I spend a lot of time reading about the Civil War, and I spend a lot of time consuming all things MSU sports. I started to wonder if my two interests could converge. Since MSU was founded as MAC in 1855, is it possible MAC students served in the Civil War? Not only was the answer yes, but what I found out was pretty interesting.
While the country prepared for war in early 1861, one MAC professor organized the Plow Boy Guards, which sounds very agriculture-ey. This group of students drilled weekly and participated in Lansing parades. Although this was apparently more ceremonial, students actually began to leave campus for the war by the fall. The entire first graduating class of MAC joined the war in September 1861. All seven seniors were excused from their studies to join the war and awarded Bachelors of Science. Unfortunately, the seven men had to leave so soon they were not able to attend any graduation ceremony.
One of the most interesting men of these seven was Gilbert Dickey from Marshall, MI (Dickey is the one standing in the back row, middle. Here is with the first graduating class). His family moved from New England to Michigan in the 1830s, and his father was successful in business and politics. Dickey enrolled at MAC when he was 14. When the war broke out, Dickey enlisted in an engineering unit headed for Missouri. However, the unit was disbanded rather early on. Dickey had to return home to Michigan after the unit disbanded, but by August 1862 he was able to enlist again in the 24th Michigan Infantry. This regiment joined the already famous Iron Brigade, made up of regiments from future Big Ten States: The 2nd, 6th, and 7th Wisconsin, the 19th Indiana, and Dickey’s 24th Michigan. Dickey began as a sergeant but quickly gained attention as an excellent soldier and was promoted all the way to 2nd Lieutenant.
Dickey and his company of the 24th Michigan were heavily involved in the first day of fighting at Gettysburg, July 1st, 1863. Sadly, July 1st was Dickey’s first wedding anniversary and his last day on the planet. The 24th Michigan was rushed to Herbst Woods, west of Gettysburg, to relieve pressure on overwhelmed Union cavalry. Initially they found success storming the flank of a Tennessee regiment. Soon, however, more confederate units arrived and the 24th Michigan found itself flanked by a North Carolina regiment when the 19th Indiana, positioned on the 24th’s left, was forced back. The 24th’s Colonel tried to swing his regiment to face south towards the oncoming confederates. While Dickey was trying to maneuver his company, which was already under heavy fire, Dickey was shot and killed. Dickey’s father joined hundreds of other desperate parents after hearing news of the battle and left for Gettysburg to find his son. He found his son among the many graves at Herbst Woods.
Back at MAC, the school struggled to increase enrollment as men from Michigan continued to join the war effort. The school began to offer military instruction throughout the rest of the war, and the state government even gave the university guns to practice with.
Photos:
https://onthebanks.msu.edu/Object/162-565-3078/class-of-1861-portrait/
flickr.com
While the country prepared for war in early 1861, one MAC professor organized the Plow Boy Guards, which sounds very agriculture-ey. This group of students drilled weekly and participated in Lansing parades. Although this was apparently more ceremonial, students actually began to leave campus for the war by the fall. The entire first graduating class of MAC joined the war in September 1861. All seven seniors were excused from their studies to join the war and awarded Bachelors of Science. Unfortunately, the seven men had to leave so soon they were not able to attend any graduation ceremony.
One of the most interesting men of these seven was Gilbert Dickey from Marshall, MI (Dickey is the one standing in the back row, middle. Here is with the first graduating class). His family moved from New England to Michigan in the 1830s, and his father was successful in business and politics. Dickey enrolled at MAC when he was 14. When the war broke out, Dickey enlisted in an engineering unit headed for Missouri. However, the unit was disbanded rather early on. Dickey had to return home to Michigan after the unit disbanded, but by August 1862 he was able to enlist again in the 24th Michigan Infantry. This regiment joined the already famous Iron Brigade, made up of regiments from future Big Ten States: The 2nd, 6th, and 7th Wisconsin, the 19th Indiana, and Dickey’s 24th Michigan. Dickey began as a sergeant but quickly gained attention as an excellent soldier and was promoted all the way to 2nd Lieutenant.
Dickey and his company of the 24th Michigan were heavily involved in the first day of fighting at Gettysburg, July 1st, 1863. Sadly, July 1st was Dickey’s first wedding anniversary and his last day on the planet. The 24th Michigan was rushed to Herbst Woods, west of Gettysburg, to relieve pressure on overwhelmed Union cavalry. Initially they found success storming the flank of a Tennessee regiment. Soon, however, more confederate units arrived and the 24th Michigan found itself flanked by a North Carolina regiment when the 19th Indiana, positioned on the 24th’s left, was forced back. The 24th’s Colonel tried to swing his regiment to face south towards the oncoming confederates. While Dickey was trying to maneuver his company, which was already under heavy fire, Dickey was shot and killed. Dickey’s father joined hundreds of other desperate parents after hearing news of the battle and left for Gettysburg to find his son. He found his son among the many graves at Herbst Woods.
Back at MAC, the school struggled to increase enrollment as men from Michigan continued to join the war effort. The school began to offer military instruction throughout the rest of the war, and the state government even gave the university guns to practice with.
Photos:
https://onthebanks.msu.edu/Object/162-565-3078/class-of-1861-portrait/
flickr.com
