By AARON MUELLER
Niles Daily Star

It’s one of the most prominent monuments in Silverbrook Ceremony, honoring one of the greatest war heroes in the area.

And this weekend the Niles community will rededicate that marker and remember Gen. Henry A. Morrow, who started the 24th Michigan Infantry and was wounded in multiple battles in the Civil War.

On Saturday at 1 p.m. the Sons of Union Veterans out of Grand Rapids will be on hand to conduct a rededication ceremony at his gravesite at Silverbrook. The event, which is sponsored by the Brandywine High School History Club, will also feature two speakers in state Sen. John Proos and Pastor James Slack of Trinity Episcopal Church, where Morrow and his wife attended church in the 1850s and 60s.

Then at 2:30 p.m. the recently restored Civil War Cannon at Riverfront Park will be rededicated.

Morrow was born in Virginia in 1829 and arrived in Niles after the war when he married Isabella Graves, daughter of Williams graves, the mayor of Niles and Michigan Secretary of State in the 1850s.

His 24th Michigan infantry was linked to the Iron Brigade that was instrumental in the Battle of Gettysburg.

“They were the heroes of that battle on the first and second day,” said Brandywine High School History Club advisor Dave Roeder. “It took more than 80 percent casualties.”

Morrow was wounded at Gettysburg, the Battle of Wilderness and the Battle of Petersburg.
“Henry Morrow was the biggest hero and the most decorated of them in Niles,” Roeader said. “He certainly made a name for himself.”

Morrow died in 1891 at age 62. His family members are also buried at Silverbrook by the the large monument honoring Morrow and his father-in-law and brother-in-law.
On Friday the Brandywine History Club and Sons of Union Veterans will clean up the monument, and the Flower Cart in Niles will provide a grave wreath to adorn the site.

Bringing the Civil War to life
The sound of the crack of the bat will join the ringing blasts of guns and cannons next weekend at the fourth annual Brandywine Civil War Days at Brandywine High School.
The House of David Echoes will take on the Civil War Re-enactors in an old-time baseball game under 1858 rules on May 15 at noon at the Brandywine High School baseball diamond. This is the first time the Civil War weekend will feature a ball game.

About 200 re-enactors will participate in the weekend’s activities that include an infantry drill demonstration, battle re-enactments, a bluegrass band and panning for gold demonstrations.
“They put on a nice battle. They have a camp in the meadow back there,” Roeder said. “And it’s like you’re back in 1860. The tents, the campfires, the music, and they keeping adding things every year.”

The events begin at 9 a.m. on May 15 and 16. Admission is $5 or $2 for students and seniors.