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Regiment: 15th Michigan Infantry
Battles Mentioned: Corinth, Mississippi; Shiloh, Tennessee
Historical Figures: Austin Blair, John M. Oliver, John McArthur , Thomas J. McKean
Head Quarters McArthurs Division Left
Wing, Army of the Tenn, Near Grand Junction
Tennessee Nov 14
th 1862
To His Excellency, Gov Blair Mich Sir – I take
pleasure in calling your attention to the
following and respectfully ask your cooper
ation in the matter. Col J. M. Oliver 15
th Mich
Infty has been in command of the 2d Brigade
of this Division since the battle of Shiloh un
til now, much of the time under my
command and in positions where I
had a good opportunity of judging of
his abilities as a Brigade commander.
He handled his Brigade with skill at the
battle of Corinth. He is cool, brave and dis
cerning and withal believes that hard blows
dealt at the weakest point of the enemy
(slavery) is sure to win. He stands alone
on his merits as an officer and although
I have
had but one Mich Regt in my
command its conduct in the late engage
ment was such that I would wish to com
mand more. I there fore respectfully ask
that you use your influence to have
him appointed a Brigadier General believing
he will do honor to the service and a credit
to the Wolverine State, with great Respect I
remain your obt servt, J McArthur Brig Genl
Comding Division
Lagrange Tennessee Nov 15th/62
Govenor- I beg have respectfully to say
a word in favor of Col. J. M. Oliver, 15
th Regt
Michigan Volunteers. I have been acquainted
with the Col. commencing a few days after
the battle of Shiloh, until the present time
most of which time he had been under
my command, and in command of
a Brigade, he has served faithfully and
with credit and permit me to say that
his state should ask for his promotion.
The following is an extract from my official
report of the battle of Corinth on the 3
rd & 4
th of
October last in which I commanded the
Division in which Col Oliver served as
Brigade Commander. Col. J. M. Oliver com
manding the 2d Brigade who received the
first attack of the enemy (8 miles from
Corinth) is entitled to great credit. Charged
with one of the most embarrassing duties
that could be entrusted to an officer, that
of opposing with energy the advance of an
enemy and yet retiring slowly when
overpowered, a task involving at tax at
the same time upon his judgment skill
& bravery. The Col seems to have been sin
gularly felicitous in the discharge of that
duty, a veteran could not have done
better or accomplished more the above
was preceded with a detailed account
of the part taken by the 2d Brigade in
the battle. I hope to see the Colonel receive
the promotion due to his merits. Very Res
pectfully Your Oct Servant Tho J McKean
To his Excellency Austin Blair Brig Genl Vols
To His Excellency The Govenor of Michigan Head
Quarters Right Wing Army of the Tenn Nov 15
th/62
Sir, Though personlly unacquain
ted with you I take the liberty of addressing
you in behalf of Col John M Oliver 15
th Regt
Mich Infty. Comding 2d Brigade 6
th Division.
I have served with Col Oliver as chief of
staff 6
th Div from early in april to the 15
th of
October 1862 and can testify to his charac
ter as a gentleman, his efficiency and
bravery as an officer, and his gallantry
and good conduct as a soldier at the
battle of Shiloh, during the advance
upon Corinth, and the three days fight
ant Corinth, where he with his brigade
met the advance of the enemy and
held them at bay, retiring only when
ordered, his men fighting desperately
against five times their number. No
one speaks of his conduct at that time
but in terms of the highest praise and
were justice done a deserving offi
cer his promotion would be immediate
I take pleasure in offering what influence
I passes in behalf of the interests of Col
Oliver and hope it may be in your
power to secure for the sake of
the state and the men of Michigan
a position where his services would
be more generally useful It would
be gratifying to his friends and all
good soldiers under his command to see
Col Oliver among the appointed earliest selected
I have the honor to be very respectfuley your obt servt
W L Clark Maj & A A Genl U.S.A
