Germans at Gettysburg
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The document discusses the role of German soldiers in the American Civil War. It notes that over 216,000 German-born men served in the Union Army, comprising about 10% of its forces. Germans volunteered at a high rate and fought in nearly every campaign and battle. They were largely loyal to the Union and opposed slavery. At key battles like Gettysburg on July 1st, German regiments endured heavy casualties while fighting bravely against overwhelming Confederate forces. Overall, the document examines the substantial yet underappreciated contribution of German Americans to the Union war effort.
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Germans at Gettysburg
- 1. Die Deutschen im amerikanischen Bürgerkriege als Gettysburg Stephen T. Frezza Electrical & Computer Engr Gannon University frezza@gannon.edu ECWR Gannon ©2004 Stephen T. Frezza 1
- 2. Sezessionskrieg 1861-1865 The Story of Germans in The War... The Story of The War – 216,000 German-born Union Soldiers – Nearly every Union Army Corps – Every Major Campaign & Battle Pvt. Alexander Zang, c. 1862 ECWR Gannon ©2004 Stephen T. Frezza 2
- 3. German Americans in ACW • Most marked events in the history of German-Americans • Loyal to the Union • Virtually no German... – promoters of succession – slaveholders • Provided significantly more volunteers than other ethnic groups – double the rate of other groups ECWR Gannon ©2004 Stephen T. Frezza 3
- 4. German-Born Americans 10% of Union Army: – 2,150,000 Union Soldiers (White) – 216,000 German-born (vs. 144,000 Irish) ~ 300,000 American-born ~ 250,000 ‘Old Germans’ High volunteer rate: Northern population of 1.6 million (1860-64) ~ 72,000 in rebellious states ECWR Gannon ©2004 Stephen T. Frezza 5
- 5. German Enlistees • Considered / emigrated from then-nations of: – – – – – – – – Denmark Austria Switzerland Belgium Luxembourg Alsace Holland Canada ECWR Pvt. Conrad Holtzhaur Co A 2nd MI Inf DOW Malvern Hill Gannon ©2004 Stephen T. Frezza 6
- 7. German Regiments • New York: 7th Steuben Rifles von Schack 9.2% 8th Blenker, Stahel, Wutschel 20th Turner Regiment Webber 37,000 th 29 Astor Rifles von Steinwehr 41st DeKalb Regiment von Gilsa 45th von Amsberg 46th von Rosa, Gerhard 52nd Sigel Rifles Freudenberg 54th Gellmann 103rd von Egloffstein, Ringgold, Heine 4th Cav Dickel Numerous batteries Schirmer, Dilger, Wiedrich, Sturmfels... ECWR Gannon ©2004 Stephen T. Frezza 10
- 8. German Regiments • Pennsylvania: – – – – 6.3% • Ohio – – – – – 27th Infantry 73rd Infantry 74th Infantry 75th Infantry • New Jersey – 3rd Cavalry 12% – A, 1st NJ Light Artillery ECWR 7.7% 9th (Turner) Infantry 28th Infantry 37th Infantry 107th Infantry 3rd Cavalry • Wisconsin Gannon – – – – 9th Infantry 26th Infantry 45th Infantry 2nd Artillery 20% ©2004 Stephen T. Frezza 11
- 9. German Regiments • Missouri: – – – – – – – – • Illinois 1 Infantry 36% 2nd Infantry 3rd Infantry 4th Infantry 5th Infantry 12th Infantry 15th Infantry (Swiss) 17th Infantry (Turner) ECWR – 43 Infantry – 82nd Infantry st rd 8.4% • Indiana Gannon – 32nd Infantry 4.6% ©2004 Stephen T. Frezza 12
- 10. Half-German Regiments • New York: 39th, 58th, 68th, 119th • Pennsylvania: 4th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th, 14th, 15th, 16th, 48th, 50th, 51st, 56th, 65th, 79th, 88th, 96th, 98th • Ohio: 7th, 47th, 58th, 74th, 106th, 108th, 165th, 20th Battery • Missouri: 1st,39th, 40th, 41st, 4th Cav • Illinois: 9th, 24th, 27th, 36th, 44th, 45th, 57th, 58th, 13th Cav, 16th Cav ECWR Gannon ©2004 Stephen T. Frezza 13
- 11. Half-German Regiments • Indiana: 24th, 136th • Minnesota: 1st, 2nd, 4th, 6th, • Texas: 1st (Loyal) • Kansas: 1st, 2nd • Nebraska: 1st Cav • Kentucky: 5th, 6th, 2nd Cav • Maryland: 5th ECWR Gannon ©2004 Stephen T. Frezza 14
- 12. Why they enlisted • Strongly influenced by the ideals of the 1848 revolution Union • Value and importance of Republican Ideals Slavery “All für Lincoln und Sie Freiheit” • Freedom ECWR Gannon ©2004 Stephen T. Frezza 15
- 13. Camp Jackson 1st Bull Run Wilson’s Creek Pea Ridge Franz Sigel The War - 1861 ECWR Gannon
- 14. Early Blows • May: Saving St. Louis – – German Loyalist rush to flag Armory Held, Camp Jackson taken • July: 1st Bull Run – Blenker’s German Division • held in reserve • mistaken For U.S. Regulars • Wilson’s Creek • Pea Ridge ECWR Gannon Louis Blenker ©2004 Stephen T. Frezza 17
- 15. South-West Texas: Little Germany • 1/5 of all whites - over 22,000 German-born • Pro-Union, anti-slave, German-speaking communities • February - Twiggs surrenders, Commanches attack • August - Banishment Law, Law of Confiscation – Moved, or Pro-Union property confiscated Four years of Murder, Man-hunts, Imprisonments, Lynching ECWR Gannon ©2004 Stephen T. Frezza 18
- 16. Antietam Bull Run Cross Keys Fredricksburg Seven Days Henry & Donelson August Willich Stones River Shiloh Corinth The War - 1862 ECWR Gannon
- 17. Gettysburg Peter Osterhaus Chancellorsville Chattanooga Chickamauga Vicksburg The War - 1863 ECWR Gannon
- 18. The Turning Points West • • • • East Vicksburg Tullahoma Chickamauga Chattanooga • • • • Chancellorsville Brandy Station Gettysburg Mine Run Chancellorsville Carl Schurz ECWR Gannon ©2004 Stephen T. Frezza 22
- 19. From Chancellorsville to Gettysburg Oliver O. Howard Unjustified Criticism • Disliked 11th Corps • “Measureless Abuse” Commander • Coverup of German • New commanders (e.g., heroics Barlow in 3rd Division) • Marched north to shed • Questionable their dishonorable assignments of Smith & reputation. Coster as Brigade Commanders ECWR Gannon ©2004 Stephen T. Frezza 23
- 20. The First Day • • • • • ECWR July 1, 1863: 9:30 AM St. Joseph’s College, Emmitsburg Maryland Buford’s Cavalry & 1st Corps stop Heth Reynolds (wing commander) Killed 10:45 AM: Howard takes Army Command, Schurz 11th Corps 2:30 PM: Schurz ordered to take 5,100 Men of 1st & 3rd Division north to protect 1st Corp’s flank 3:00 PM: 5,600 men of Early’s and Rodes’ divisions concentrate on Union right Gannon ©2004 Stephen T. Frezza 24
- 21. Threats to the Union Right Schurz’s Intent: so ’d seR s iiv o niD s’s no edoR i si vD i ’s rly n Ea isio Di v ts s pr o C 1 &h e H t w r g tt e P e i ECWR Gannon Barlow Devin’s Devin’s Cavalry Cavalry Schimmelfenning To Gettysburg & ©2004 Stephen T. Frezza 25 Cemetery Hill
- 22. 2:45 PM: July 1st Barlow & Schimmelfennig Deploy s’s no s edo R ii v iD so ’d seR s iiv o niD 107 OH 68th NY 4th US 74 PA th Batt. G von Gilsa 61st OH 75th OH 1st OH 13th NY 45th NY 157th NY Dilger 25th OH th Light 68th NY ’s rly n Ea isio 153rd PA iv D 54th NY 17th CON Ames Barlow 82nd ILL von Amsberg ECWR Schimmelfennig Gannon ©2004 Stephen T. Frezza 26
- 23. 3:15 PM Barlow Falls on Blocher Knoll Hays Doles (Early) (Rodes) 25 OH th 107th OH 4th US 74 PA Batt. G von Gilsa 61st OH 75th OH 1st OH 13th NY 45th NY 157th NY Dilger (Early) 68th NY 68th NY th Gordon 153rd PA 17th CON 54th NY Ames Barlow Light 82nd ILL von Amsberg Krzyzanowski ECWR Gannon ©2004 Stephen T. Frezza 27
- 24. 3:30-4PM: Forlorn Hopes Krzyanowski’s Brigade 157th New York Doles (Rodes) Hays (Early) 1st OH 13th NYKrzyzanowski 45 NY th 157th NY Dilger Gordon (Early) Light Avery (Early) 3rd Division 82nd ILL von Gilsa von Amsberg ECWR Gannon ©2004 Stephen T. Frezza 28
- 25. Germans on The First Day • Ordered into an impossible situation • Position untenable from the start (Barlow’s deployment) • Fought bravely until overwhelmed • Horrendous Casualties – Krzyzanowski’s Brigade – every regiment engaged took over 50% casualties – 127th New York collapsed after taking 75% casualties • 82nd Illinois – last out of Gettysburg • Posted to defend North- and East Cemetery Hill ECWR Gannon ©2004 Stephen T. Frezza 29
- 26. Sunset: 2nd July 1863 Cemetery Ridge Wilcox 1st MN Barksdale 21st Miss 126th NY 111th NY 125th NY 39th NY Watson’s Weikert’s Woods ECWR d f f or Wo Gannon ©2004 Stephen T. Frezza 30
- 27. Bias Against Germans The Second Day’s Record • 1st Minnesota loses 170 of 250 engaged – Staves the advance of 1000 rebels • Fassitt asks Hildebrand to advance – Gets Medal of Honor for initiative • 39th New York retakes Watson’s Battery – 75+ Casualties (25%) in 15 Minutes – Never recognized for recapturing four guns • 21st Mississippi retreats, gives up guns – claim they exchanged only “long range” volleys ECWR Gannon ©2004 Stephen T. Frezza 31
- 28. Hoke Dusk: 2nd July 1863 6 th NC 21st NC 57 th N C East Cemetery Hill Hays w yto Ba l t im ore Pik e 33 rd d nR ECWR Culp’s Hill M ass s Ri ck et t ne Ta W ie d r ic h 7 10 OH ro ll th 15 3r 68 th d PA 54 th NY 41 st NY NY Ca r Br i ck La yard ne 25 th O Kr SchuH 75 th y r 17 th O zana tz & Co H ows nn ki Du Sollst est…! Gannon ©2004 Stephen T. Frezza 32
- 29. Gettysburg German Participation • Significant – 1st Day – North of Gettysburg – 1st Day – On Cemetery Hill – 2nd Day – East Cemetery Hill Wadsworth Knoll – Overlooking East Cemetery Hill ECWR Gannon ©2004 Stephen T. Frezza 33
- 30. Wilderness Spottsylvania Petersburg Nashville Kennesaw March to the Sea Atlanta The War - 1864 ECWR Gannon
- 31. The Long Year West East • • • • Reseca Kennesaw Mountain Atlanta March to the Sea • • Franklin Nashville ECWR Gannon • • • • • • Wilderness Spottsylvania Cold Harbor Monocacy Petersburg Valley Campaign ©2004 Stephen T. Frezza 35
- 32. 1865: The End South East • Goldsboro • Bentonville ECWR • • • Gannon Petersburg Saylors Creek Appomatox ©2004 Stephen T. Frezza 36
- 33. Summary • Germans – – – – Played a significant role Helped train the Union Army Received little recognition Suffered for their Union Sentiments ECWR Gannon ©2004 Stephen T. Frezza 37
Editor's Notes
- The history of the Gemans in the Civil War is territory as yet completely unexplored