The true northerner., 1898-05-11
MIoH1GAN's NAVAL RESERVE.
The Movement Which Resulted in Its
Organization.


Michigan has no artillery, but next
TO the National Guard, the citizens of
the Wolverine state pride themselves
on the Naval Reserve. To the COM
monwealth of Massachusetts belongs
the honor of enacting the first
law for the establishment of a naval
battalion 10 be attached to the volun-
teer militia. New York enacted gen
orally similar law in 1889, and Michigan
fell into line in 1898. The purpose OF
the laws was To promote the interest
in national naval reserve and a state
naval militia. Now, just ten years aft
er the first effort, when the nation has
need of the services of these organiza
tions, il is able to summon TO its aid
about $500 naval reserves from fifteen
different states.
The movement which resulted in the
organization of the Michigan Naval
Reserve had its inception in Detroit in
May, 1898 foremost among its enthu-
siastic and influential promoters being
Cyrus r. Lothrop, son of former
United States minister to st. Peters
burg, Truman H. Newberry. Henry b.
Joy, Strathearn Hendrie and the late
Charles c. Poe, whose father, the late
General o. NJ. Poe, left an enduring
monument in the shape of the great
locks and canal at Sault Ste. Marie.
The same month the legislature passed
a bill providing for the organization,
equipment and maintenance of the
Michigan State Naval Brigade. No
appropriation was made for the citi-
zen sailors until 1895, when a per cap
ita tax of one eighth of per cent. was
authorized. This yielded an annual
fund of about $500. At the recent
special session of the legislature this
tax, in view of impending hostiIities,
was increased to one-half of l per cent
The first meeting of the young men
who had signed the pledge to enlist was
held at the Russell House. Detroit.
Only twenty-eight of the necessary
forty-eight men were present when this
meeting commenced, but before ad-
journment more than the required num-
Der had been secured. The following
officers were elected: President. +. S.
Werneken; vice president, l. T. Cowles,
secretary; Cyrus L. Lothrop; treasurer,
+. +. Sibley.
II was not until oct. 16, 1894, that the
Naval Reserve had their first practical
experience by being taken on board the
United States steamer Mich gan for
daily practice cruises. These cruises
were made under the direction of Com
mander Berry, L. S. n. The following
were the officers of the Reserves dur
ing these trips: Gilbert Wilkes, lieu
tenant commanding the division; w.
HOWE Muir, lieutenant, junior grade;
Fred d. Standish and Cyrus T.. Lothrop,
ensigns; Henry 3. JOY, Frank b. Gay
lord. Strathearn Hendrie. Delos +.
Parker John S. Newberry and +. II.
Clark, petty officers. The practice COM
prised daily cruises on Lake st. Clair,
and in the evening laying over the
masthead"
The reserves were very busy during
the following winter. a thorough drill
in infantry and artillery tactics being
instituted, while many members were
added TO the organization.
On Dec. 26, 1894. the division was re-
formed into the First Battalion Michi-
gan State Naval Brigade, and on Jan.
L. 1895, the Second division, located at
Saginaw, under Lieutenant F. l.. Ea-
ton, was assigned to it.
On May 19, 1895, Lieutenant Charles
G. Poe. the first commanding officer
and one of the founders of the corps,
died suddenly, and IL was as an escort
on the day of his funeral that the COM
mand for the first time turned out in
battalion formation. In the summers
of 1896 1896 and 1897 the reserves went
to Mackinac island on board the United
States steamer Michigan.