Posted 3 years ago
roadweasel
(33 items)
Jackson Grey's Drill Medal Cased , Michigan's in the Civil War .. Made by M. S. SMITH & Co. Jeweler's Detroit Michigan.
On April 12, 1861, the first guns of the Civil War were fired on Fort Sumter. On April 15,
only three days later, Lincoln appealed to the “loyal” states for help in putting down the
rebellion, calling for 75,000 volunteers to serve for three months. Michigan Governor Austin
Blair received the War Department’s telegram at his home in Jackson, advising him of
Lincoln’s call to arms and informing him of Michigan’s quota: one regiment consisting of
ten companies, or about 1,000 men. On April 16, one day after receiving the War Department’s telegram, Governor Blair
called for volunteers.
The response was wildly enthusiastic, On April 29, 1861, ten companies—
the Detroit Light Guard,
The Jackson Grey's,
the Coldwater Cadets,
the Manchester Union Guard,
the Steuben Guard,
the Michigan Hussars,
the Burr Oak Guard,
Ypsilanti Light Guard,
The Marshall Light Guard
and the Hardee Cadets—rendezvoused at Fort Wayne to drill and train. On May 1, 798 officers and men were mustered into federal service as the First rally in Detroit, as the First Michigan Volunteer Infantry Regiment.
This medal is of gold and silver, The detail would rival Tiffaney pieces of the same area. This is from my personal collection, and one of my favorites. In it's original issue case .
