Letters

Enlisted March 30, 1864, from Ionia County, Michigan, to serve three years, and was mustered into the United States services at Saranac, Michigan, April 14, 1864, as a Private of Captain William L. Whipple's, later Captain Charles H. Rogers' Company "H", 2nd Regiment Michigan Volunteer Veteran Infantry, Colonel Israel B. Richardson commanding, who was succeeded by Lt. Col. Henry L. Chipman.

The 2nd Michigan Infantry was organized at Detroit, Michigan on May 25, 1861. (The first three years regiment from Michigan). It moved from its' rendezvous at Fort Wyne June 6 , for the field in Virginia, arriving in Washington, D. C., on the 10th, and was attached to the 3rd Army Corps, Army of the Potomac. The regiment was on duty in the Defenses of Washington, and its' first engagement was at Blackburn's Ford, Virginia on July 18, 1861, serving in General Tyler's Division. The regiment, although not actually engaged at Bull Run, had the honor, together with the 3rd Michigan, of covering the retreat from that disastrous field. In March 1862, it entered on the Peninsula Campaign under General McClellan, serving in the 3rd Brigade, 3rd Division , 3rd Corps, and participating in the battles of Williamsburg, Fair Oaks or Seven Pines, near Richmond, White Oak Swamp, Charles City Cross Roads and Malvern Hill. The regiment remained at Harrison's Landing until August 15, when it moved to Manassas via Charles City, Yorktown and Alexandria and was engaged at Groveton, Bull Run and Chantilly September 1, and after various marches and counter marches it reached Waterloo on November 8, 1862 and was transferred to the 1st Brigade, Burns' Division of the 9th Corps. It rendered gallant service in the battle of Fredericksburg December 12-15 and then was in the "Mud March". The regiment remained in Kentucky during April and May, and in June was the 9th Corps which reinforced the Army of General Grant in Mississippi, and where it served with distinction. It was in the siege of Vicksburg and Jackson, then moved to Crabb Orchard and after various marches took part in the siege of Knoxville, and operations in East Tennessee until February 1864. It participated in the battle of the Wilderness, Spottsylvania Court House, Assault on the Salient, North Anna River, Totopotomy, Cold Harbor, Bethesda Church and then took part in the Siege of Petersburg from June 16, 1 864 to April 2, 1865. It was in the Mine Explosion, Petersburg and in action at Weldon Railroad, Ream's Station, Poplar Springs Church, Boydton Road, Hatcher's Run, fall of Petersburg, then it was in the Triumphant March to Washington in the Grand Review May 24th and was mustered out of the service July 29, 1865 and discharged at Detroit, Michigan , August 1, 1865.

The said Nathaniel W. Ranger enlisted as a recruit and joined his regiment May 23, 1864, at Spottsylvania, during the battle. He was in the battle of Seven Pines, Cold Harbor, and Fort Steadman and was in all the other engagements of his regiment from the time he joined it until he was wounded. He missed the Mine Explosion, Petersburg on account of being in the hospital with his wound. He was always at his post of duty, having achieved a gallant record for meritorious service and soldierly conduct at all times.

While in front of Petersburg, Virginia charging on the Petersburg and Norfolk Railroad, he received a gunshot wound in the left shoulder, the ball lodging there, he was sent to the Field Hospital, where the ball was extracted, then was sent to the Hospital at Mount Pleasant and Little York, Pennsylvania, and when able, rejoined his regiment in front of Petersburg. He received a certificate of Honorable Discharge at Delaney House in Washington, D. C. on July 28, 1 865 by reason of the close of the war.

He was born in Washtenaw County, Michigan on July 14, 1847 . He was united in marriage to Mary G. Smith, in Plymout h County, Iowa on March 6, 1888, and to them were born four children, named Claude L., Olin T., Lila and Hazel.

He is a member of Vicksburg Post, No. 61, Department of California and Nevada, Grand Army of the Republic. He is also a member of the I.O.O.F. His wife is a member of Vicksburg Corps No. 37, Woman's Relief Corps.

His father's name was Thomas and his mother's maiden name was Nancy Woodard. His brothers, Marshall T., and William H . H. served in Co. "B", 16th Michigan and the former was killed at Elkin's Bend.

These facts are thus recorded and preserved for the benefit of this soldier's family and of all those who may be interested.

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Compiled from Official and Authentic Sources by the Soldiers and Sailor Historical and Benevolent Society. In testimony whereof, I hereunto set my hand and cause to be affixed the seal of the Society. Done at Washington, D. C. the 2 9th Day of March A. D. 1915.

No. 75,743 A. V. Hayes, Historian