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Catalog Number
2020.9.486Title
Clapper, MartinDescription
Image of former Holland MI resident Martin Clapper's record of service in the "Record of Service of Michigan Volunteers in the Civil War, Vol. 3"History
Martin Clapper was born in 1836. On May 13th, 1861, he enlisted with the 3rd Michigan Infantry, Co. G. Sadly, Martin was killed in action at Malvern Hill, Virginia on July 1st, 1862. Martin was the first soldier from Holland MI to die in the war. His burial details are unknown. His name can be found on the Soldiers' Monument in Pilgrim Home Cemetery.The 3rd Michigan Infantry was organized on June 10th, 1861. The third was engaged in heavy fighting from the start of the war, losing 30 killed, 124 wounded, and 15 missing in the battle of Williamsburg VA. The regiment was engaged in the First Battle of Bull Run, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg (it fought on the second and third days of that battle), Wilderness, and Spotsylvania. After many of the soldiers' contracts were up, a great number did not reenlist, prompting the attachment of the 3rd to the 5th Michigan Infantry in June 1864. It was mustered out of service in late June of 64, but was reorganized in October 1864. The reorganized third was disbanded on June 10, 1866.
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