Michigan Legislature Takes Action to Honor Civil War Native Sharpshooters

AgroupofNativeAmericanswhofoughtonbehalfoftheUnionArmyintheCivilWarwillberecognizedandhonoredwithroadsignsalongaportionofM-22inupperMichiganafterlegislationwaspassedbytheMichiganLegislaturelastweek. DuringtheCivilWar,139NativeAmericans—mostlyOdawaandOjibwefromMichigan—formedCompanyK,asharpshooterunitintheUnionArmy. Pleasesupportouryear-endcampaign.CLICKHERETODONATE. NevermissIndianCountry’sbiggeststoriesandbreakingnews.Clickheretosignuptogetourreportingsentstraighttoyourinboxeveryweekdaymorning. Thegrouptriedtomusteratthewar’soutsetbutwasturnedaway.FederalofficialsviewedNativeAmericansas“barbaric”and“bloodthirsty”andbelievedtheycouldnotbecontrolledincombat,accordingtohistoricalaccountsbytheLittleTraverseBayBandsofOdawaIndiansinHarborSprings,Michigan. CompanyKlaterbecamethelargestall-NativeAmericanunittoserveintheUnionArmyduringtheCivilWar. Theeffort,backedbylawmakersovertheyears,hasconsistentlybeench