Brown County, Minnesota - Chapter 9: Military Affairs, 1916

Chapter 9: Military Affairs

The military history of Brown county presents a chapter of unusual interest to those who fought in the Civil War, the Indian Wars and the Spanish- American War, or who, if not participating in these struggles themselves, are interested because his or her kin-folk were connected with such wars and had to do with the military movements of this state from 1861 to the commencement of the present century. The county was new and had but scattering settlements at the commencement of the War for the Union in the spring of 1861, but considering its population, but few, if indeed any, county in the commonwealth, sent forth more men to defend the flag, the home and the fireside, both on the frontier and in the far-away Southland, than did Brown. The commands well represented from this county included the First, Second and Fourth infantry regiments; also the Tenth and Eleventh infantry regiments; the First Mounted Rangers; Second cavalry and First battery of light artillery. The author has been requested to make one feature of this chapter a roster of the men who served from Brown county in the Civil War, so far as the facts are at hand at this late date. It will be remembered that that great conflict closed a little over fifty years ago this spring, and if there should be omissions found in this list of brave men who upheld "Old

Glory" away back in the early sixties, the writer will certainly be excused, for the list now reproduced was made in 1880, and was believed to be correct at that time.

First Infantry

Company H - Privates: Walter Zastros, mustered April 29, 1861, discharged with regiment, and became later a captain in a Wisconsin regiment; Francis Baasen, recruit, August, 1861, promoted to first lieutenant in 1862, later became regimental quartermaster and discharged with his regiment.

Second Infantry

Company G - Mustered July 8, 1861. Second lieutenant, Frederick A. Brandt. Sergeant, John Bennert, reduced and discharged with his regiment. Corporal, Jacob Baur, deserted at Louisville, Kentucky, October 1, 1862. Privates: Frank Bartsch, George Guetlich, Paul Magnus, discharged in 1862; Frederick Oswald, died October 13, 1861, at Ft. Snelling; Joseph Oether, transferred to veteran corps, April, 1864; Augustus Rommel, killed January 19, 1862, at Mill Spring; Gustav Schlick, promoted corporal and sergeant, discharged July, 1864; Joseph Vollmann, discharged for disability in June, 1862.

Fourth Infantry Tenth Infantry

Company I - Robert Baker, enlisted August 14, 1862, killed August 20, same year, in battle with the Indians; James Delaney, mustered November 12, 1862, discharged with his regiment; Charles Mitchell, mustered November, 1862, discharged for disability May, 1864; Earnest Paul, mustered November, 1862.

Eleventh Infantry

Company A - Mustered August 24, 1864. Sergeants: Frederick Foster, discharged with regiment; Johann Kreger, discharged with regiment. Corporal, Joseph Knoedel, discharged with regiment. Privates: George Beck, discharged with regiment; Peter Bott, discharged with regiment; John Clausen, discharged with regiment; Henry Fortwengeler, discharged with regiment; Bernhard Gantner, discharged with regiment; Christ Goetke, discharged per order June 12, 1865; Philip Gross, discharged with regiment; Robert Henton, discharged with regiment; Joseph Hillsheim, discharged with regiment; Johann Holm, discharged with regiment; B. L. Jones, discharged with regiment; Philip Kirby, discharged with regiment; Au- gustus Kuhne, discharged with regiment; Conrad Kleinknecht, discharged with regiment; Christian Kurn, discharged with regiment; M. Lange, discharged with regiment; Alvin Parker, died February 6, 1865, at Gallatin, Tennessee; Theobald Scheubel, discharged with regiment; Fritz Walther, discharged with regiment; Casper Zoerb, discharged with regiment.

First Battalion Infantry First Heavy Artillery

Company F - Privates: August Fenske, mustered February 7, 1865, discharged with company; Charles Hoffman, mustered February 11, 1865, died August 8, 1865, at Chattanooga; Peter J. Hoffman, mustered February 11, 1865, discharged November 10, 1865, died at Nashville; Peter Hartman, mustered February 11, 1865, discharged August, 1865 ; Herman Miller, mustered February 11, 1865, discharged with company.

Company M - Privates: Henry Berg, mustered February 18, 1865, discharged with company; Henry Henton, mustered February 18, 1865, discharged with company; John Lendt, mustered February 18, 1865, discharged with cojnpany; August Quense, mustered February 18, 1865, discharged with company.

First Mounted Rangers

Company E - Mustered October 10, 1862. Sergeant, Sylvester A. George, discharged with company. Privates: Frank Prokosh, discharged with company; Wenzel Zauer, discharged with company; John Turbe, discharged with company.

Company L - Originally commanded by Capt. Jacob Nix, mustered into the service of the United States for three years, December 28, 1862, Captain, Jacob Nix, discharged October 29, 1863, to accept promotion in Second Minnesota cavalry. First lieutenant, John Spenner, discharged with company. Second lieutenant, John Hauenstein, discharged with company. Sergeants: Ludwig M. Fay, discharged with company; Anton Manderfield, discharged with company; George Doehne, discharged with company; John Nun, discharged with company; Robert Gulden, discharged with company; Frederic Meile, reduced April 10, 1863, promoted trumpeter, discharged with regiment. Corporals: August Zueborg, discharged with company; J. C. Taberer, appointed sergeant, discharged with company; August Hein, discharged with company; Frederick Stoltz, discharged with company; Luther Whiton, discharged with company; J. F. Kirschstein, discharged with company; Andreas Betz, discharged with company; Joseph Knoedel, discharged with company. Teamsters:

Edward Mayer, discharged with company ; Conrad Magnes, discharged with company. Farriers: John Faas, discharged with company; J. B. Castor, discharged with company. Saddler, August Quense, discharged with company. Wagoner, Martin Baumgartner, discharged with company. Privates: Nicholaus Bode, promoted bugler, discharged with company; Peter Bott, discharged with company ; Valentine Bott, discharged with company ; Peter Berschied, appointed corporal, discharged with company; George Brand, discharged with company; August Buder, promoted sergeant, discharged with company; John Dittbenner, discharged with company; Ferdinand Effkinger, discharged with company; Henrich Engelbard, discharged with company; Frederick Foster, dicharged with company; Edmord Flick, discharged with company; Wilhelm Frank, discharged with company; Germann Friton, discharged with company; Christian Gaetke, 1st, discharged with company; Christian Gaetke, 2nd, discharged with company; Frederick Grose, discharged with company; Leonard Gulden, discharged with company; Frank Haag, discharged with company; August Heimann, discharged with company; Henrich Hamann, discharged with company; Oscar Hanst, discharged with company; Peter Hartmann, discharged with company; Carl Hausberg, discharged with company; Wilhelm Heers, discharged with company; Nicholas Hillesheim, discharged with company; Peter Hillesheim, discharged with company; George Hohenstein, discharged with company; Fritz Julius, discharged with company; Thomas Jungbauer, discharged with company ; Henrich Koester, discharged with company ; J ohann

Kruger, discharged with company; Charles Lauer, discharged with company; Adam Mayer, appointed corporal, discharged with company; John Manderfeld, discharged with company ; Anton Messmer, discharged with company ; Nicholas Mickel, discharged with company; Lorenz Muther, discharged with company; John Paulson, discharged with company; George Peller, discharged with company ; Charles Pelzen, discharged with company ; J. H. Shapekahn, discharged with company ; Otto Scheuffler, discharged with company ; Athanas Schiedel, discharged with company ; Quirin Scheible, discharged with company ; J oseph Schneider, discharged with company; Frederick Schlee, discharged with company ; John Schlumberger, discharged with company; F. W. Schmidt, discharged with company ; J ohn Schmidt, discharged for disability ; J oseph Schnobrick, discharged with company; Conrad Seer, discharged with company; David Simon, discharged with company; Carl Simondet, discharged with company; Wenzel Springer, discharged with company; Frederick Strate, discharged with company; Joseph Vogel, discharged with company; Alois Wernz, discharged with company; Joseph Wilke, discharged with company ; Carl Wilken, discharged with company; Xavier Zollner, discharged with company; John Adams, died December 31, 1862, at St. Peter; Jacob Klosner, discharged with company. Recruits: Benedict Jung, Peter Lanhus, Wilhelm Lentz, Peter Madder, Andras Schott.

Second Cavalry

Company G - Mustered January 4, 1864. Captain, Jacob Nix, discharged November, 1864, per order for fighting duel afterward received honorable discharge from Legislature. Sergeant, F. A. Brandt, discharged with company. Corporal, Adolph Fareman, discharged with company. Musician, Andras Schott, discharged with company. Blacksmith, John Fraas, reduced, discharged with company. Privates: John Dittdennar, discharged with company; Gul Olson, discharged with company; Ole Olson, discharged for disability, June 20, 1865; Knud Olson, discharged with company ; Ole Peterson, discharged with company; John Peterson, discharged with company; Carl Simondett, discharged with company ; Anton Schmucker, discharged with company; J. H. Sorlion, died November 4, 1864, at Ft. Ridgely, Minnesota; Wenzel Springer, discharged with company. Recruits : Frederick Meile, Luther C. Ives, Frank Haah, Lewis Brockman, William Hummel.

Company Corporals: Joseph Sewbrich, veteranized and promoted sergeant and discharged with company ; Nicholas Hillesheim, veteranized, discharged with company; Edmund Flick, veteranized, discharged with company. Privates : Christian Gaetke, Carl Hohne, discharged for disability, October, 1864; August Heimann, veteranized, discharged with company ; Carl Hausburg, discharged after he veteranized; Andrew Hoffman, discharged with company; Johannes Johanni, discharged with company;

Frank Prokosh, veteranized, discharged with company; Jacob Schneider, discharged with company; John Turbes, veteranized, discharged with company; Felix Winteroll, discharged with company; William Walther, discharged with company. Recruits, August Zurburg, veteranized, mustered April 2, 1864, committed suicide August 19, 1864, near Lake Anna.

First Battery Light Artillery

It will be observed that nearly all the long list of names in this roster of Civil War soldiers are German names. This county was settled by this nationality and though they had been citizens of the United States only a short time when the rebellion came on in 1861, yet they were true to their oath of allegiance and fought for the maintenance of the Union as though it was for their own native land. Their record will ever stand as a memorial to their loyalty to the United States, and a glorious example to all citizens of foreign birth. There were but few drafted men and few deserters among the soldiers from Brown county.

Spanish-American War

In 1898, when war against Spain was declared by Congress through President William McKinley, the National Guard was largely utilized in making up the quota from the various states in the Union, Minnesota did her share nobly. The Twelfth, formerly the Second Regiment, was sworn into the United States service, May 6, 1898. The personnel of the regiment from New Ulm was: Colonel, Joseph Bobleter; adjutant, Louis G. Vogel; quartermaster, John Lind; regimental sergeant, Albert F. Koch; captain, Albert Steinhauser; lieutenant, John Buschers; second lieutenant, Louis Mueller; first sergeant, Robert Fritsche; second sergeant, Ed. J. Bobeleter; there were fifteen noncommissioned officers and forty-one privates.

The citizens presented the command with a beautiful flag before they departed. They were sent South, but saw no active war service, and were mustered out on November 12, 1898, leaving Lexington, Kentucky, in the month of September.

National Guard And Armory

New Ulm is the headquarters of the Second Regiment, Minnesota National Guard. Company A is located here and has a large, exceptionally well-constructed armory, which will be dedicated this year. All southern Minnesota, as well as Brown county and New Ulm, take a just pride in its military operations at this point. The history of this movement reaches back to April, 1871, when a few young, vigorous men at New Ulm met at the store of Doctor Weschcke and there took steps to organize a military company. A subsequent meeting resulted in the formation of the "New Ulm Military Company," of which Col. Joseph Bobleter, who had been foremost in the enterprise, was elected its president ; George Walsh, who became secretary of state for North Dakota, was made its secretary, and Henry Weyhe was its treasurer. Meetings were held in the Turner hall. As a military body the company was officered as follow: Captain, Joseph Bobleter; first lieutenant, Julius Kirchstein; second lieutenant, Richard Pfefferle; orderly sergeant, Frank Friedmann; first sergeant, George Walsh; second sergeant, John F. Neumann; corporals, Charles Brust, Henry Weyhe, Anton Olding and B. Subilia, ranking in the order named.

The company was mustered into the service of the state, May 25, 1871, as an "unassigned company of the Minnesota National Guard." The commissions were signed by Governor Horace Austin.

During the year 1871 another military company was organized at New Ulm, composed of members of the Turnverein, commanded by Capt. Charles Roos. That year two regimental organizations were perfected in the state and the company commanded by Captain Bobleter, of New Ulm, became Company E of the Second regiment, with Col. H. G. Hicks, of Minneapolis, as colonel. Joseph Bobleter, with the rank of major, was given the command of the bat- talion. But owing to the shortsightedness of the Legislature in refusing to appropriate one dollar a member to support the organization it went down so far as a state military organization was concerned. Colonel Bobleter kept his company intact for several years and it was the only company in Minnesota. The name "Company A" was retained until September, 1875, when it was dropped and that of the "Governor's Guards' 9 taken up. Previous to this latter re-organization, however, the company lost all of its property, including rifles and equipment, by fire. A special act of the Legislature was passed relieving Colonel Bobleter and his sureties, given for the safe keeping of the state property. The history of this company in its earlier days was extremely interesting. The uniform which they wore consisted of grey single-breasted dress coats, black trousers and black felt hat with feather. Later on, the headgear was changed to the French " shako/ 9 but otherwise the uniform continued the same until the fire above mentioned. The weapons were the Springfield muzzle loaders, and sabers for the officers.

They were called out by the governor in the fall of 1876 to try and capture the fleeing outlaws, the James and Younger brothers. In 1879 they were called out to quell the labor riot at Tracy, Minnesota, the same being a railroad riot.

The Second Battalion was organized at New Ulm in January, 1882. Joseph Bobleter was chosen major, when Joseph A. Eckstein was made captain of the old company. In 1883 the record shows the regimental encampment was held at New Ulm and proved to be a great military success. Ten companies were present. Albert Steinhauser was elect- ed captain of the company and when the "World's Fair" came on in 1893 the command went to Chicago and took part in the great military parade at the exposition.

Original Roster

After all the shifting scenes of thirty-eight years, the military interests of the state of Minnesota saw the necessity of having a modern armory as the headquarters for the national guard at New Ulm. After the Spanish- American War in 1898, the old state militia was re-organized into the present national guard system. Plans were drawn and designs effected by First Lieutenant Klause, of New Ulm, and specifications made later by Architect Shippel, for an armory to be constructed of solid brick and stone masonry. Work was begun in 1914 and completed in 1916, when the formal dedication takes place.

sand dollars, of which the city paid eighteen hundred dollars for the site, the same being by popular subscription; the state paid forty-five thousand dollars, or fifteen thousand dollars for each military organization here represented - the Regimental Band, the Machine Gun Company and Company A of the Second regiment. The outside dimensions of the armory are seventy-five by one hundred and fifty feet. Floor space for drill purposes, sixty-eight by ninety feet; the stage is twenty by fifty feet. No better armory can be found in the entire commonwealth.

Of the companies and officers it may be stated that the number of enlisted men in Company A is seventy ; number of men in the Machine Gun Company is twenty-eight ; number enlisted men in the Regimental Band is twenty-eight.