DEPARTMENT of MICHIGAN
Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War
In Memory of
Brother Bob Mulvihill
Sleep on ye fallen Comrade, the victory you have won, You've served our Order's banner, your task has been well done. Rest under wreaths of laurels by grateful Brothers given, We strew your grave with flowers, the sweetest gift of heaven.
Our website is draped in mourning for Brother Bob Mulvihill Austin Blair Camp No. 7 Department of Michigan SUVCW, who on the 21st day of May in the year of our Lord 2012 was called home by the Great Commander to the Blessed Camp above. |
Contact:
Commander: Henry Hawker
(734) 475-4665
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Austin Blair Camp No. 7
Jackson, Michigan
Commander: Henry Hawker
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| "Although having 501(c)(4) Tax Exempt Status. Donations to the Department of Michigan - Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War, its Camps, or Sons of Veterans Reserve Units operating within the Department of Michigan, (Are Not Tax Deductible)". |
About Our Camp
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Commander
Henry Hawker |
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Austin Blair Camp No. 7 is the second oldest camp in Michigan. It received it's charter in 1914 under the sponsorship of the Edward Pomeroy Post No. 48, Grand Army of the Republic in Jackson and has been active since it's inception. The unbroken existence of this camp, during many lean years, was the direct result of the dedicated untiring persistence of two Brothers, Thayne LaBanta and Donald Hoch.
The Camp was named in honor of Michigan Governor and Jackson citizen, Austin Blair, who was nicknamed the "War Governor". During the conflict, much of the time Governor Blair ran the seat of state government from Jackson, Michigan, making this community the hub of activity for the war effort.
CAMP MEETINGS
The Camp serves the area of Jackson County, Michigan, and meets the second Monday of the month in January, February, March, April May, July, September, October, and November from 7 - 9 p.m. Our meetings are held at the American Legion Post 29, 3200 Lansing Ave. Jackson MI. Visitors are always welcome to our meetings.
Check the Camp Bulletin Board and Calendar of Events for dates and times. For more information and to make sure there are no changes in the schedule,
OUR AUXILIARY
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Auxiliary President
Linda Kronberg |
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On July 14, 1997 the 1941 Charter for the Auxiliary to Austin Blair Camp
No. 7 SUVCW was reinstituted. Since then many Sisters have been actively
assisting the Sons in their endeavors to preserve the memory of the
Veterans of the Civil War.
The Auxillary meets at the same time, and place, as Austin Blair Camp No. 7 SUVCW. For information regarding membership contact
Auxiliary President, Linda Kronberg.
Click here to visit the Auxillary web pages.
For membership eligibility requirements to join the Auxiliary to the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War (with link to membership applicaiton) click here.
~ GRAVES REGISTRATION PROGRAM ~
PROJECT
Since 1994 our camp has had an aggressive graves registration program conducted by Past Camp Commander, Bill Lowe, and has amassed a data base of over 3000 Civil War veterans. His research indicates these veterans lived in Jackson County before, during or after the war, however, a few may have resided in adjoining counties but belonged to a G. A. R. Post within Jackson County. With the collected information on file at this time, the project is able to confirm the grave sites of over 1000 of these veterans.
SERVICES
If you are researching a veteran, we are pleased to offer you our services. There is never a fee for this. In turn, it is our hope that you will be able to provide us with information about the veteran you are researching. We have numerous resources available to us. To name a few: Michigan's Record of Soldiers and Sailors in the Civil War and Rosters of All Posts of the Grand Army of the Republic in Jackson County. Additionally we have the Jackson County portions of the following documents:
- The 1883 U. S. Government List of Pensioners
- The 1888 Michigan Census of Civil War Veterans
- The 1890 U. S. Census of Veterans and their Widows
- Some county burial records.
Department of Michigan's Graves Registration Database
To access the site click on this photo of their military headstone
National Graves Registration Database
To access the site click on this photo of their military headstone
GRAVE SITE INFORMATION
If you are trying to find the grave site of a veteran, you need to learn what to look for in a cemetery.
To visit our section on Identifying Civil War Graves, Click here. 
Please direct all grave inquiries to Charles Waters Graves Registration Officer.
Working with our GRO Emeritus ~ Brother Bill Lowe.The People of the State of Michigan enact:
Section 1. Section 3 of Act No. 63 of the Public Acts of 1915, being section 35.833 of the Michigan Compiled Laws, is amended to read as follows:
Sec. 3. A person who willfully takes down, destroys, defaces, or carries away or possesses a flag holder or other design or memorial flag placed at a grave for memorial purposes without authority from the owner of the cemetery or the person causing the flag holder or other design or memorial flag to be placed in the cemetery or at the grave is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for not more than 90 days or a fine of not less that $5.00 or more than $500.00 or both.
Click for links to scanned "Brown Books", "Michigan in the War" by A.G. John Robertson, and the "U.S. Roll of Honor".
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(Clicking on the links below will open a new tab or window. Close it to return to austinblair.com.)
Click to a scanned copy of "The red book of Michigan" by Charles Lanman, 1871.
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National Parks Service Soldiers and Sailors
Looking up names of Soldiers, Sailors, Regimental Histories, National Cemeteries
NPS Civil War Soldiers & Sailors System.
We have found resources for some of the other Union States as well as those listed above for Michigan. If you wish to check on other States Click here
For a link to Civil War Prisons and databases to Andersonville and Cahaba prisonsClick here
The War of the Rebellion: a Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies: Click here
To access these pages click on the picture of Abraham Lincoln above
To celebrate the 200th Anniversay of the birth of Abraham Lincoln
we have put together pages of some of his speeches and sayings.
To read the account of the hanging of the Lincoln Conspirators as given by Lieutenant-Colonel Christian Rath, the executioner and Jackson resident click here.
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On July 22, 2007 members of the Austin Blair Camp along with members of the community, dedicated a Michigan Historical Marker on the grounds of Civil War Rendevous camp, Camp Blair. The marker is located at the spot of the main entrance of the camp and is located at 1214 Wildwood Ave. in Jackson. Please click here to see more on the story of the camp.
Click on the picture to see a larger view. |
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One of the most important things to a Civil War soldier was their regimental flag. These became even more so when inscribed with the battle honors that the unit had earned were placed upon it. It was used for alignment when moving either in drill or battle. When the battle had been joined it also served as a rallying point for the men and let them know if they were to advance or retreat.
Although it would increase a person's chances to be wounded or killed, it was considered a great honor to be able to carry the flag into battle, and there was never a shortage of volunteers to do so.
To find out more about Civil War Battle Flags click here. |
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One of the most popular things for men of both the Union and Confederacy to do when in camp, was make music. It really didn't matter if they were on the march, setting about the campfire, riding trains or transports or even at home. When and wherever they gathered, the men of the American Civil War would pass the time humming, singing or playing interments. They truly could be called "singing soldiers".
To access pages of lyrics of some of those camp songs click here. |
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At the time of the Civil War, the process of taking a photograph was a very complex and time consuming procedure, but through the efforts of a few photographic pioneers we, as were the people living at that time, are able to see the Civil War as it was unfolding.
To find out more about photography, please click here. |
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Another very popular things for men on both sides was reading newspapers. They of course, preferred hometown news but could not always get that. One of the most popular national newspapers was the Harper's Weekly. Not only did it cover the War with words but with many illustrations of soldiers and what their life was like.
For a link to a website with copies of the Harper's Weekly A Journal of Civilization click here. |
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In Recognition of attaining the rank of Eagle Scout, the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War
issues a Commendation to the Scout. Click here to see our Roll of Honor dedicated to these men. |
For questions, comments, or ideas for stories e mail us.
The Camp Blair Courier is the official newsletter of Austin Blair Camp No.7 and the Ladies Auxiliary and is published bi-monthly.
For a copy of the current issue Click hereIf you're looking for back issues Click here
| To see other Sesquicentennial events happing throughout the State in 2011 Click Here. |
Picture Gallery
of
Some Of The Things We Do
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Highlights of 2008
Highlights of 2009
Highlights of 2010
The sesquicentennial year of 2011
The sesquicentennial year of 2012
The Sultana Memorial
The Reburial of Private Daniel W. Pine
Memorial To The G.A.R.
Our Adopted Member
PAGES AND LINKS
Member's roster of our Ancestors
History of the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War (with link to membership applicaiton)
Sons of Union Veterans Cyber Picket E-mail Roster White Pages
Grand Army of the Republic Edward Pomeroy Post No. 48 Jackson, Michigan
A biography of Edward Pomeroy - Captain - Company E, lst Michigan Volunteer Infantry
A listing of GAR Posts in Jackson County Michigan
A rhyme for Memorial DayThe Death of the G.A.R.
Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War Dept. of Michigan
Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War National Headquarters
Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War Charitable Foundation
53rd Pennsylvania Veteran Volunteer Infantry and Veterans of the American Civil War Buried in Canada
A brief Timelineof the American Civil War
Bylaws of Austin Blair Camp No. 7
Annual Cascades Civil War Muster - Jackson, Michigan
LINKS TO CIVIL WAR ERA MUSIC
The Civil War Song Book No. 1 -
The Civil War Song Book No. 2 -
Updated April 28, 2012
Send your questions or comments to
Bob Griggs
Webmaster
misuvcw7@gmail.com
( This website established in 1996 by our Webmaster Emeritus ~ Brother Dan Doyle )
Department of Michigan Guard.
