1^ST MICHIGAN INFANTRY

A CIVIL WAR REENACTING GROUP

 

 

 

Name: Keith Rigoni

Rank: 1st Sergeant

Enlistment: 2^nd Cpl- May 1^st, 1861 (3 month)

                        1^st Sgt - September 16^th, 1861 (3 Year)

Date of birth- Feb 15, 1838 Albany County, NY

Occupation- Surveyor, Storekeeper

Bio- Moved to Michigan in 1850 when my family started a homestead in Marshall.  I graduated from the University of Michigan in 1858 where I caused quite a bit a trouble with Elon Farnsworth.  After graduation I got a federal appointment as a surveyor and plotted farms Kalamazoo for two years before returning to Marshall to start a dry goods store and joined the local militia company.  After serving in the 1^st Michigan Regiment 3 month regiment as a corporal I used my political connections obtained through the land office to be appointed 1^st Sergeant in the reorganized 3 year regiment.

Name: Jeff Mattix

Rank: Captain

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Name: Devin Greene

Rank: 2nd Lieutenant

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Name: CJ Westphal

Rank: Brevet 2nd Sergeant

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Name: Gordon Carlton

Rank: 1st Corporal

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Name: Mike Janik

Rank: Brevet 2nd Corporal

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Name: Steve Rossio

Rank: Chaplain

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Name: Wyatt Burleson

Rank: Private

Enlistment:  September 16^th, 1861 (3 Year)

Date of birth:  June 15, 1837  Erie County, New York

Occupation: Farmer

Bio:I was born in 1837 in western New York State.  Shortly after I was born, my parents moved to Van Buren County, Michigan and hacked a small farm out of the wilderness. I attended the Agricultural College in Lansing and graduated in 1861. While in college I became involved with the Republican Party and followed the coming storm very intently.  I came home from school to my parent’s farm and got engaged to my hometown sweetheart. When our great President called for more troops in September, I travelled to Detroit to meet my good friend Keith and joined the First Michigan Infantry, which had fought with great distinction at the debacle of Bull Run.  I joined the army to preserve the Union and whip those traitorous secesh and my only hope is the war does not end until I get my chance to fight. Hurrah for the Union !!!

Name: Joe Fortner

Rank: Private

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Name: Dean Rigoni

Rank: Private

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Name: Doyle Fueling

Rank: Private

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Name: Carl Bowers

Rank: Private

Enlistment:  May 1st, 1861

                        Sept. 16th, 1861

Date of birth:   Nov. 29th, 1806 Chicago, Il

Occupation: Cabinetmaker, Well-digger

Bio:  I grew up in Chicago while learning the cabinet making trade.  Joined the Illinois militia in 1832 and fought with distinction during the Blackhawk War.  After the war and the passing of my father I moved to Michigan in 1841 to hack out a new life in the wilderness of Three Rivers, Michigan.  I started a successful business as a cabinet maker and was contracted to dig all of the cities wells.  I joined the 1st Michigan three month regiment as soon as I heard about the secession going on the south.   After returning from Bull Run I re-enlisted with the 1st Michigan three year regiment to finish the job of preserving the Union and to set men free. 

Name: Cris Westphal

Rank: Private

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Rank: Private

Enlistment: May 1^st 1861 (3 month)

Sept. 16^th 1861 (3 year) 

DOB: May 09, 1835

Occupation: Builder (Construction) and Volunteer Firefighter 

Bio: Brent moved to Michigan with his family in 1845 at the age of 10. The Reeves family established a homestead in a rural area on the far south side of Kalamazoo. Brent attended school until the age of 15 at which time he began building houses and office buildings in the Kalamazoo area. Brent often spent his breaks over at the local firehouse, drinking and hanging out with the firemen. Finally at the age of 18, he signed up to be a volunteer firefighter. He was assigned to the Excelsior Fire Co. in Kalamazoo and is credited with saving numerous lives as well as playing an integral part in installing Kalamazoo’s very first fire alarm system, which was located in the bell tower of the First Baptist Church. In 1861 as word of the attack on Ft. Sumter reached Michigan, Brent and many other members of the fire department immediately enlisted in the 3 month regiment of the First. After a heroic and valiant fight at Bull Run, Brent returned to Michigan and reenlisted with the reorganized 3 year regiment.  One memory Brent recalls from Bull Run is how he fought side-by-side with the 11^th NY Infantry, The Red Shirted Devils who were his brother firefighters from Manhattan, NY. Brent gives these men credit for fighting with all their might alongside the 1^st for hours that day, doing the Union proud!