Palmer, Ansyl

Ansyl Palmer

NPS Photo

Quick Facts

Significance:

Company I, 11th Michigan Infantry

Date of Birth:

1826

Place of Death:

Murfreesboro, Tennessee

Date of Death:

January 2, 1863

Place of Burial:

Murfreesboro, Tennessee

Cemetery Name:

Stones River National Cemetery

Ansyl Palmer was born in the year 1825. In his adulthood, he lived in London, Michigan. He enlisted at the age of 36 on August 24, 1861, in London, Michigan as a private. Later on, he mustered in with Company I of the 11th Michigan Infantry Regiment.

The 11th Michigan Volunteer Infantry Regiment was organized at White Pigeon, Michigan in 1861. Shortly after their organization, the 11th Michigan had guard duty along the Louisville & Nashville Railroad until July 1862. They then had duty in Paris, Kentucky in July 1862 and Gallatin, Tennessee in August, 1862. In mid August, they were sent to Nashville, Tennessee and had duty there until December 26th.

On December 26th, they were ordered southward to Murfreesboro, Tennessee in pursuit of General Bragg. They arrived in Murfreesboro on December 30th and waited for the looming fighting to begin. The 11th Michigan was positioned along the Wilkinson Pike in the front of their line.

Early the next morning, at 6am, the Confederate forces in the area began their attack. Their aim was to sweep around the Union's right flank and cause them to collapse in on themselves. As the battle began to rage to the 11th's right, they held their position on the Wilkinson Pike. It wasn't until around 10am that they came into contact with Confederate forces.

By 10:30am, the Union forces in the area were surrounded. They were pushed into a vulnerable, V-shaped position that they held as long as possible. This position eventually gave way and sent the 11th Michigan in a full retreat north towards the Nashville Pike.

The fighting that happened in this area was later named the "Slaughter Pen" due to the extreme loss of life that occurred there. After the initial day of fighting, the remnants of the 11th Michigan reformed a position protecting the railroad tracks near the Nashville Pike. They had the occasional skirmish on January 1, 1863, but Private Palmer lived to see another day.

On January 2, 1863, the 11th Michigan was sent across the west fork of the Stones River to meet Confederate forces. During this maneuver, Private Palmer lost his life. He was one of the 107 enlisted men in the 11th Michigan Infantry to lose his life during or due to a battle.

He is laid to rest in the Stones River National Cemetery in plot D-1402.