7th Michigan Cavalry

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Half plate tintype identified as Colonel George G. Briggs of the 7th Michigan Cavalry, Co. A. Briggs would join Custer's 7th Cavalry as a lieutenant in October, 1862. Over the next 3 years he would rise through the ranks to adjutant, captain, major, lieutenant colonel and finally full colonel in May, 1865. He wears the rank of captain in this view which he attained in late March, 1864. He would only hold that rank for 2 months before being promoted to major that May. He is shown here sporting the begining of his distinctive salt and pepper lamb chop side burns. His cap rests on the table with crossed cavalry insignia with the numeral "7" and an ostrich plume. He is photographed in another view wearing this identical cap. Briggs would be captured at Buckland's Mills in October 19th, 1863. He managed to escape 2 days later by running the guards to freedom and back to his lines. During one of the last battles of the war he would be wounded in the left leg at the Battle of Five Forks. It was Briggs who saw the first flag of truce offered by Major R. M. Simms of General Longstreet's staff at Appomattox and it was Briggs who escorted him to Custer. There is a great account of the incident written in "To Appomattox: Nine April Days, 1865". A portion of that Confederate "flag of truce" which was given to Custer was later sent to Briggs by Custer's wife Libby. He was a close personal friend of both Custer and his wife and remained a close friend with Libby even after Custer's death. There are a number of other artifacts pertaining to Briggs out there in circulation with a great grouping of items pertaining to Briggs sold by James Julia Auctions several years ago.

 

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https://www.accessgenealogy.com/michigan/history-of-the-7th-michigan-cavalry.htm

Organized at Grand Rapids, Mich., October, 1862, to June, 1863. 1st Battalion left State for Washington, D.C., February 20, 1863. Balance of Regiment May, 1863. Attached to Provisional Cavalry Brigade, Casey's Division, Defenses of Washington, 22nd Army Corps, to April, 1863. 1st Brigade, Stahel's Cavalry Division, 22nd Army Corps, Dept. of Washington, to June, 1863. 2nd Brigade, 3rd Division, Cavalry Corps, Army of the Potomac, to March, 1864. 1st Brigade, 1st Division, Cavalry Corps, Army of the Potomac and Middle Military Division, to June, 1865. District of the Plains, Dept. of Missouri, to September, 1865. District of Dakota to December, 1865.

Duty in the Defenses of Washington, D.C., until June, 1863. Action at Thoroughfare Gap, Va., May 21, 1863. Greenwich May 30. Expedition up the Catoctin Valley June 27-28. Occupation of Gettysburg, Pa., June 28. Hanover, Pa., June 30. Battle of Gettysburg, Pa., July 1-3. Hunterstown July 2. Monterey July 4. Smithburg July 5. Williamsport and Hagerstown July 6. Boonsboro July 8. Hagerstown July 11-13. Falling Waters July 14. Snicker's Gap July 19. Expedition from Warrenton Junction, between Bull Run and Blue Ridge Mountains, August 1-8. Hartwood Church August 15. King George Court House August 24. Expedition to Port Conway September 1-3. Advance from the Rappahannock to the Rapidan September 13-17. Culpeper Court House September 13. Raccoon Ford September 14-16. Raccoon Ford September 17. Reconnaissance across the Rapidan September 21-23. White's Ford September 21-22. Orange Court House September 22. Bristoe Campaign October 8-22. Robertson's River October 8. Jams City October 8-10. Bethesda Church October 10. Near Culpeper and Brandy Station October 11. Gainesville October 14. Groveton October 17-18. Gainesville, Catlett's Station and Buckland's Mills October 19. Near Falmouth November 6. Advance to line of the Rappahannock November 7-8. Stevensburg November 8. Mine Run Campaign November 26-December 2. Morton's Ford November 26. Raccoon Ford November 26-27. Demonstration on the Rapidan February 6-7, 1864. Kilpatrick's Raid on Richmond February 28-March 4. Fortifications of Richmond and Atlee's March 1.- Campaign from the Rapidan to the James River May 3-June 24. Battles of the Wilderness May 5-7. Todd's Tavern May 5-6. Brook Road and the Furnaces May 6. Todd's Tavern May 7-8. Sheridan's Raid to the James River May 9-24. Beaver Dam Station May 9. Ground Squirrel Church and Yellow Tavern May 11. Meadow Bridge and fortifications of Richmond May 12 Malvern Hill May 16. Hanover Court House May 21. On line of the Pamunkey May 26-28. Hanovertown Ferry, Hanovertown and Crump's Creek May 27. On line of the Totopotomoy May 28-31. Haw's Shop and Aenon Church May 28. Old Church and Mattadequin Creek May 30. Bethesda Church, Cold Harbor, May 21-June 1. Bottom's Bridge June 1. Sheridan's Trevillian Raid June 7-24. Trevillian Station June 11-12. Newark, or Mallory's Cross Roads, June 12. Black Creek, or Tunstall's Station, and White House, or St. Peter's Church, June 21. Jones' Bridge June 23. Fort Stevens and along Northern Defenses of Washington July 11-12 (Detachment). Demonstration North of the James River July 27-29. Deep Bottom July 27-29. Ordered to Washington, D.C., August. Sheridan's Shenandoah Valley Campaign August 7-November 28. Tell Gate, near White Post, and near Winchester August 11. Cedarville, or Front Royal, August 16. Kearneysville August 23. Kearneysville and Shephardstown August 25. Leetown and Smithfield August 28. Smithfield Crossing of the Opequan September 29. Locke's Ford, Opequan Creek, September 13. Sevier's Ford, Opequan, September 15. Battle of Opequan, Winchester, September 19. Fisher's Hill September 21. Milford September 22. Luray September 24. Port Republic September 26-28. Mr. Crawford October 2. Salem Church October 6. Luray Valley October 8. Tom's Brook ("Woodstock Races") October 8-9. Battle of Cedar Creek October 19. Edenburg November 7. Near Kernstown November 11. Expedition into Loudoun and Faquier Counties November 28-December 3. Raid to Gordonsville December 19-28. Madison Court House December 21. Liberty Mills December 22. Near Gordonsville December 23. Expedition to Little Fort Valley February 13-17, 1865. Sheridan's Raid from Winchester to James River February 28-March 25. Occupation of Staunton and action at Waynesboro March 2. Duguidsville March 8. Appomattox Campaign March 28-April 9. Dinwiddie Court House March 30-31, Five Forks April 1. Scott's Cross Roads April 2. Tabernacle Church, or Beaver Bend Creek, April 4. Sailor's Creek April 6. Appomattox Station April 8, Appomattox Court House April 9. Surrender of Lee and his army. Expedition to Danville April 23-27. March to Washington, D.C., May. Grand Review May 23. Moved to Leavenworth, Kansas, June 1. Powder River Expedition and operations against Indians in District of the Plains and Dakota until December. Regiment mustered out December 15, 1865. Veterans and Recruits transferred to 1st Michigan Cavalry.

The regiment lost during service 4 Officers and 81 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 2 Officers and 256 Enlisted men by disease. Total 343.

• Battles of the 7th Michigan Cavalry
• Articles of Association of the 7th Michigan Cavalry

Roster of the 7th Michigan Cavalry Volunteers

• Roster of 7th Michigan Cavalry – Company A
• Roster of 7th Michigan Cavalry – Company B
• Roster of 7th Michigan Cavalry – Company C
• Roster of 7th Michigan Cavalry – Company D
• Roster of 7th Michigan Cavalry – Company E
• Roster of 7th Michigan Cavalry – Company F
• Roster of 7th Michigan Cavalry – Company G
• Roster of 7th Michigan Cavalry – Company H
• Roster of 7th Michigan Cavalry – Company I
• Roster of 7th Michigan Cavalry – Company K
• Roster of 7th Michigan Cavalry – Company L
• Roster of 7th Michigan Cavalry – Company M
• Roster of 7th Michigan Cavalry – Field and Staff

Muster Out Rolls of the 7th Michigan Cavalry

• Muster Out Roll of 7th Michigan Cavalry – Company A
• Muster Out Roll of 7th Michigan Cavalry – Company B
• Muster Out Roll of 7th Michigan Cavalry – Company C
• Muster Out Roll of 7th Michigan Cavalry – Company D
• Muster Out Roll of 7th Michigan Cavalry – Company E
• Muster Out Roll of 7th Michigan Cavalry – Company F
• Muster Out Roll of 7th Michigan Cavalry – Company G
• Muster Out Roll of 7th Michigan Cavalry – Company H
• Muster Out Roll of 7th Michigan Cavalry – Company I
• Muster Out Roll of 7th Michigan Cavalry – Company K
• Muster Out Roll of 7th Michigan Cavalry – Company L
• Muster Out Roll of 7th Michigan Cavalry – Company M
• Muster Out Roll of 7th Michigan Cavalry – Un-Assigned Seventh Cavalry
• Muster Out Roll of 7th Michigan Cavalry – Field and Staff

 

[Legion Para]

Regimental flag and guidons of the 7th Michigan Cavalry.

 

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For further reading.

 

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Colonel George Briggs auction:

https://jamesdjulia.com/item/lot-14...horized-only-by-custer-for-recipients-in-his/


FABULOUS 7TH MICHIGAN CAVALRY GROUPING OF THE LAST COMMANDER OF GEORGE CUSTER'S ORIGINAL CIVIL WAR REGIMENT INCLUDING A GOLD CUSTER VALOR MEDAL AUTHORIZED ONLY BY CUSTER FOR RECIPIENTS IN HIS MICHIGAN BRIGADE AND A PIECE OF THE APPOMATTOX SURRENDER FLAG. This extraordinary grouping descended in the family of Col. George G. Briggs the last commander of the 7th Michigan Cavalry. It was Briggs who first saw the flag of truce being offered by Maj. R.M. Simms of General Longstreet's staff at Appomattox. It was Briggs who conducted him to General Custer. For this reason Libby Custer sent Col. Briggs a piece of this Confederate "flag of truce" that was given to Custer after Appomattox. This grouping also contains several pieces of reunion memorabilia, several photographs of Briggs and some war time documents concerning Briggs. All these items are photographed in detail on our website. The more significant items that are part of this group include 1)a framed letter from Libby Custer written to Col Briggs in 1908 that features a 2″ X 1″ souvenired sample of the Confederate "flag of truce" from Appomattox Courthouse, a 2″ X 1″ souvenired piece of the desk that Gen. Lee and Gen. Grant signed the surrender document that ended the war. Also there is a 2″ X 1″ piece of one of the red Bandana Custer famously wore during the war. Libby's handwritten letter that is framed with these souvenir pieces reads as follows; "New York, March 1908- My Dear Col. Briggs, It is a pleasure to present to you these souvenirs of the Civil War. Gen. Sheridan gave me the table on which the terms of the surrender of Gen. Lee to Gen. Grant were written. I replaced the lower panel of the drawer and had cut the original into mementos of the day at Appomattox. The scrap of linen is from the towel which Maj. Simms of the Confederate Army used as the first flag of truce where he entered our lines, the day of the surrender. The fragment of red is from one of the Generals neckties. Sincerely yours, Elizabeth B. Custer". 2)Two cabinet photographs of Briggs, both being a copies of 1st Lt. Briggs in uniform 1861-1862 in the 7th Michigan Cavalry. 3)Cabinet photograph, circa 1880, of Briggs wearing his gold Custer Valor Medal, Sheridan Corp. Badge and his numbered MOLLUS Medal. 4)Gold Tiffany made Custer Valor Medal,inscribed "Geo. G. Briggs 7th Regt. Michigan Cavalry" consisting of a pair of 1-5/16″ gold crossed sabers on gold/orange ribbon supporting a 1″ wide by 1-9/16″ high Maltese Cross utilizing top quadrant as a 5 pointed star. Badge is decorated with engraved floral designs and blue enamel inlay with the words "CUSTER" in the middle and "TUEBOR" on the bottom cross which is part of the Michigan State Seal, meaning "I will defend". According to several wonderful articles written by John P. Beckendorf there are very few of these badges known. There are probably no more than 4 or 5 gold medals known, though there are at least this same number shown in war time photographs of soldiers wearing these, but their whereabouts are unknown. Mr. Beckendorf shows a nearly identical medal though with a longer ribbon that was given to Maj. Robert Wallace of the 5th Michigan Cavalry. In Mr. Beckendorf's article, published in 2005 North-South Traders Civil War magazine, he shows the original George Custer signed letter to Tiffany dated October 15, 1864. It is interesting that Tiffany lost the order and did not find it again until 1884 and filled the order January 31st of that year and delivered the medal to Maj. Wallace. The whereabouts of the medal that Gen. Custer himself wore is unknown, though it is seen in photographs. A smaller medal with pearls was made for Libby Custer that just recently sold at Spinx in New York in 2012 for $46,000. This is the first gold medal presented to an officer of this type to ever come to auction. The few officers who were recipients of Gen. Custers favor and had the honor to wear this medal, thought quite highly of it, as can be seen in a letter written to the Detroit Advertiser and Tribune June 17, 1865 by Col. James H. Kidd of the 6th Michigan Cavalry "the gold in this badge is not more precious, it is not rarer, than the frankness, the generosity, the want this trust which has always characterized your intercourse with me…the associations-Michigan Brigade Cavalry, its leader, Custer, his deeds and theirs are enough to make your gift one of inestimable value always". The original sketches of this medal, designed by Custer, can be found on a loose sheet, inserted in Custer's journal, which is presently at the Little Big Horn Battlefield Museum. 5)Sheridan Cavalry Corp badge made of gold and silver with red enameled background and T-bar pin much like the Custer Valor Medal described above; this badge too has the quality and workmanship that could also be Tiffany. 6)Col. Briggs MOLLUS (Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States)Membership Badge SN 4004. 7)Fabulous reunion era souvenir presentation polychrome cane to Col. Briggs by a master carver of great skill showing many interesting figures as can be seen in photographs on our website. Other items included in this group include a souvenir gavel made from a piece of wood with an embedded minie ball inscribed "Culp's Hill Gettysburg". About a 6 foot section of Col. Briggs silk sash is also part of this group, along with a photograph of a fabulous oil on canvas escutcheon showing Col. Briggs military service during the Civil War and showing images of the badges offered in this grouping. The family is retaining the original escutcheon along with many of his war time letters. PROVENANCE: George G. Briggs direct descent. CONDITION: Medals and photographs described are all in very good to very fine condition. The medals have excellent enamel and good patinas as can be seen in photographs. The framed Libby Custer letter along with framed souvenirs are very good overall, however each souvenir and the letter are dry mounted to cardboard that has caused considerable acid burn to paper Libby wrote her letter on. There is no real discernible damage noted to textile or wood souvenirs. A conservator stated Libby's letter should be easily conserved and removed from cardboard mount and greatly improved as the brown ink is quite dark and very discernible. The cane is very good overall, retaining good colors as can be seen in photo. The fragment of silk sash is heavily damaged missing ends with shredding with numerous small holes. Reunion memorabilia is very good overall as can be seen in photographs on website.

 

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Corporal Thomas Sturgis, 7th Michigan Cavalry.

 

[Sowbelly and Hardtack]

Maj Noah Henry Ferry (1831-1863) - Find a Grave...

Officer in the 5th Michigan Cavalry killed at the East Cavalry Field on the third day of the Battle of Gettysburg. Body was later removed and taken home to Michigan. Stone still bears his name. A big THANK YOU to Contributor JMMK for the following biography: NOAH HENRY FERRY Major, 5th...

www.findagrave.com