Gary Wolfe

**Bell Isle, Michigan** (often spelled "Belle Isle") does not have a standing military unit by that exact name, but the location has significant military history. Belle Isle, an island in the Detroit River, served as a training and encampment site for Michigan volunteer regiments during the American Civil War. Soldiers mustered and drilled on the island before deployment to battlefronts. Although no permanent military unit was garrisoned there, Belle Isle’s role as a muster and training ground contributed to Michigan’s military efforts, especially during the 1860s. Today, the island is best known as a public park, but its military heritage remains an important chapter in Detroit’s history.