BIRMINGHAM MICHIGAN  TO R. A. PARKER   U.S. GENERAL HOSPITAL
WARD 2ND   CAMDEN STREET   BALTIMORE MD.

REVERSE--  RECD JAN 8TH  1863

ANS. 10 OF JAN 1863


Ralzemond A. Parker was born in 1843, the son of Asher Bull Parker and Harriet Castle. He enlisted in the Michigan Infantry, 17th Regiment, Co. E in Ypsilanti, in August 1862. In February 1863, Parker was discharged for disability in Baltimore, Maryland.

After the war, he attended Michigan State Normal College, now Eastern Michigan University, and taught school in Royal Oak School District No. 6. Parker also apparently sold saws or worked with saw patents.

In 1872, Parker graduated from the University of Michigan Law School. He worked as a lawyer at the office of Parker and Beardlee in Birmingham, Michigan. Later, he worked as Henry Ford’s patent lawyer and led the fight for automobile patent rights. In 1913 with eight other Detroit patent attorneys, Parker founded the Michigan Patent Law Association, now known as the Michigan Intellectual Property Law Association.

He was active in the Boys in Blue, a political, patriotic organization that eventually became the founding core of the Michigan Grand Army of the Republic (GAR). Parker was involved with the GAR, Oakland County Temperance Association, the Michigan State Chess Association, and the Union Veterans’ Patriotic League.

Parker married Sarah Electa Drake, the daughter of Flemon Drake, M.D. Ralzemond Parker died in 1925 and is buried in the Royal Oak Cemetery. Some of his furniture was given to the Royal Oak Historical Society.



17th Michigan Infantry Regiment
Michigan state flag
ActiveAugust 8, 1862, to June 3, 1865
Country United States (Union)
Allegiance Michigan
Branch United States Army
TypeInfantry
Size1,079 officers and men at beginning of service
EngagementsBattle of South Mountain
Battle of Antietam
Battle of Fredericksburg
Siege of Vicksburg
Knoxville Campaign
Battle of the Wilderness
Battle of Spotsylvania Court House
Battle of Cold Harbor
Siege of Petersburg
Appomattox Campaign
The 17th Michigan Infantry Regiment was an infantry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War.

Service

The 17th Michigan Infantry was organized at Detroit, Michigan, between August 8 and 22, 1862. Most of the soldiers in the regiment were from south-central Michigan, and Company E was composed largely of students from Michigan State Normal College, today known as Eastern Michigan University. Due to the large number of students in its ranks, Company E acquired the nickname "Normal Company".[1] They trained at Fort Wayne under their first commander, Colonel William H. Withington, until August 27 when they left for Maryland.

At the Battle of South Mountain, Maryland, on September 14, 1862, the regiment saw its first major action. Although they took heavy casualties, the 17th performed well for an untried unit and earned the nickname "Stonewall Regiment".[1] Three days later, they participated in the Battle of Antietam as part of the 1st Brigade, 1st Division, IX Corps. After the battle, the regiment left with its command and returned to Virginia