Civil War Union Brevet Brigadier General. He was born in Germany and resided in Mecklenburg before he emigrated to the US, settling in the Hill Country of Central Texas where there was an existing community of German-Americans. He became an outspoken opponent of slavery and when the Civil War began, he relocated to Belleville, Illinois where he joined the Union Army and was commissioned as a captain in the 9th Illinois Infantry. He actively participated in 110 engagements with Confederate forces over the next four years and was wounded four different times. After his last battle wound, he was transferred to the 23rd Veterans Reserve Corps, serving in non-combat areas. Toward the end of the war he had recovered sufficiently from his wound and was promoted to colonel, taking command of the 149th Illinois Volunteer Infantry. Following the war, he was brevetted a Brigadier General of the US Volunteers for "gallant and meritorious services," effective as of March 13, 1865. He became the collector of internal revenue for the 12th District of Illinois until 1869, when he was removed by President Ulysses S. Grant for political reasons. He studied law and after passing his bar examination, he established a legal practice in Belleville, earning the reputation as being one of Southern Illinois' most outstanding lawyers. He died in Belleville at the age of 53.
Civil War Union Brevet Brigadier General. He was born in Germany and resided in Mecklenburg before he emigrated to the US, settling in the Hill Country of Central Texas where there was an existing community of German-Americans. He became an outspoken opponent of slavery and when the Civil War began, he relocated to Belleville, Illinois where he joined the Union Army and was commissioned as a captain in the 9th Illinois Infantry. He actively participated in 110 engagements with Confederate forces over the next four years and was wounded four different times. After his last battle wound, he was transferred to the 23rd Veterans Reserve Corps, serving in non-combat areas. Toward the end of the war he had recovered sufficiently from his wound and was promoted to colonel, taking command of the 149th Illinois Volunteer Infantry. Following the war, he was brevetted a Brigadier General of the US Volunteers for "gallant and meritorious services," effective as of March 13, 1865. He became the collector of internal revenue for the 12th District of Illinois until 1869, when he was removed by President Ulysses S. Grant for political reasons. He studied law and after passing his bar examination, he established a legal practice in Belleville, earning the reputation as being one of Southern Illinois' most outstanding lawyers. He died in Belleville at the age of 53.
Bio by: William Bjornstad
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