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Catalog Number
2020.9.503Title
De Vries, UlkeDescription
Image of Holland MI resident Ulke De Vries' record of service in the "Record of Service of Michigan Volunteers in the Civil War, Vol. 25", and obituary in the September 22nd, 1921 edition of Holland City News, page 6.History
Ulke De Vries was born on August 4th, 1845 in the Netherlands. On August 14th, 1862, he enlisted with the 25th Michigan Infantry, Co. I at the age of 18. He served until April 25th, 1864, when he was honorably discharged for disability. His obituary states that he served in another regiment after he was discharged, but it is likely he used an alternate name. Thus, that service record is unknown. Ulke passed on September 21st, 1921 in Holland, MI of liver cancer. He is interred in Pilgrim Home Cemetery.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.