 |
|
Keeping the 4th Michigan Infantry's Memories alive!
|
My interest in the 4th Michigan Infantry started to flow, when I began my research of the Trenton Volunteers, later to be known as Company “I“ of the 4th Michigan Infantry. What caught my eye was that one of the main roads that runs through the city of Trenton is Vreeland Rd. In my studies of the 4th I knew there were a number of Vreelands who had served in the regiment. The soldier that I was interested in was Brevet General Michael J. Vreeland, who was mortally wounded at Gettysburg. To find out where he was buried, I started with his pension records. The only thing the pension records showed was that he died in Gibraltar, Michigan. Myself along with author Roger Hunt “Brevet Generals in Blue” had looked for M. J. Vreeland’s gravesite for a number of years in Southeast Michigan. The site was finally located with the help of fellow civil war buff Tom Hout.
|
On a cold winter day I viewed the head stone for the first time! There it lay broken and in two pieces, under six inches of snow. Barely legible on the front side the wording could still be viewed: Michael J. Vreeland and the dates when he was born and died. On the reverse side, I was not so lucky. If you looked hard enough you could see that at one time there was something engraved into the stone. I took a can of shaving cream, and spread it upon the faded wording, then wiped it off with a squeegee. The shaving cream highlighted the words: |
“Gravely wounded in the ‘Wheatfield’
Gettysburg Pa. July 2, 1863”
|
|
|
With help of the 4th Michigan Regiment, Company I re-enactors we began a campaign to raise funds to fix the broken pieces and have a bronze marker attached to the backside of the stone, re-establishing the missing engraved wording. Within nine months we were able to have a rededication ceremony on Veterans Day.
|
|
|
On a bright, sunny, fall day on November 11, 1991 in Woodmere Cemetery located in Detroit Michigan, with fourteen descendants in attendance, the monument was rededicated. Some in attendance came from California, Oregon, Florida and Michigan. Michael J. Vreeland IV had the honor of unveiling the gravestone. Attending the dedication were a large amount of spectators, including numerous re-enactment regiments, The 5th Michigan Civil War Band, VFW’s and American Legion Posts.
|
|
|
| Each month I will add to the list of: “Keeping the 4th Michigan Infantry Memories alive!” |
|
|
|
| See a listing of other known gravesites |
| Continue to Enter |
