The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1866-05-16
The Michigan Cavalry Brigade.

The Michigan cavalry Brigade
BY the special report of Adjutant Cen
eral Robertson, made to Gov. Grape, in re-
lation 10 the detention in service Of the OIL
GERS and enlisted men OF the Michigan Cav
airy Brigade, we learn that it was cOmpos-
ed Of the lst 9Th, and Tth Regiments, the
5th having been mustered out. These reg
iments were ordered to move west in May
ls65. Governor Grape was at that time in
Washington, and finding that the troops
were dissatisfied al not being mustered out,
he advised them to be patient aud 10 obey
the orders Of Government, and they would
soon be discharged. This belief was based
upon the fact that the War Department
stated their intention was 10 order the
Western troops west, 10 order 10 place
them a. near home as possible, at the time
OF their discharge. They were first ordered
% &, Louis, and from thence 10 Leaven-
worth, Kansas. From this point they were
ordered 70 march across the plains toward
Colorado. Gov Grape sgain visited Wash
ington in October 1862 for the special pur-
pose OF getting these regiments discharged
and was assured that they would be dis
charged by the first Of December. Such
announcement was made in the various
Michigan papers. Instead OF this, and
without authority, the regiments after pro
ceeding across the plains were broken up.
toll fvtr
IS the First Michigan Veteran Cavalry Be
lieying this consolidation TO he unwarrant-
I'd and without the authority Of Govern
ment, an investigation was at once com
menced and from the ample evidence pub
lished it Is clearly proved, that the consoil-
dalton was ordered by MAJ Gen. Dodge
without any authority from the War Depart
ment. The plea was that IL had 10 be done
in Orler 10 comply with the orders from
Washington 10 move 2 600 men westward.
This Plea Of Dodge IL shown by Gen Rob
crtsOu 10 be- untrue Tie men We're sent
20 Colorado. and from thence 10 Utah.
Here they We're ordered mustered out, and
had tseir choice TO accept an immediate
discharge, or to remain in service two
months longer, and then to be marched
back across the plains 10 LeavenWOrth 400
10 lies. The desire for a discharge was So
great among the men, that many of them
accepted il, without being aware Of the
losses aud inconvenience they were 10 suf-
fer. Gen. Robertson claims that no such
alternative should have been presented
them under the circumstances The result
Of being discharged In Utah was, that the
Communication OF mileage and substance
paid the men from Utah 10 Michigan
amounted to only Sis per man. not half
enough TO cover their expenses back TO
The Missouri river. By the consolidation
1916 officers and enlisted men having less
than two years 10 serve, were unJustly de
tanned in service for six months against The
orders Of the War Department aud the or
der Of Gen. Pope conserving 10 the cOnsOl-
idation OF the regiments. The Adjutant
General recommends that a representa-
ton be made to the War Department for
transportation, and if not granted, that an
application be made to Congress to obtain
from Government a sum sufficient to cover
the additional expenses of these men In
reaching home.
Let these brave soldiers, who have added
honor to the State, and performed their
whole duty. receive Justice Our own
members will not fail, We trust, to press
this application ehectually. No greater
wrong could be perpetrated than 10 rob
these soldiers OF the little pittance they
had saved in the service, by compelling
them to pay their own expenses for a jour
ney of more than 9, 600 miles, many of them
being left without dollar on their arrival
IT Michigan. It will be a stain upon the
honor OF the Stataif not made right, 10y re-
funding the expenses OF these men.