This presentation explores the role of Michigan’s Native American soldiers, particularly the Anishinaabe people, in the Civil War through the story of Company K of the 1st Michigan Sharpshooters. Initially denied the chance to serve due to racist perceptions, Native volunteers were later recruited after the Emancipation Proclamation, forming one of the largest all-Native units in the Union Army. Despite prejudice, they demonstrated extraordinary skill, bravery, and sacrifice in major battles such as the Wilderness, Spotsylvania, Cold Harbor, Petersburg, and the Crater. Their service not only earned respect from fellow soldiers and commanders but also challenged stereotypes of Native Americans, highlighting their patriotism, resilience, and commitment to protecting their homeland and people.
Michael G. Stroud is an educator, historian, and writer specializing in military history with a focus on strategic studies, battlefield analysis, and the cultural legacy of warfare. He serves as a history professor at Adrian College and Cornerstone University, where he teaches courses ranging from Western and Global Civilization to U.S. and Ancient History, and he recently developed a new World Religions curriculum. Stroud’s research and writing have been widely published in journals such as Military History Chronicles and Saber and Scroll, as well as in major history magazines including Strategy & Tactics, Military History, and History of War. He is the author of Byzantium’s Twilight: Strategic Failures That Crushed an Empire (2024) and has presented his scholarship at academic conferences including the International Congress on Medieval Studies and the Virginia Forum. A dedicated public historian, Stroud also contributes to editorial boards, local historic commissions, and battlefield preservation organizations, blending rigorous scholarship with a commitment to engaging diverse audiences.
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