Historian sheds light on Lansing’s role in the Civil War

“Lansing and the Civil War” author discussions

March 9, 7 p.m.
Library of Michigan
702 W. Kalamazoo St., Lansing

April 18, 7 p.m.
Heritage Hall
323 W. Ottawa St., Lansing

There’s no shortage of books about the Civil War, but until this week, Lansing’s role has largely been ignored. 

Local author and historian Matthew J. VanAcker published a new book that corrects that oversight. Titled “Lansing and the Civil War,” it tells the story of the Lansing residents who served, died and were maimed in the war. 

“Lansing had an oversized role in the Civil War. More than 500 men served from a population of about 3,000,” he said. 

The author will visit the Library of Michigan on March 9 and Heritage Hall on April 18, both at 7 p.m., to discuss his book.

VanAcker is the Michigan Capitol’s education director and co-chair of its Save the Flags project, which is dedicated to preserving the 240 rare Civil War battle flags carried by Michigan soldiers, as well as others from the Spanish American War and World War I.

“It was working with the flag restoration project and researching the history of the flags that inspired me to write the book,” he said.

The flag restoration project began in earnest in 1990, when the battle flags, which had been on display in the Capitol’s rotunda, were moved to archival storage space in the Michigan History Museum. Today, visitors of the new Heritage Hall can watch conservators work on the flags.

“Michigan is at the forefront of Civil War flag restoration, while other states have ignored their importance,” VanAcker said.

While doing research for his book, he was especially moved by the story of Charles T. Foster, who, at age 23, by some accounts, was the first person from Lansing to enlist in the Civil War and the first Lansing soldier to die on the battlefield. Foster died in the Battle of Seven Pines in Virginia while carrying the 3rd Michigan Infantry Regiment battle flag, which is in the state’s collection.

“While he lay dying, his last words were about preserving the battle flag and not letting it fall,” VanAcker said. 

As a first-time author, VanAcker worked hard to ensure everything he wrote was accurate and properly represented the men who served.

“I was terrified. I wanted to give them justice,” he said. “I was also nervous about the research since we were in the middle of COVID lockdowns. Library after library and archives were closed.”

He turned to the abundance of letters written by soldiers as well as Newspapers.com, an online collection of periodicals, which he says “saved him.” 

“The Lansing (State) Republican had a full run of the years 1859 to 1866, with many personal accounts from soldiers in the field,” he said.

In addition to the traditional Civil War oeuvre, VanAcker writes about the role of State Librarian Harriet Tenney, the Ladies of Lansing, the Michigan Female College and the House of Corrections for Juvenile Offenders.

“The reform school provided 150 enlistees, many of them getting early release,” VanAcker said. In the book, he writes, “Almost half of the Michigan regiments would have at least one — often more than one — reform schoolboy enlisted in its ranks.”

He said some of the boys were as young as 14. 

He was surprised by the number of brothers who served in the war. As an example, he highlights the Shattuck family, who moved from Washtenaw County to Lansing in 1840. Four members of the family served, including the father, Asa, who was 56 at the time. Two of the boys were severely wounded and a third died in a Confederate prison. VanAcker said there were at least 25 sets of brothers from Lansing who served in the war.

He also uncovers the role of an unusual unit called the 8th Michigan Volunteer Infantry Regiment, Elder Zouaves Company E. Its uniform, inspired by the African Zouazoua tribe, consisted of baggy pantaloon pants, a blue shell jacket, a sleeveless vest, white gaiters and a turban. The unit’s namesake, Matthew Elder, was an architect from Lansing and designed the third iteration of the Ingham County Courthouse in 1858.

VanAcker said he doubts that uniform lasted long in battle and was likely replaced with more practical gear.