Author Michael J. Martin Civil War Historian and Wisconsin Native
Michael J. Martin - Author - Speaker - Civil War Historian and Cavalry Reenactor
Mike and Virginia at Blue Mounds State Park for 2008 Civil War Day put on by Company K, 2nd Wisconsin Infantry. Over 1500 grade school students from Madison, WI, and the surrounding area attended the event.
Dr. Michael J. Martin's first loves are his horse, Major, and American Civil War history, especially, the role his home state of Wisconsin played in that conflict. His Civil War roots extend back to his great, great grandfather, a private in Company A, 5th New Hampshire Infantry, who was wounded on July 2, 1863, during fighting in the Wheatfield at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.
Mike's first book, A History of the 4th Wisconsin Infantry and Cavalry in the Civil War, was published by Savas Beatie, LLC, in 2006. He is currently working on another book tentatively titled, Break Not Their Sweet Repose, that will include biographies of 95 Wisconsin Civil War veterans interred in the National Cemetery in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and a chapter on the December 22, 1864 sinking of the U.S. transport, North America, off the southern coast of Georgia, which resulted in the loss of over 192 invalid soldiers.
Mike has published in America's Civil War, Military Images and North and South magazines (see "Michael's Publications" tab for access to PDFs of these articles) and has spoken to many historical organizations including the Polk County (Wisconsin) Historical Society, St. Croix (Wisconsin) Civil War, Baton Rouge Civil War and Madison (Wisconsin) History Round tables.
He and his late mare, Virginia, started reenacting in 1990 (some notable events attended include the 135th Anniversaries of the Battles at Gettysburg, Droop Mountain, West Virginia and Bentonville, North Carolina, and the 1996 Brandy Station Fund-raising ride). Mike and Major continue to participate in Civil War living histories and school demonstrations throughout Wisconsin and Minnesota.
Mike's first book, A History of the 4th Wisconsin Infantry and Cavalry in the Civil War, was published by Savas Beatie, LLC, in 2006. He is currently working on another book tentatively titled, Break Not Their Sweet Repose, that will include biographies of 95 Wisconsin Civil War veterans interred in the National Cemetery in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and a chapter on the December 22, 1864 sinking of the U.S. transport, North America, off the southern coast of Georgia, which resulted in the loss of over 192 invalid soldiers.
Mike has published in America's Civil War, Military Images and North and South magazines (see "Michael's Publications" tab for access to PDFs of these articles) and has spoken to many historical organizations including the Polk County (Wisconsin) Historical Society, St. Croix (Wisconsin) Civil War, Baton Rouge Civil War and Madison (Wisconsin) History Round tables.
He and his late mare, Virginia, started reenacting in 1990 (some notable events attended include the 135th Anniversaries of the Battles at Gettysburg, Droop Mountain, West Virginia and Bentonville, North Carolina, and the 1996 Brandy Station Fund-raising ride). Mike and Major continue to participate in Civil War living histories and school demonstrations throughout Wisconsin and Minnesota.
