Lansing museum displaying historic artifact from Civil War

LANSING, Mich. (AP) - An artifact made by Native American soldiers who served in the Civil War is among items featured at a special exhibit in a Lansing museum.

The beaded headband is on display at "Conceived in Liberty" at the Michigan Historical Museum. The headband was created by American Indian members of Company K of the 1st Michigan Sharpshooters and given as a gift to their commanding officer.

The museum says many Native Americans who had been rejected from the U.S. military they were allowed to join in 1863 joined Company K when that changed. According to the museum, the company's members came from tribal communities in Michigan.

The men of Company K helped hoist the Union flag at the Petersburg Courthouse in Virginia when it fell to northern forces in July 1864.