Collections of the Pioneer Society of the State of Michigan (Volume 3) - Tapa blanda

This historic book may have numerous typos, missing text or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1881. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... which the nation has been engaged since the settlement of the county. The Indians within the county gave very little trouble, and at no time was there a call made to take the field against them. What part the early settlers took in the Indian wars outside the county, there is left neither record nor tradition to disclose. But on war being declared against Mexico the county was in no way laggard in its patriotism or duty. Col. Andrew Longstreet, then a commander of a regiment of State troops, promptly offered his services, which were accepted by the governer, and a regiment of volunteers was ordered to be recruited. This was done to a considerable extent from this county, but Longstreet failed for some reason, now unknown, to be commissioned its colonel. Very few of those who went from Van Bnren county into the Mexican war are now alive. On the breaking out of the rebellion this county fully shared in the hot patriotism of the country. Over a thousand of its strong young men enlisted, and they took no inconsiderable part in the fortunes of the field in every department and arm of the service. Its representatives were in at the opening of the war, and even at the immediate disrobing of the chief of the rebels in his female disguise in the pine woods of Georgia. It is a painful and yet an ennobling fact, that bones of soldiers dying for the union may be found in every one of the southern States--descendants of the pioneers of Van Buren county--like father, like son. Here this sketch must close, but in laying down the pen with which it has been written, only what is written is ended. The record opened by the pioneers, who to break up the wilderness of Van Buren county slept with bark roofs above their heads, cooked their food on coals or heated stoues, toiled with t...