Orson B. Curtis

Orson B. Curtis was the son of Stephen T. Curtis and Rachel Blair Curtis, and was a Wayne native. Orson enlisted in Company D on August 12, 1862 at Detroit. He was 22 years old. He was mustered into service on the next day. At the of his enlistment, he gave his occupation as student; he had attended the University of Michigan during the previous school year. A close friend of his Sirel Chilson, also enlisted in the 24th Michigan

The photograph at left is from Curtis' History of the 24th Michigan of the Iron Brigade (1891). It is from the section on Michigan Day at Gettysburg, and is believed to date from c. 1889.

When the Army of the Potomac left camp at Brooks Station, Orson was sick in the hospital and was left behind. When he heard the faint sounds of gunfire from the Rappahannock, he decided that he did not want to miss the great battle. He pleaded with the doctor on duty at the hospital, Assistant Surgeon Charles C. Smith, and was eventually given permission to join his regiment. He made it to the Rappahannock, a distance of about 14 miles, but could not immediately locate his regiment. He did manage to encounter the the 7th Michigan and fell in with them. The 7th was assigned the perilous duty of crossing the river in boats to drive Barksdale's brigade away from the far shore so that the engineers could complete a bridge. Orson crossed over with them. During the fighting on the far side of the river, he was wounded in the arm at Fredericksburg on December 13, 1862, while fighting with the 7th Michigan Infantry. Here is the story in his own words (Curtis p 264-265):

"Captain Speed of their company , whom neither (Orson B. Curtis and Sirel Chilson) knew before coming into camp, after the muster, assured both of his regret that no non-commissioned positions were left unfilled, but their promotion should follow their soldierly merits when vacancies occurred. Such words inspired both with a friendly rivalry for advancement. The day of battle came and found one sick with pneumonia at Brooks' Station, Virginia, sixteen miles from the field of Fredericksburg. Knowing that absence from the ranks in the engagement might be misconstrued and result in being outranked by others in the promotion list, he hastened from a sick bed to find his own regiment, and failing to do this became mingled with another in battle and came out both maimed for life and all chances of promotion forever gone.

The doctors at first attempted to save the arm. Ultimately they were unsuccessful, and it was amputated on December 17, 1863 by Surgeons C.S. Wood and C. Gray. He spent a lengthy period in military hospitals recuperating. He was finally discharged from the 24th Michigan on March 2, 1863 at Washington D. C. on account of his wounds. The loss of his arm made him eligible for a small pension, which he began receiving on March 4, 1863, and would continue to draw it for the rest of his life.

Returning home, he re-entered the University of Michigan. He received his A.M. degree in 1865. He taught in Wayne at the two room school on Main Street and Washington for a time. Later he became principal of schools at Sturgis, Bay City, Tecumseh, and Muskegon.

The photograph below shows him with one of his classes in Wayne c. 1870. Notice how he stands so as to hide his amputated limb.

In addition to teaching, Orson was the editor of the "Sturgis Star" and the "Muskegon Chronicle". One interesting price of trivia for those of geneaological bent is that Orson was a Census Taker for the 1870 census in western Wayne County. Many of the census returns are in his own hand. Orson Curtis was even nominated for the State Senate in 1878 on the Republican ticket; although he lost the election. According to an article in the Wayne Co. Review on April 30, 1880, Orson B. Curtis was appointed to be Deputy Collector in the Custom House at Detroit. The article also notes that the family would be re-locating to Detroit.

After the war, Orson was very involved in veterans affairs. He was one of the organizers of the Department of Michigan, Grand Army of the Republic. He served as the department's Senior Vice Commander in 1868. Later he helped to organize many regimental reunions and was played an active role in organizing "Michigan Day at Gettysburg" in 1889.

Orson Curtis is perhaps best known for his book "History of the Twenty-fourth Michigan of the Iron Brigade". This well researched and extremely accurate book was initially published in 1891, and has since been re-printed a number of times. It is generally regarded as one of the best Civil War regimental histories.

Orson B. Curtis died on January 11, 1901, and is buried in Glenwood Cemetery.

Orson B. Curtis

Curtis photograph is taken from his book, page 414. School Photograph is courtesy of the Wayne Historical Museum. Used with permission.