Civil War Union Brevet Brigadier General. Born in Pförten, Prussia, his father had served in the Prussian military as a captain and had participated in the campaigns of Napoleon to Russia. After his father's death in 1824, his mother looked after the education of the children. He received a military education at the cadet school in Kulm and then the Military Academy in Berlin, Germany. In 1834 he emigrated with his mother to America, settling around Cleveland, Ohio. In 1839 he moved to St. Clair County, Illinois, where some of his friends had already settled and purchased a farm. Shortly afterwards, he was faced with losing his inheritance in Prussia to the state or serve for a year in the Prussian army. He decided return and served one year in the Prussian army as a lieutenant, and returned to Saint Clair County after the end of his service. On August 10, 1861, after the Civil War broke out, he sold his farm and joined the Union Army as a volunteer in the 12th Missouri Infantry Regiment (a largely German unit) and was appointed a major. In March 1862 he fought at the Battle of Pea Ridge and was given the promotion of commander of the regiment as a colonel, which he retained for the duration of the war. In May 1863 he fought in the siege at Vicksburg and later at the battles of Lookout Mountain, Kennesaw Mountain, and Missionary Ridge. At the Battle of Ringgold Gap, Georgia, on November 27, 1863 he lost his right arm. After recovering, he again assumed his command in March 1864, participating in the Battle of Atlanta. In September 1864 he and his regiment were mustered out of the Union Army. While General William T. Sherman continued his march from Atlanta, Georgia to Savannah, President Abraham Lincoln issued a call for volunteers to protect Missouri from a potential Confederate threat and he was given command of these troops. He was awarded the brevet of brigadier general, US Volunteers, on March 13, 1865 for gallant and meritorious services during the Civil War. Shortly afterwards, he was appointed postmaster of Belleville, Illinois by President Lincoln, serving in that position for eight years, and later served on the city council of Belleville. In 1879, he retired to private life and died of a stroke four years later.