theodore Brinkman, Jan H. Grootemaat, Jan Galman, Jr., Jan Kleefman, Egbert Lohuis, Gerrit Rutgers, Jan Rookus, Paulus Verhage, Jakob Wagemaker, Klaas Zagers, Hendrik Zwemer, Jan21st Regt Mich Infy. Brand, Jan Bakker, Oscar Bal, Jan Bos, Lutje J. Bijlsma, Oscar Cornelisse, Joh. DeGlopper, Corn.J. De Kraker, Jozia De Wit, Jan De Bree, Johannes DeRuijter, Derk Dijkema, Willem Esveld, Kommer Gelock, Maarten Kraai, Jan Kronemeijer, Alb. Klouw, Cornelius Kossent, Marinus Kamhout, Marinus Krijger, Jakob Moerman, Bastiaan

Meijdam, Anton Morowsky, August Pruin, Euno Reenders, Eldert Steketee, Pieter Van Loo, Corn. VanderSluis, James Van Stee, Peiter Van Stee, Anthony Verhoeks, Gerrit Verhoeks, Jan Van Strien, Jakobus VanLeeuwen, Wm.H. Van der Boeg, Corn. Van den Berg, (Sakkers) Richard Wijngaarden, Isaac B. Zwol, Hendrik 24th Regt. Mich. Infy. Douma, Jan R. Domine, Johannes Havega, Edward Kloosterman, Peiter Lokker, Cornelius Lucasse, Arie Lage, Phillip Mokma, Germ W. Notier Mattheus Nijland, Gerrit Otten, Jan Sootsma, Jakob Van Est, Hend’k H. VanderKreeke, Jan Vermeulen, Pieter25th Regt. Mich. Infy. Albers, Jan G. Abrams, Jan Boot, Otto Bouwman, Cornelius Blom, Willem Blom, Marinus Barendreght, Huibert Brouwer, Arend Brouwer, Jan Christian, Cornelius Dijkhuis, Klaas Donker, Hendrik Doesburg, Jakob O.

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DeVries, Ulke DeVries, Renke DeFeyter, Pieter De Vries, Pieter De Kruif, Gerlinus E. De Boe, Martin Grootenhuis, Jan Huizenga, Jan Horlings, Mense W. Jonkheer, Alexander Jansen, Mines Kramer, Jan Koning, Arie Kamhout, Cornelius Ledeboer, Wm. G. Naber, Jan Oggel, Jan P. Pelon, Jan Rot, Arie Reenders, Ale Steginga, Derk Steketee, Jan Te Sleghte, Hendrik J. Verschure, Pieter Veen, Jan Veneklaasen, Petrus Van Dam, Cornelius Van Appeldoorn, Wulf Van Putten, Willem Van den Belt, Frederik Van Raalte, Benjamin VanRaalte, Dirk B.K. Van De Luijster, Marinus Van Schelven, Gerrit Van Dijk, Hendrik B. Van Regenmorter, Melgert Van Lente, Johannes Van Leeuwen, Pieter Van Malsem, Arie Van den Belt, Hendrik Wolters, Frederik Wakker, Willem Wilterdink, Jan A. Den Herder, Cornelius Ellen, Pieter Everhard, Jan D. Freick, Willem Bos, Frederik Buursma, Ale Dunnink, Jan Doesburg, Gerrit S. Dijkema, Jan P. De Feyter, Marinus Eding, Albert Everts, Hendrik Grebel, Jakob Vork, Jan D. Verhage, Adriaan Vork, Pieter D. Verplanke, Joos

Veen, Roelof Hoezee, Pieter Hesselink, Gerrit j. Kleis, Berend Louwis, Johannes Mulder, Marinus Oostema, Roelof Rookes, Pieter Smits, Jakob Toren, Hendrik Wesselink, Geert VanTongeren, Peter G. VanLente, Hendrik Van de Verde, Maarten Van den Bosch, Tamme M. Van der Zwaag, Bartel Wakker, Gerrit Woltman, Jurien1st Regt. Mich. Cav. Heins, Geett Heins, Jan Heins, Roelof Van Antwerp, Louis Van Bergen, Josias2nd Regt. Mich. Cav. Blom, Nicholaaas Boes, Pieter De Groot, Maarten De Groot, Albert De Jong, Jan Eding, Hendrik Heering, Gerrit Kamhout, Leendert Koster, Willem Miedema, Derk Moerdijk, Willem Meijerink, Reindert Nies, Jan Reidsema, Simon Reidsema, Maarten Riemersma, Jan Reidsema, Jakob Rust, Jan Rust, Samuel W. Schelling, Willem Thiel, Christiann Van Anrooi, Jan Van Halteren, Benj. Van Halteren, Gerrit Van Leeuwen, Jan G. Van Uil, Lucas Vogel, Jan Westvelt, Hendrik3rd Regt. Mich. Cav. Heeringa, Jakob Hoek, Hendrik Mockelenkate, Jan Rooks, Frederik4th Regt. Mich. Cav. Semeijn, Pieter

5th Regt. Mich. Cav. Brink, Simon L. Dalman, Hendrik Garvelink, Herman Kok, Jan Nijhof, Willem Notting, Jan Reimink, Albert C. Van Bree, Gerrit Zoerman, Hendrik6th Regt. Mich. Cav. Van der Sluis, Francois O. 9th Regt. Mich. Cav. Bouwkamp, Jan De Vries, Jelle Gezon, Hermanus Hoekstra, Jurien Kaslander, Stoffel Roon, Willem Strick, Roelof Uhlberg, Johannes10th Regt. Mich. Cav. Bosma, Jan Brakel, Willem Bosman, Johannes Dekker, Sietze Dykema, Cornelius Rosenburg, Cornelius Verstraat, MaartenMerrill Cavalry (A Michigan Company, assigned to a Missouri Regiment) Hulscher, CoenraadLincoln Cavalry Westrate, William 1st Regt. Mich. Mech. & Eng. Cleenewerk, Benjamin Dalman, Roelof Dijkema, Samuel De Glopper, Rieter De GLopper, Maarten De Koijer, Pieter De Kraker, Jr., Louis De Vree, Andries De Vree, Jan De Vree, David Elgisma, Eltze Falen, Daniel Frans, Aaron Gerlock, Willem Grootemaat, Mathijs Haan, Jakob Hoeve, Pieter Haan, Nicholaas Hendriks, Pieter Kamhout, Jan Koning, Hendrik Kraai, Pieter Krijger, Cornelius

Kuiper, Daniel Luten, Lambert Mastenbroek, Jan Mastenbroek, Abram Moes, Pieter Nieuwenhuis, Jakob Oppeneer, Jan Quartel, Marcus M. Richards, Jan Sonke, Jan Ten Hopen, Jan H. Teenstra, Theodore J. Versteeg, Arie Van der Made, Jan Van den Berg, Willem Van der Kooi, Lambert Van der Made, Derk Van der Meer, Jan Van Dijk, Albert Van Keuren, Jan P. Van Stee, Cornelius VanSteensel, Arie Wirts, Johannes1st Regt. Mich. Sharpshooters Beukema, Ripke Du Mez, Gerrit Huizinga, Maarten Luikens, Jan Langeland, Jan Van den Berg, Jan1st Regt. Mich. Light Artillery Boeve, Jan De Vries, Pieter Den Boer, Adriaan Grootemaat, Johannes Kamhout, Jan Louwes, Jakob Oppeneer, Jakobus Verstee, Cornelius Verstee, Arie Verstee, Karel16th Regt. US Infy. Van Zwaluwenberg, JacobUS Navy Van Landegend, CorneliusUnassigned or Organization Not Known Bakker, Jan O. Domine, Johannes Dykema, Krijn De Kraker, Jakobus Gort, Cornelius Hoeksema, J. Kloosterman, Pieter Liesveld, Willem Lucasse, Arie Roos, Hendrik Bootsma, Jakob Van Est, Hendrik

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21Photos Courtesy of Charles DeWitt

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Holland

Military historians consider the outcome of the Battle of Antietam a draw. Both sides claimed victory. Yet, the cost in battlefield casualties was horrendous. More Americans died along this now infamous creek, in the cornfield, at the infamous Bloody Lane and storming the Burnside Bridge than the total those who had fallen over the seven years of our American Revolutionary War.

As both armies limped away and went into their winter camps, Union President Abraham Lincoln decided that the time had finally arrived to expand the war’s original purpose of reunification of the states and give a moral cause to this civil war. The time had come to issue his Emancipation Proclamation. From here on in, whatever southern territory the Union armies would occupy, the slaves residing there would forever be “free”.

This decision to abolish the institution of slavery culminated seventy-five years of

intense political debate as to the valid-ity of this “peculiar institution” within a nation established upon freedom and liberty. The presidential order outraged the south and anti- abolitionists in the north as well, including the well-known American actor, John Wilkes Booth.

Two and a half years after Lincoln’s call to abolish slavery and with the surren-der of the Army of Northern Virginia on April 9, 1865 the still angry actor used the setting of Washington, D. C.’s Ford’s Theater to assassinate the 16th Presi-dent of the United States. This final ca-sualty of the war which had already cost 640,00 lives was deeply mourned by his countrymen and was now to be laid to final rest in his hometown of Springfield, Illinois.

Members of Michigan’s 24th Regiment of Infantry were assigned the duty of

SOLDIERS GUARD LINCOLN’S BODYBy Al McGeehan

guarding the martyred President’s body and accompanying it on the funeral train, which made a circuitous route through northern cities on its way to Springfield. Records held by the Ar-chives of the Holland Museum confirm that two Holland, Michigan soldiers were part of that guard detail. These soldiers were Matthew Notier and Jan (John) Douma.

In the 1960’s John Douma’s grand-daughter, Barbara Lampen, a long time teacher of history in the Holland Public schools identified her grandfather as be-ing the soldier standing to the left of the iron gate at Lincoln’s tomb in Spring-field’s Oak Hill Cemetery.

Private Jan Douma (to the left of gate) stands guard during President Abraham Lincoln’s internment services May 4, 1865.

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Clara BartonPhoto Courtesy of the Commonwealth Press,

Worcester, Mass from the Library of Congress.

Portrait taken during the Civil War and authorized by Clara as the one she wished to be remembered by.

By Wendy Van Woerkom

Angel of the Battlefield

Today as you walk around the site you may notice some very conspicuous red crosses. Every year at our event we work with the Red Cross to provide first aid and first responder services to our visi-tors. This group not only helps with our event, but they do other good work all over the country. “So what is the connec-tion,” you might ask? Well, the founder of the American Red Cross was actually at the Battle of Antietam.

Clara Barton started out her career as a school teacher, but was serving as a clerk in the U.S. Patent Office at the begin-ning of the Civil War. In April of 1861, supporters of the Confederacy mobbed a train of Union soldiers in Baltimore, Maryland. When the wounded found their way to the new U.S. Capitol build-ing, guess who found her way to help the

wounded? Clara Barton. This would be her first encounter coming to the aid of soldiers, but it would not be the last.

Following that incident, Ms. Barton felt that it was her calling to help wounded soldiers in some way. Contacting family and friends across the country, she was able to gather food, medicine, clothing, and other supplies, which she would then take with her to various battlefields. One of those battlefields was Antietam. Clara was tending soldiers so close to the action that she actually had a bullet go through her sleeve.

Her work did not end after the war. She spent an exhausting year trying to help locate missing soldiers to bring closure to many families. She also went on a lecture tour conducting approximately 300 pre-

“My business is staunching

blood, and feeding

fainting men.” - Clara Barton

sentations about her experiences during the war.

Following all this work her doctor rec-ommended that she take a break. She traveled to Europe where officials of the International Red Cross contacted her. When she heard about all that the orga-nization had been able to do in Europe, she realized that it could be of great help in her own country. Upon her return to the United States, she once again went into action, and by 1881, she had helped to found the American Red Cross.

A mission that had started as a desire to help soldiers in need during a war had turned into a life’s work with far reaching implications. So when you look at the nearest Red Cross representative, know that history affects people long after the fact.

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The Emancipation ProclamationImage Courtesy of www.answers.com

The featured small quote (center of ar-ticle) captures some of the nature of the Emancipation Proclamation, a measure alike Military & Philanthropic. Not ev-eryone was so jubilant about it though. Some believed that it did too much others thought it did not do enough. In this article, we have a few reactions, but first what do we know about the Emancipation Proclamation? Well most importantly it freed the slaves, but did you know it didn’t free all of them? The initial Proclamation issued on Septem-ber 22 of 1862 gave the states in open rebellion until January 1 of 1863 to come back into the Union or their slaves would be freed. The Proclamation did not apply to slave holding borders states siding with the Union or any areas that the Union already occupied.

So you can see that while it laid the groundwork for the humanitarian side of the war effort it truly was a military measure as Stone noted. Let us look at a few of those reac-tions. You might be surprised by some of them.

“Sir,

It is the privilege of every Citizen of this great Commonwealth to address its Chief Magistrate…

Always a supporter of the Democratic Party, the attack on Fort Sumpter made me, in common with thousands of oth-ers, who had not helped to put you in power, ready and willing to give your Administration our best support in its efforts to enforce the Constitution and preserve the Union…..

Having nothing to ask for, with no other purpose or end than the safety of our common country we have rallied around you, as our Chief Magistrate and sec-

onded to our best ability your efforts to put down this unholy rebellion.

Actuated by such motives I must be per-mitted to say that while we do not doubt the entire sincerity of your convictions as to the proper mode of dealing with the rebels of the South it is apparent to us that the Emancipation Proclamation can have no other than the most mis-chievous effect. We believe that a vast majority of the people of the Free States do not approve of it, and that so long as the Policy of this document is adhered to you cannot expect to find at the North the unanimity of sentiment without which this deplorable war cannot be successfully prosecuted.”

“As a citizen of the United States I take the liberty of addressing you a short letter.

I am now and for a considerable time have been incarcerated by the Enemies of our Country, in Castle Thunder Rich-mond—Here I shall soon die; but before being consigned to my obscure grave, I desire as a Southern man to applaud and commend your efforts in the holy cause in-which you are engaged; not only of restoring the Union, but in rending the shackles of Slavery from millions of our fellow beings—Let me assure you that the prayers of thousands in the South ascend to heaven daily for your ultimate success, in the great work--….

In conclusion I will venture a single sug-gestion on another point—It would be arrogance and folly in an humble indi-vidual like myself to presume to council the chief magistrate of a great nation but having closely watched the prog-ress of this work, and the policy of your administration, I may be pardoned for expressing the result of my observations, and a single suggestion—

Your Emancipation proclamation opened the grandest issue involved in this sanguinary struggle, and may prove the heaviest blow dealt the rebellion—But as I understand it, and as it is unwisely interpreted in the South, it frees all the Slaves within the terri-tory to which applies without offering

“The People are jubilant over your

emancipation message as a measure

alike Military & Philanthropic.”

- Telegram from James W. Stone to Abraham Lincoln Sept 23, 1862i.

Henry Nicollii to Abraham Lincoln Monday Feb. 9, 1863:

Another viewpoint from a letter written by William Fitzgeraldiii to Abraham Lincoln on Saturday, July 4, 1863

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any indemnity to loyal citizens—In this respect it is wanting—There are many loyal slaveholders in the South, and your proclamation has driven some, and will drive others over to the rebels. I know within my circle of acquaintances several with whom it has had this effect. …Not only were these two men added to the rebel army, but also the influence of their example was by no means insignifi-cant—

Since then you can not desire the in-nocent to suffer for the misdeeds of the guilty, that the loyal should receive—the wages of treason, let another proclama-tion be issued, promising loyal citizens of the South reasonable compensation for the slaves liberated, out of the con-fiscated property of the disloyal, and the two proclamations together will quickly prove, with assistance of the army now in the field, the heaviest blows, and the death blows to the rebellion—

Such is the belief of your dying and Obedient Servant -

Wm. Fitzgerald”

So as you can see the Proclamation was a rather simple document with far reaching repercussions. The first initial draft was shown to the full cabinet on July 22, 1862 and the first Proclamation was issued after Antietam on September 22, 1862. Looking at the series of events before its release it is clear that Lincoln was going to emancipate the slaves. He was just biding his time to release the Proclamation until it would have the best effect. Antietam was deemed by him to be the best time. One hundred days after his initial Proclamation he issued another listing what states and areas of states would be effected. He also included a clause that stipulating that able-bodied free men would be ac-cepted into military service.

i - Mr. Brown was a Boston Abolitionist and newspaper editorii - Mr. Nicoll was a Democratic member of the 30th Congress 1847-1849 from New Yorkiii - Fitzgerald was a prisoner in Richmondiv - “Emancipation Proclamation” www.ourdocuments.gov National Archives

This document not only changed the nature of the war by giving a moral force to the Union cause,

but it served as a milestone on the road to the end of slavery in the United Statesiv.

Warner Norcross & JuddSalutes the

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Thank you

Civil War Muster CommitteeBack row Left to Right: Mary Parchert, Wendy Link, Dwayne Rotman, Lollie Baumann, Dave Baumann

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