"Immigrants" in local regiments.

[major bill]

In the late 1830s and during the 1840s huge numbers of residents of New York moved to Michigan. In some parts of the State that were opened up for settlement in that time frame there were more New York born men than Michigan born men. This does make detailed study of these regiments more difficult because the early records of this men are in New York.

Some Michigan regiments had such a high percentage of New York "immigrants" that one could almost refer to them as New York regiments. In the 1850s Michigan was still very much a frontier state. With the build up of the militia system many of the local militia leaders had learned their militia skills in New York. This resulted in an attempt to set up "New York style" militia systems in those areas. In some cases this resulted in more independent leaning militia companies struggling with the establishment of militia regimental rules.

I am assuming this occurred in other states where a large percentage of the population had come form another state.

 

[DtownJeff]

In the late 1830s and during the 1840s huge numbers of residents of New York moved to Michigan. In some parts of the State that were opened up for settlement in that time frame there were more New York born men than Michigan born men. This does make detailed study of these regiments more difficult because the early records of this men are in New York.

Some Michigan regiments had such a high percentage of New York "immigrants" that one could almost refer to them as New York regiments. In the 1850s Michigan was still very much a frontier state. With the build up of the militia system many of the local militia leaders had learned their militia skills in New York. This resulted in an attempt to set up "New York style" militia systems in those areas. In some cases this resulted in more independent leaning militia companies struggling with the establishment of militia regimental rules.

I am assuming this occurred in other states where a large percentage of the population had come form another state.

I have found the New York connection especially interesting many times. My interest was peaked by Walter Niles of Sanilac County (in a town today known as Croswell) who ended up enlisting in the 24th. His letters home routinely discuss New York familial connections and he visits family there after he was wounded at Gettysburg. He even posits resetting in NY after the war. Your observation of the NY connection is easily borne out with a cursory glance at a map of Southeastern MI: Utica, Troy, Rochester, etc.