Officer in the 5th Michigan Cavalry killed at the East Cavalry Field on the third day of the Battle of Gettysburg. Body was later removed and taken home to Michigan. Stone still bears his name.

A big THANK YOU to Contributor JMMK for the following biography:

NOAH HENRY FERRY
Major, 5th Michigan Cavalry

Noah Henry Ferry
(Mark Fellows)
Noah Henry Ferry had always been a man of action. Born in 1831 to Reverend William M. Ferry and his wife Amanda, young Noah grew up a son of true pioneers. Reverend William Ferry was appointed Presbyterian missionary to Mackinaw Island, Michigan Territory in 1821. For nearly thirteen years he and his wife ministered to the Indians, fur traders, and soldiers of Fort Mackinaw which was located on the island. Fort Mackinaw is where Noah, the reverend's third son, was born. Within a few years of Noah's birth, the Ferry's moved their family south to the shores of Lake Michigan to what eventually became the Village of Grand Haven.

Lumbering was becoming king in the new state of Michigan (1836) and Reverend Ferry decided to take financial advantage of the new industry. Involving himself in a lumber mill, Ferry soon prospered and branched out into ship building and ironworks. Ferry and Sons eventually added to their enterprises by operating a bank and owning dry goods and hardware stores in addition to their lumber and ironworks business. As the village of Grand Haven grew so did the Ferry family's wealth and influence.

Young Noah grew up in this environment of privilege and responsibility. He was educated by his Aunt, the village's first school teacher, and grew to be involved in the family's business enterprises. He attended college in Chicago and excelled in his studies there. In 1854, at age 23, Noah Ferry took over the reins of the family's White River Township Sawmill. Soon Noah was a prominent member of the township and became a leading citizen and most eligible bachelor. He was responsible for building the first schoolhouse in the township in 1856.

The census records of 1860 show 28-year old Noah Ferry living in a boarding house with 32 other tenants, mostly millhands working for his White River Sawmill. Records also indicate Ferry's land holdings had an estimated worth of $22,000.00 and his personal property was valued at $10,000.00. By 1860 his total worth made him the wealthiest of the township's 359 residents. [1] To many people in his community Noah Ferry was well-respected and well-liked. Upon his death in 1863 "The Grand Haven Union" printed in his obituary, "Self-reliant, manly and generous, kind, sympathizing, wholly above a mean thing, he unconsciously won an almost unlimited control over those around him and in his employ." Noah Ferry was a leader in his community. He was a fair and decent employer who always looked out for his employees. These qualities, along with his experience supervising large groups of men, would be put to the test in warfare.

In 1861, as war came to the country, Ferry attempted to enlist in the 3rd Michigan Cavalry. The 3rd was organizing in Grand Rapids so Ferry made the trip only to find that the position he expected to fill had already been taken. Discouraged, he returned to White River and turned his attention once more to his business. Ferry worked very hard, often putting in long hours to make his sawmill and other enterprises successful during the first year of the war.

Early in 1862, a year after he returned home from his first attempt to enlist, Ferry and other men in his employ agreed to serve the state if they could enlist as a company and if Noah Ferry would lead them as their Captain. Such was the admiration of Ferry as a leader, one veteran of the company recalled in 1925 of the enlistment the response was almost immediate. Engineers and millmen left their work; rivermen cast aside their peevies; choppers came in from the woods; and sailors swarmed over the sides of their vessels to join up with Noah Ferry." [2] Within a day, 102 men enlisted in "The White River Guard," also known by many as the "White River Tigers." [3] The men then elected Noah Ferry as their Company Commander. Ferry encouraged each man to transfer property and get their estates in order, including making out wills, before they left White River for the theater of war.

The White River Guard was mustered into United States Service as Company F, 5th Michigan Volunteer Cavalry in August of 1862 in Detroit, Michigan. Just before the regiment left for Washington, D.C. in December, Noah Ferry was promoted to Major of the Regiment. The Detroit Free Press called Ferry, "A man of real, genuine merit." After arriving in Washington in January 1863, the 5th Michigan Cavalry settled in to a humdrum routine of camping and drilling on East Capitol Hill. "If I go to war, I want to fight. If I go to play, I want to play," a frustrated Ferry wrote his brother at that time.

Soon the regiment moved South and met with the rest of the regiments that would make up the brigade. Upon arriving near Fairfax Courthouse, where the 5th Michigan was to help guard the Orange and Alexandria Railroad, the Michigan Brigade was formed. The Michigan Cavalry Brigade consisted of the older 1st Michigan Cavalry (1861), the 6th Michigan (the 5th's sister regiment having formed at the same time in Grand Rapids), Colonel Freeman Norvell's 5th Michigan, and the newest regiment the 7th Michigan, having just organized on January 27, 1863, in Grand Rapids. The next few weeks became routine for the 5th Michigan and the rest of the brigade. Long periods of inaction, cold weather, and camp life were making Noah Ferry impatient. Only an occasional patrol or raid into Northern Virginia broke the boredom and routine. In a letter to a friend back in Grand Haven, dated February 18, 1863, Ferry wrote of one patrol:

We left Washington in mud; I, in perfect astonishment that an expedition should be ordered out into the sacred soil after such weather, thinking nothing else than that we should have to swim most of the way...it (mud) becomes a clog to the movements of an army when hid from view in a cask of flesh and blood, tastefully wrapped up in bluejacket and brass buttons. Excuse this rambling letter. It is a good deal like me—needs trimming.

Major Noah Ferry soon tired and became pessimistic about army life, as seen in his letters. One event early in February 1863 would be of some importance to Ferry, especially in the months to come. The 5th Michigan was only partially equipped by the time they left for Washington, but that winter the regiment was issued 500 Spencer seven-shot repeating rifles.

The original Colonel of the Regiment, and later Michigan Brigade Commander, Joseph Copeland years later claimed credit for outfitting the Regiment with these expensive weapons, "After much personal effort and expense," he wrote. Two companies of the 6th Michigan Cavalry also received the Spencer rifle in February. It seems that the 5th and 6th Michigan were unique, since records show most men of the Brigade were armed with the breech-loading .54 caliber Burnside carbine, along with the standard .44 caliber Colt Army Revolver and the Model 1860 Light Cavalry Saber. It was not until early 1864 that the entire Michigan Cavalry Brigade was armed with the lighter and shorter Spencer carbine, a weapon much more suited to cavalry use.

Armed with the Spencer rifle, the 5th Michigan possessed awesome fire power that winter and spring of 1863, so they were given much of the scouting and patrol duties assigned to their sector. Much of this work was routine, and boredom and frustration were rampant in the regiment. The 5th Michigan was experiencing problems with morale. In infrequent encounters with Confederate horsemen, the Union cavalry was for the most part ineffective. Southern guerrilla leader, John Mosby, started this humiliation of the Union Army by raiding supply bases, disrupting communications, and even capturing a sleeping Union general in his bed. Noah Ferry was beginning to be bothered by what he considered to be the incompetence shown by the Army and its leaders. In a letter to a brother in late February 1863, Ferry writes:

"I feel ashamed to write so much in the spirit of complaint and criticism of the management of the affairs around me, but one sees enough here to take all the patriotism out of him."

Finally, in early March, all of the pent up emotions felt by Ferry, all of the frustrations of months of mismanagement, came to the surface in a dramatic fashion. This incident provoked Ferry to action and his actions speak to the character of the man. During a patrol through Ashby's Gap, Virginia, 50 miles west of Washington, D.C., Ferry risked his career and reputation and showed what kind of leader he was when he relieved his drunken, obstinate Colonel from command and salvaged a mismanaged operation deep in enemy territory. In a letter between his brothers, Edward and William, dated March 16, 1863, the incident is referenced. Edward writes:

"I've a letter from Noah last night. He is well and seems to like the life (army), though he flies off considerably at drunken and incompetent officers and thinks the long inaction is unnecessary."

In a subsequent letter to his brother Edward, Noah told how the 1,500-man column of cavalry was forced by its Colonel to make frequent stops along the march to search houses, stores, and barns for alcohol. At one time the column actually halted to allow the Colonel to "rest" in a bed in one of the farm houses! The Colonel's obsession with alcohol rendered it impossible for the column to execute its mission. Ferry decided to take action. In his letter to Edward, Noah writes:

After vainly urging Lieutenant Colonel and First Major to take command, I told them all I asked was that they should stand out of my way and I would take the responsibility. They assented; the captains all said they would stand by me. I then faced the column about, galloped back, turned the trains around and took an ambulance and went to where the Colonel lay asleep—or rather dead drunk

Ferry continues. . .

I took two men and was carrying him out to the ambulance when they stumbled and he roused up. Then he resisted and attempted to use authority. T'was pretty hard to compel men to defy an officer they had been taught to obey. So I took him myself and told him I should force him to go, if he did not willingly. We had a hot time for a little while, but I was determined and firm. He then begged to be permitted to go back to the room, put on his boots and ride. I told him he was in no state to ride a horse, but he insisted he could. I reluctantly consented.

The column was heading off course and going through Ashby's Gap, which was unreconnoitered, and possibly controlled by John Mosby's guerrillas. If the command continued forward disaster could be waiting. Ferry insisted the drunken Colonel be put in the ambulance and the column turned around, but the Colonel mounted his horse and proceeded to guide the column forward toward Ashby's Gap! Ferry explains the heated conversation that happened next:

"I said to him, 'Colonel, where are you going with these men?'"

"Though the gap and down the Manassas Gap on the otherside. Go back and tell Lt. Colonel Gould to come on with the column."

"No sir, the Lt. Colonel will not come."

"Why not?"

"Because the column is going the other way. Give the command to halt."

The Colonel did not halt the men, so Ferry started for the head of the column and waved out the command "halt." The column froze in indecision:

"The men were glad to obey me. (But) as I rode up one side (of the column) he (the Colonel) rode up the other, and I asked him to order them to return. He refused."

Again the column froze. Disgusted and excited Ferry took action:

I placed my pistol at the ear of the Lieutenant at the head of the column and again ordered them to move. I should have shot him had he not started. Slowly the column swung around and off they went, leaving the Colonel and I glaring at each other.

Noah Ferry won this war of wills. Colonel Freeman Norvell quietly resigned after Ferry agreed to drop charges against him. Quickly Noah Ferry was offered the Colonelcy of the 5th Michigan which he just as quickly turned down.

It was not until three months later that the regiment was finally tested in its first major skirmishes with the enemy. In a series of fights around the small hamlet of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania in June 1863 the Michigan Cavalry made a good showing. In search of Lee's Army, the Michigan Brigade would be among the first Union forces to ride into Pennsylvania, arriving at Littlestown on June 29. [4] Ferry wrote his brother, "Our reception through this country is generally joyful. There are some secesh, but they only dare to look sour." The next three days Ferry and the 5th would be in constant contact with the enemy in running battles north and east of Gettysburg. "Yesterday the Fifth had their first smell of battle near Littlestown and behaved finely. Our loss was one killed, while fifteen dead rebels lay in front of our line. . .We are off again and I must close without finishing." These were to be the last words Noah Ferry would write.

Around 9:00 A.M. the Michigan Cavalry Brigade, under the command of 23-year old West Pointer, Brigadier General George A. Custer, reached the extreme right of the Union line of battle. Sent out to protect the flanks of the Army as well as guarding the approaches to town, the Michigan Cavalry Brigade numbered some 2,000 troopers.

"(At) 9 o'clock A.M. (we) reached the extreme right of our army and are in line of battle. Our artillery has already commenced operations upon the enemy."

—Diary of George G. Brigs, Adjutant, 7th Michigan Cavalry, Gettysburg, July 3, 1863

Around 10:00 A.M. the Confederate cavalry under the command of General J.E.B. Stuart arrived on Cress Ridge, three miles east of Gettysburg. The General quickly placed his artillery in advance on Cress Ridge and they had a short artillery duel with Union artillery batteries to the southeast. General Stuart then sent forward 250 or so dismounted cavalrymen from Ferguson's (Jenkin's) Brigade to occupy the Rummel Barn in their front. In response to the Confederate advance, Union General David M. Gregg had the men of Colonel John McIntosh's Cavalry Brigade advance toward the Rummel Farm. The cavalrymen of the 1st New Jersey soon came under fierce fire and were slowly driven back. Confederate cavalry was again on the advance. Historian Edward G. Longacre writes:

With an advanced line of New Jersey troopers imperiled, newly-promoted Brigadier General George Armstrong Custer tried to rescue them by sending forward a heavy skirmish line under Major Noah Ferry of the Fifth Michigan. [5]

Major Luther S. Trowbridge, 6th Michigan Cavalry wrote about the action:

Our regiment was dismounted to fight on foot, Major Ferry taking the left with his battalion and I the right with mine. We moved forward against the enemy's skirmishers and I can assure you the bullets flew as thick as hail around us.

Majors Ferry and Trowbridge each led between 150 and 200 dismounted cavalrymen forward and were originally successful in driving the Confederates in front of them. Each man of the 5th and two companies of the 6th that went forward bore Spencer repeating rifles. It was not a coincidence then that the 5th and two companies of the 6th were sent out as dismounted skirmishers. The Spencer was a devastating weapon, but it had an appetite for ammunition. The 5th and 6th were steadily pressing forward until the rapid fire that was moments ago so devastating to the Confederate line, began to slacken. The troopers were emptying their cartridge pouches, and the extra ammunition was back across the open fields near their horses. At that moment the Confederates advanced; both mounted charges and dismounted men were thrown at the 5th and 6th. The blue line broke. Edward Longacre describes the confusion:

"The men of the 34th Virginia Battalion saw the newcomers moving dismounted across open fields and poured a heavy fire into the Wolverines. Many of Ferry's men fell, others broke and fled." [6]

Most witnesses and historians agree on what happened next. Longacre continues; "Rally boys, Rally for the fence, shouted their Major, seconds before a rebel bullet drilled him through his red head." As Noah Ferry stood his ground trying to rally his men, death found him. His loss affected both officers and men in the Regiment, dampening their joy in victory against Stuart's "undefeatable" cavalry. "Our best Major was killed on the third. He was Ferry," wrote Private Victor E. Compte, 5th Michigan Cavalry in a letter home a week after the battle. "My loss in killed and wounded was very severe," Colonel Russell A. Alger recollected in a letter to a friend in 1880. "Major Ferry, who was cheering his battalion to hold its ground, was instantly killed. His death cast a deep gloom upon the whole Brigade. He was a gallant soldier, an exemplary man and his loss was a great blow."

Custer's official report noted the loss of "...the brave and chivalric Major N. H. Ferry."

It was not until the next day that Colonel Russell Alger ordered a detail to recover Noah Ferry's body from the field. "During the night rebel prowlers stole their way and pillaged everything they wanted and could find from the dead," recalled Private Compte. "They stripped the Major's body of everything but his coat, and cut from this all the buttons and shoulder stripes."

Because of the hurried pursuit of the Confederate cavalry after the Battle of Gettysburg, Noah Ferry's comrades had only time to bury him beneath a tree at the field headquarters. Two weeks later his father and younger brother had the body disinterred and accompanied it home.

"Going home always seems to be longed for, but the death of dear Noah makes me feel as if I cannot go home. . .we (family) are broken up and trying to put the pieces together again would only show more plainly how much is lost," wrote his eldest brother William to his wife in August 1863. Noah Henry Ferry was laid to rest July 18, 1863, in the Lake Forest Cemetery in Grand Haven, Michigan. His memory will live on where he fell, for he has a headstone in the National Soldiers Cemetery at Gettysburg. The stone is the foremost stone in the Michigan section, but the grave is surely empty.

Many of Noah Ferry's comrades went on to achieve lasting fame due to their accomplishments. Colonel Russell Alger of the 5th would later rise in the Republican Party to become Governor of the State of Michigan and later the Secretary of War under another Civil War veteran, William McKinley. A young 23-year old Brigadier General would eventually lead a division of cavalry. George A. Custer would be a household name years later due in fact to the circumstances of his death at the hands of the Indians in 1876. Still other comrades would write accounts and publish books on the heroic deeds of the Michigan Brigade. In these accounts they tell the story of men and war. So often the stories tell of the bravery and gallantry of the well-known and forget the men of valor whose deeds are "unsung" to many. Men like Noah Ferry who was an inspiration to his men, whether on the battlefield or in civilian pursuits. Noah Ferry gave his life in service to those men and became one of the unsung heroes of the battle that raged at Gettysburg.