Galesburg in Kalamazoo County, Michigan — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

William Rufus Shafter Memorial

Photographed By Duane Hall, September 17, 2013

1. William Rufus Shafter Memorial

Inscription.

William Rufus Shafter Memorial. . , , (Left Side Tablet) , William Rufus Shafter , , A Michigan soldier whose valorous conduct in the Rebellion, in the Indian Wars and in the Spanish-American War, added glory to the military annals of the United States. , , Born in this community on October 16, 1835. He grew to manhood in the pioneer life of Michigan, enlisting as a lieutenant in the Seventh Michigan Infantry on August 22, 1861, he won promotion by gallant and meritorious service, and was mustered out a brigadier-general of volunteers at the close of the Civil War. , , As an officer in the Regular Army he served with signal distinction and conducted campaigns against hostile Indians in the southwest with such success that the country was made safe for peaceful and permanent settlement. , , As commander of the Expeditionary Army which besieged and captured Santiago de Cuba in 1898, he concluded his services for his country with an imperishable record as a great and daring leader and a generous conqueror. He died on November 12, 1906. , , (Rear Tablet) , The State of Michigan erected this memorial May 30, 1919. , Bill for appropriation introduced by Hon. Charles A. Weissert. , Committee to erect it appointed by Governor Albert E. Sleeper. , W.W. Potter, Hastings, Chairman. , M.F. Jordan, Middleville. , M.A. Douglass, Galesburg. , , (Right Side Tablet) , William Rufus Shafter , , 1st Lt. 7th Mich. Inf. Aug. 22, 1861 to Aug. 22, 1862; Maj. 19th Mich. Inf. Sept. 5, 1862 Lt. Col. of same June 5, 1863 to Apr. 18, 1864, Col. 17th U.S. Colored Inf. Apr. 19, 1864 until honorably mustered out Nov. 2, 1866, Bvt. Brig. Gen. Vols. Mar. 13, 1865 for gallant and meritorious service during the war. , , Appointed Lt. Col. 41st U.S. Inf. July 28, 1866, accepted Jan. 26, 1867; assigned to 24th Inf. Mar. 15, 1869; promoted Col. 1st Inf. Mar. 4, 1879; appointed Brig. Gen. May 3, 1897; retired Oct. 16, 1899; advanced to grade of Maj. Gen. on retired list Feb. 18, 1901. , , He also served as Maj. Gen. Vols. May 4, 1898 to June 30, 1901. Bvt. Lt. Col. U.S.A. Mar. 2, 1867 for gallant and meritorious service in the Battle of Fair Oaks, Va. Awarded Medal of Honor June 12, 1895 for most distinguished gallantry in the Battle of Fair Oaks, Va. May 31, 1862, while serving as 1st Lt. 7th Mich. Inf. in command of pioneers, voluntarily taking an active part in that battle and remaining on the field, although wounded, until the close of the engagement.

(Left Side Tablet)
William Rufus Shafter

A Michigan soldier whose valorous conduct in the Rebellion, in the Indian Wars and in the Spanish-American War, added glory to the military annals of the United States.

Born in this community on October 16, 1835. He grew to manhood in the pioneer life of Michigan, enlisting as a lieutenant in the Seventh Michigan Infantry on August 22, 1861, he won promotion by gallant and meritorious service, and was mustered out a brigadier-general of volunteers at the close of the Civil War.

As an officer in the Regular Army he served with signal distinction and conducted campaigns against hostile Indians in the southwest with such success that the country was made safe for peaceful and permanent settlement.

As commander of the Expeditionary Army which besieged and captured Santiago de Cuba in 1898, he concluded his services for his country with an imperishable record as a great and daring leader and a generous conqueror. He died on November 12, 1906.

(Rear Tablet)
The State of Michigan erected this memorial May 30, 1919.
Bill for appropriation introduced by Hon. Charles A. Weissert.
Committee to erect it appointed by Governor Albert E. Sleeper.
W.W. Potter, Hastings, Chairman.
M.F. Jordan, Middleville.
M.A.

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Douglass, Galesburg.

(Right Side Tablet)
William Rufus Shafter

1st Lt. 7th Mich. Inf. Aug. 22, 1861 to Aug. 22, 1862; Maj. 19th Mich. Inf. Sept. 5, 1862 Lt. Col. of same June 5, 1863 to Apr. 18, 1864, Col. 17th U.S. Colored Inf. Apr. 19, 1864 until honorably mustered out Nov. 2, 1866, Bvt. Brig. Gen. Vols. Mar. 13, 1865 for gallant and meritorious service during the war.

Appointed Lt. Col. 41st U.S. Inf. July 28, 1866, accepted Jan. 26, 1867; assigned to 24th Inf. Mar. 15, 1869; promoted Col. 1st Inf. Mar. 4, 1879; appointed Brig. Gen. May 3, 1897; retired Oct. 16, 1899; advanced to grade of Maj. Gen. on retired list Feb. 18, 1901.

He also served as Maj. Gen. Vols. May 4, 1898 to June 30, 1901. Bvt. Lt. Col. U.S.A. Mar. 2, 1867 for gallant and meritorious service in the Battle of Fair Oaks, Va. Awarded Medal of Honor June 12, 1895 for most distinguished gallantry in the Battle of Fair Oaks, Va. May 31, 1862, while serving as 1st Lt. 7th Mich. Inf. in command of pioneers, voluntarily taking an active part in that battle and remaining on the field, although wounded, until the close of the engagement.

Erected 1919 by State of Michigan.

Topics and series. This memorial is listed in these topic lists: War, Spanish-American • War, US Civil

Photographed By Duane Hall, September 17, 2013

2. William Rufus Shafter Memorial

From top to bottom, inscriptions on the front, left, rear, and right sides of Memorial

• Wars, US Indian. In addition, it is included in the Medal of Honor Recipients series list. A significant historical date for this entry is May 30, 1878.

Location. 42° 17.341′ N, 85° 25.053′ W. Marker is in Galesburg, Michigan, in Kalamazoo County. Memorial is at the intersection of E. Battle Creek Street (State Highway 96) and E. Michigan Avenue, on the right when traveling east on E. Battle Creek Street. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Galesburg MI 49053, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 6 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. U.S.S. Maine Memorial (here, next to this marker); Congregational United Church of Christ (about 800 feet away, measured in a direct line); The Kalamazoo Region (approx. 1.8 miles away); Barn Theatre (approx. 3.4 miles away); Park Theatre (approx. 4.6 miles away); Builders Medad, Casey, Chauncey and Darwin McKay (approx. 4.7 miles away); The Climax Crescent Newspaper (approx. 5.4 miles away); Climax World War II Memorial (approx. 5.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Galesburg.

Also see . . . William Rufus Shafter - Wikipedia entry. (Submitted on September 25, 2013.)

Photographed By Duane Hall, September 17, 2013

3. William Rufus Shafter Memorial

Left and Rear Sides of Memorial

Photographed By Duane Hall, September 17, 2013

4. William Rufus Shafter Memorial

Commanding the intersection of Battle Creek Street, Michigan Avenue, and Crittenden Street

Photographed By Duane Hall, September 17, 2013

5. William Rufus Shafter Memorial

Close-up of bust of General Shafter

Credits. This page was last revised on April 28, 2023. It was originally submitted on September 25, 2013, by Duane Hall of Abilene, Texas. This page has been viewed 847 times since then and 28 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on September 25, 2013, by Duane Hall of Abilene, Texas.