Between 1861 and 1865 440 men who served at one time or another in the Third MIchigan Infantry died, leaving 971 who probably survived the war.

Of the 760 men reportedly buried in Michigan, by far the largest number (207) are in Kent County, and of that number 39 are buried in the “Michigan Soldiers’ Home” cemetery in Grand Rapids.

The next highest number of burials in Michigan is in Ottawa County (49), followed by Ionia County (42), Barry County (32), Muskegon County (28) and Newaygo County (22).

Many of the 197 men buried in Virginia are probably interred in unknown graves scattered throughout the state, like so many thousands of soldiers.

For example, it is likely that of the estimated 35 men who died at Fair Oaks, Virginia, on May 31, 1862, all are interred in Seven Pines National Cemetery, although we know exact locations for only a fraction of that number. And the men who died at Groveton on August 29, 1862, their remains were reportedly brought to Arlington National Cemetery and interred in a mass grave very close to the Custis-Lee mansion.

The fact that so many men who died in prison camps remain "unknown" is well-established. However, it is also quite likely that several of the Old Third soldiers who returned to Michigan during the war and died at home today rest in unmarked graves. This is particularly true for Samuel Camp in Lamont, Ottawa County, Francis Barlow, Henry Kampe and William Gibson in Grand Rapids, as well as Chauncey Strickland.

In any event, 957 of all men who served in the Third Michigan, or nearly 69% of the total enrolled, died and were buried in either Virginia or Michigan.

Known burial locations

(Pictured above is the grave of Alexander French, buried in Alexandria National Cemetery, Virginia.)