Leland Thornton is the author of “When Gallantry was Commonplace” and foremost authority on the Michigan 11th during the Civil War. He was the keynote speaker during the rededication of the monument in White Pigeon, MI commemorating the location of Camp Tilden where the regiment trained. Professor Thornton has taught history at Glen Oaks Community College, Centreville, Michigan, for the last twenty-five years. He completed his undergraduate work at Ohio State University and has Masters Degrees from Michigan State University and Western Michigan University.