Michigan Civil War Association

08/12/2026

Great job, Jack!!

We were thrilled to host author and historian Jack Dempsey for an unforgettable presentation! Jack's deep dive into the powerful, heartbreaking stories of the 7th Michigan Infantry during the Civil War. From the devastating losses at Antietam’s West Woods to the mysterious fates of the "No Further Record" Prisoners of War, his research shines a much-needed light on the immense human cost of the conflict. Join us next week for "Battlefield Calculus: Tactics, Technology, and the Battle of Antietam" with Steven Eden.

08/07/2026

Our own Jack Dempsey is out speaking again. Catch this one if you can!

07/29/2026

We are excited to announce pre-sales are now open for the next book from the Michigan Civil War Association publications committee!

Edited by Jack Dempsey, More Than Monument explores post-Civil War career of statesman Austin Blair. It offers a fully documented exploration of Blair’s continued advocacy for justice, his courageous opposition to corruption, and his steadfast adherence to principle—qualities that distinguish him as one of America’s most influential voices for reform.
As the concluding installment in this documentary history, the book traces Blair’s journey from his service in the Reconstruction Congress to his roles as a college regent and prominent public orator. Through expert annotations and insightful historical commentary, readers gain direct access to primary sources and a deeper understanding of Civil War-era politics, federal-state relations, and the personal sacrifices required of principled leaders. The narrative also highlights Blair’s willingness to challenge his own party and inspire a renewed vision for public service.

Former Governor of Michigan James J. Blanchard put it like this: “For anyone interested in Michigan history, politics, and the civil war era ‘More Than a Monument’ is a must read.”

The book will release on September 15, 2026. You can be among the first to read them, and help raise funds for the Michigan monument at Antietam by purchasing at the link in the comments!

06/27/2026

In May, the MCWA received final approval of the Michigan Monument at Antietam sculpture and pedestal design from Antietam National Battlefield. After extensive collaboration with the ANB staff, the MCWA, and sculptor Toby Mendez, the twenty-four-inch clay maquette of Colonel Norman Hall leading the 7th Michigan Volunteer Infantry across the Hagerstown Pike and into the West Woods was approved.

Through extensive conversations with park staff and the MCWA, Toby incorporated many extensive details including nuances of the larger and richer rank shoulder boards, officer’s frock coat skirt length, and more. A private purchase canteen as well as an officer’s haversack with the detailed tooling on the outer flap are portrayed. KC Kirkman, exhibit specialist at ANB, provided a link to photographs of Colonel Hall’s West Point class ring, and it is included in the sculpture.

Details galore! At one point Toby jokingly asked how much water should be in the canteen because it was “currently full of clay!” All these and other subtle details contribute to a magnificently sculpted piece by Toby.

The pedestal will be like other regimental grade monuments found at Antietam and other Civil War Battlefields. Although the final details of inscriptions and carvings will be worked out, the Michigan monument will be very similar in scale and scope of the 48th PVI monument on the field. Unlike the 48th monument, the intention is to have MICHIGAN carved in the stone on the front face in addition to the inset bronze informational tablets.

We are currently working on securing estimates of final costs to initiate the open phase of the fundraising campaign. A goal in the fundraising effort is to also include a legacy fund that will be reserved for maintenance and cleaning of the monument for years to come. The attached photographs show the various views of the maquette including an AI generated view of it being in bronze.

The MCWA would like to thank Antietam National Battlefield Superintendent, Andrew Banasik and his superb team that have worked closely and collaboratively with us. They provided information and suggestions that were wholeheartedly incorporated. And, to artist Toby Mendez who sculpted an incredible piece that sublimely weaves artistic mastery with visual storytelling that inspires.

More to come. Tuebor!

04/13/2026

There is a new project just completed by some friends of ours about Historic Fort Wayne in Detroit. The project covers the vast history of the site, not just the military years. The project encompasses the stories of soldiers and civilians, men and women, native Americans and freedom seekers.

As we focus on our fundraising for the monument at Antietam, one story in this documentary is Israel Richardson, who is morally wounded at the battle of Antietam. We look forward to sharing more soon!

Our own Jack Dempsey was interviewed for the program.

12/15/2025

You saw us shout out the wonderful donation from the Antietam Institute recently. Now, we can share that our own Jack Dempsey will be one of their speakers next year on August 10! Stay tuned.

The Antietam Institute Register now for the Spring Symposium on April 10 & 11, 2026 Put your passion for history to work. Join us. Become a member. The Antietam Institute is a member centered organization with a mission to educate the public on the critical importance of the Battle of Antietam and t...