President Abraham Lincoln Promotes a Cavalry Officer Who Fought Under General George A. Custer at the Battle of Gettysburg

A powerful connection between Lincoln, Gettysburg, and General Custer

The 5th Michigan Cavalry was mustered into service on August 30, 1862, and left for Washington, D.C., on December 4 of that year. The regiment served in the defenses of the capital until June 1863, when it joined the Cavalry Corps of the Army of the Potomac. Over the next month, the 5th Michigan Cavalry took part in several major battles, including the Battle of Gettysburg from July 1 to July 3. The regiment then participated in a series of smaller engagements followed by the Battle of Mine Run from November 26 to December 2. One of the officers in the cavalry regiment was F.A. Copeland, who joined at its founding in August 1862 and remained with it until 1864, when he was promoted.

At Gettysburg, the Michigan cavalry units, including the 5th, were under the commander of General George Armstrong Custer. This volunteer cavalry unit is memorialized on the field. The monument to the Michigan Cavalry Brigade is east of Gettysburg on East Cavalry Battlefield. It reads: “This monument marks the field where the Michigan Cavalry Brigade under its gallant leader General George A. Custer rendered signal and distinguished service in assisting to defeat the further advance of a numerically superior force under the Confederate General J. E. B. Stuart which in conjunction with Pickett’s Charge upon the centre, attempted to turn the right flank of the Union Army at that critical hour of conflict upon the afternoon of July 3rd, 1863.”

It notes that one officer was killed that day from the 5th. More went missing.

Document signed, Washington, July 5, 1864, appointing Frederick A. Copeland, Assistant Adj. General of Volunteers with the rank of Captain. Countersigned by Secretary of War Edwin M. Stanton. Frederick’s father was General Joseph T. Copeland, and he served on his father’s staff until the end of the war.