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Catalog Number
2020.9.502Title
De Vries, RenkeDescription
Image of Holland MI resident Renke De Vries' record of service in the "Record of Service of Michigan Volunteers in the Civil War, Vol. 25", obituary in the February 2nd, 1922 edition of the Holland City News on the first page, and two images of Renke De Vries from the Museum's collection.History
Renke De Vries (also spelled Rinke) was born on September 10th, 1842. On August 14th, 1862, he enlisted with the 25th Michigan Infantry Company I as its blacksmith. On August 26th, 1864, he detached as a blacksmith to the 1st Michigan Light Artillery Regiment Co. F, in which he served until July 1st, 1865. After the war, he moved to Drenthe, MI and spent his life as the village blacksmith. Renke passed on January 30th, 1922 in Drenthe and is interred in Pilgrim Home Cemetery. His death left four veterans left living in Holland.The 25th Michigan Infantry Company I was largely made up of Dutch immigrants from Holland, Michigan and its surrounding areas. The company is most famous for its involvement in the Battle at Tebb's Bend, where roughly 200 Union soldiers repulsed an attack by the Confederate general John Hunt Morgan and his raiders. The 25th Infantry was also involved in several campaigns in Eastern Tennessee and Sherman's March to the Sea, where the 25th fought at Tunnel Hill, Rocky Face Ridge, Resaca, Cassville, Kingston, Allatoona, Pine Mountain, Lost Mountain, and Kenesaw. The regiment also took part in the siege of Atlanta. The regiment was mustered out on June 24th, 1865.