Marines of the USS Michigan

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butlersrangers
Posts: 9827
Joined: Wed Oct 07, 2009 11:35 pm
Location: Below the Bridge, Michigan

Marines of the USS Michigan

Post by butlersrangers »

I got to wondering if Marines were regularly stationed on the USS Michigan?
One of the photos displayed, at the Erie Maritime Museum, shows a Marine standing with two sailor friends.
In front of them is what appears to be a .45 caliber Gatling Gun on a carriage and the very top of a Colt 'potato-digger', on a carriage.
(The picture is not really dated).

I had a Lucky Find, earlier today, on the internet. It was a group of three fuzzy photos, that were auctioned about 10 years ago, from the estate of a SAW sailor, (Pvt. David James).
One was specifically dated 1899 and 'titled' Marine Guards - USS Michigan. Two of the pics bear the names of the Marines.

Two Marines, standing near a 'rapid-fire' deck-gun, appear to have Winchester-Lee bayonets and cartridge belts.

The Marines in formation likely have Winchester-Lee's, judging by the slenderness of their rifles.

(You can likely find the site by google searching): USS Michigan USMC Span-Am Guard Detail - EPHEMERA
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Wolverine - Gatling and Colt potato digger.jpg
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USSMich 1899 marines1.png
USSMich 1899 marines1.png (718.14 KiB) Viewed 683 times
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ussmich 1899 marines3 (2).png (786.41 KiB) Viewed 683 times
Last edited by butlersrangers on Tue Sep 21, 2021 12:42 pm, edited 2 times in total.

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butlersrangers
Posts: 9827
Joined: Wed Oct 07, 2009 11:35 pm
Location: Below the Bridge, Michigan

Re: Marines of the USS Michigan

Post by butlersrangers »

I believe this is Pvt. David W. James, U.S.M.C. (He is also, likely, the mustached man behind the deck-gun).

In 1895, he went through the Neptune Ceremony, when a previous ship crossed the Equator.

It is a pity such an archive got broken up!
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ussmich 1899 marines3 pvt. James.png
ussmich 1899 marines3 pvt. James.png (37.13 KiB) Viewed 679 times
USSMich 1899 marines1.png
USSMich 1899 marines1.png (718.14 KiB) Viewed 679 times
USMC Neptune Cert..jpg
USMC Neptune Cert..jpg (84.57 KiB) Viewed 679 times

craigster
Posts: 72
Joined: Tue Dec 10, 2013 5:08 am

Re: Marines of the USS Michigan

Post by craigster »

Being a former Marine, I always enjoy reading about the history of the Corps. Thanks for posting the pics.

Semper Fi

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