Another image of Lt. Charles E. Bolza, second from the right in the above camp photo...
Lt. Bolza was killed at The Battle of Falling Waters, July 1863, during the mounted charge of the 6th Michigan Cavalry. Orphaned as a child, he came to Michigan in 1856 and owned a jewelry store in Grand Rapids at the start of the war. He joined his regiment in October, 1862.
I'm not very familiar with the Battle of Falling Waters... can anyone provide more information...? Thanks.
FALLING WATERS, MD
JULY 14TH, 1863
Falling Waters, Md., July 14, 1863. 1st and 3rd Cavalry
Divisions Army of the Potomac. While in pursuit of the
Confederates after the battle of Gettysburg Brig.-Gen. Judson
Kilpatrick, commanding the 3rd cavalry division, learned that
the enemy was moving toward Falling Waters and immediately
started in that direction. At 7:30 a.m. on the 14th his
advance came up with the Confederate rearguard about 2 miles
from Falling Waters and the skirmishing commenced. Half a
mile farther on Heth's division was discovered drawn up in
line of battle on a hill commanding the road on which
Kilpatrick was advancing. Heth's left was protected by
earthworks and his right extended into a piece of woods. The
6th Mich., seeing only that portion of the enemy behind the
works, made a gallant charge under the leadership of Maj. P.
Weber, and although met by a heavy fire passed up to and
over the works, then turned to right and returned to the main
column, bringing in a piece of artillery, which was captured
while the enemy was trying to get it in position in advance of
his works. In this charge the regiment lost 30 in killed,
wounded and missing, Weber being one of the killed. Gen.
Custer next threw forward a regiment as skirmishers, but it
was driven back, followed by the enemy until checked by the
1st Mich and part of the 8th N.Y. Kilpatrick now formed the
entire division and pressed the enemy at all points gradually
forcing him back toward the river. While the 3rd division was
thus engaged with the Confederates in front, the 1st division,
Brig.-Gen. John Buford commanding, made a detour and attacked
them on the flank and rear, throwing them into confusion and
scattering them through the woods and hills. In this flank
attack Buford captured a 10-pounder Parrott gun, a caisson,
300 muskets and over 500 prisoners. As soon as the enemy's
line broke under Buford's assault, Kilpatrick pressed his
advantage and the Confederates were completely routed. This
was the last stand made by Lee's army on the north side of the
Potomac. The Union loss was 29 killed, 36 wounded and 40
missing. The Confederate loss was 15O killed, a large number
wounded and 1,500 captured. Brig.-Gen. Pettigrew, commanding
part of the Confederate forces, was mortally wounded early in
the action. In addition to the prisoners captured the
Federals brought off 2 pieces of artillery, 2 caissons,
several hundred stands of small-arms and 3 battleflags.
Source: The Union Army, vol. 5