and each person lived their own life. One of the things that I would love to do....but is physically impossible....is to learn about each and every one of those men.Harrison Jeffords of the 4th Michigan is one of those soldiers that I find interesting. This man was the colonel of the regiment. In the melee of the fighting in the Wheatfield, Col. Jeffords fought to save his flag. In the process, he was stabbed through the body with a bayonet. What a horrible death!
The 4th Michigan chose to remember him by placing him on their monument in the Wheatfield. Here is what is written on the monument:
Front:
4th Michigan Infantry
2 Brig 1 Div 5 Corps
Participated in 53 skirmishes and general
engagements from Bull Run Va. July 21, 1861 to
Appomattox Va
April 8, 1865
Back:
Mustered in at Adrian Michigan
June 20, 1861
Veterans consolidated with
First Michigan Infantry June 30th 1864
Total enrollment 1325 officers and men
Killed in action - officers 8 - men 115
Died of Wounds - officers 4 - men 50
Died of Disease - officers 1 - men 95
Total 273
This monument marks the location held by the
regiment July 2nd 1863
Present for duty - 27 officers - 376 men - total 403
Killed 1 officer 24 men wounded 9 officers 55 men
Missing 1 officer 75 men total 165
Colonel Harrison H. Jeffords fell mortally wounded
at this point. Thrust through with a bayonet in
recapturing the colors of his regiment.
'From his bosom that heaved, the last torrent that was
streaming, and pake was his visage, deep marked with
a scar. And dim was that eye, once expressively
beaming,
that melted in love, and that kindled in war'
It's a wonderful thing that the members of his regiment remembered him in such a way. For all of eternity (or until the monuments fall down) Harrison Jeffords will be remembered. In generations to come, he will be thought of in the same way that we today think of him. This is what makes the monuments of these soldiers so very, very special.
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