Gettysburg 151: The Immigrant Experience

[Brendan]

Just came across another Irish unit that was at Pickett's Charge. Company B of the 8th Ohio, along with the rest of the regiment, attacked the left flanks of Brockenbrough, Pettigrew, and Trimble's brigades as they advanced. From the TMF Downes' regimental history:

"The Hibernian Guards, an Irish Social club, enlisted as a group for three months and was sworn in On Apr. 29, 1861 as Co. B 8th Ohio Volunteers. While in Cleveland, Co. B drilled at Camp Taylor which was at the corner of Kinsman Ave. and Hudson St. (now E. 105 St.). In June of 1861 the entire regiment was assembled at Camp Dennison, Cincinnati. On the 24th of July 1861 the 3 month men were reorganized and sworn in for 3 years service."

Downes' description of the unit's experience at Gettysburg (in the same link above) is well worth reading too.

Here's the regiment's monument:
http://www.gettysburg.stonesentinels.com/OH/8OH.php

 

[Brendan]

The 82nd Illinois Infantry was, like many units of the 11th Corps, composed of many German immigrants. Their original commander was Friedrich Hecker, a famous leader of the 1848 Revolution in Germany. The 82nd also had a company of mostly Scandinavians (Company I) and a company that was primarily Jewish (Company C). They were in the fighting near the Union right flank on July 1st and played a critical role in the defense of Cemetery Hill during the July 2nd Confederate attack, at one point charging the Rebels and retaking part of the original Federal line. One Swedish immigrant among them was Måns Olsson Lindbergh, uncle of the famous Charles Lindbergh. I found an article about him (in Swedish) but I do like how it translates via Google Translate:

"And now he can see the enemy. An infinite number of gray uniforms in tightly closed formations marching across open ground, fields, pastures and plantations. The sound of rhythmic drums growing in strength, and suddenly drowned it by force, piercing scream from the gråkläddas ever faster advancing ranks. Måns Olsson feel an icy kåre along the spine. Never has he heard such a räligt and scary sound! Fellow closest to notice his reaction and grins: 'That's the Rebel Yell, Swede! How about it?'"

Now every time I hear a Rebel yell I'm gonna think to myself, "That's the Rebel Yell, Swede! How about it?"

Company C's original commander was Edward S. Salomon, a Jewish immigrant from Schleswig. By Gettysburg he had risen to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel, and he had taken command of the regiment after Hecker was wounded. Carl Schurz said of Salomon, "He was the only soldier at Gettysburg who did not dodge when Lee's guns thundered; he stood up, smoked his cigar and faced the cannon balls with the 'sang froid of a Saladin …'" Salomon was brevetted Brigadier General for his heroism in the battle.
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Captain of Company H of the 82nd at Gettysburg was Swiss immigrant Emil Frey, who was later Switzerland's first minister to the US and President of the Swiss Confederation.
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[Pat Young]

Just came across another Irish unit that was at Pickett's Charge. Company B of the 8th Ohio, along with the rest of the regiment, attacked the left flanks of Brockenbrough, Pettigrew, and Trimble's brigades as they advanced. From the TMF Downes' regimental history:

"The Hibernian Guards, an Irish Social club, enlisted as a group for three months and was sworn in On Apr. 29, 1861 as Co. B 8th Ohio Volunteers. While in Cleveland, Co. B drilled at Camp Taylor which was at the corner of Kinsman Ave. and Hudson St. (now E. 105 St.). In June of 1861 the entire regiment was assembled at Camp Dennison, Cincinnati. On the 24th of July 1861 the 3 month men were reorganized and sworn in for 3 years service."

Downes' description of the unit's experience at Gettysburg (in the same link above) is well worth reading too.

Here's the regiment's monument:
http://www.gettysburg.stonesentinels.com/OH/8OH.php

Thanks for this one.

 

[Brendan]

Thanks for this one.

No problem. I really like this thread and the articles you posted. I was hoping to keep it alive! So many immigrants at Gettysburg, we could go on for ages. Anybody got any Confederate stories to add? You know you want to...

 

[Pat Young]

No problem. I really like this thread and the articles you posted. I was hoping to keep it alive! So many immigrants at Gettysburg, we could go on for ages. Anybody got any Confederate stories to add? You know you want to...

Thanks, I try to get folks who follow the immigrant threads to understand that a comment is more welcome than a like because it brings the thread to the top again. The subject of immigrants is pretty new here and there was some objection to it being a forum subject, so I appreciate your contribution.

 

[Pat Young]

BTW, here is the Index to all of my Gettysburg articles:

http://www.longislandwins.com/columns/detail/the_immigrants_civil_war_gettysburg

 

[Pat Young]

So many immigrants at Gettysburg, we could go on for ages. Anybody got any Confederate stories to add? You know you want to...

When I was writing my series on Gettysburg, I was going to write three articles, one for each day. There were so many great immigrant stories that it stretched out to nine articles and I could not even get in one on the Louisiana Tigers at Cemetery
Hill because my editor said ENOUGH! MOVE ON PAT!.

 

[KansasFreestater]

Was JLC the only "Hero of Little Round Top"? This article looks at an Irish colonel who died there.

http://www.longislandwins.com/colum...se_of_little_roundtop_on_the_second_day_at_ge

This is one of the most moving stories of the many moving stories you relate on your blog! Thank you so much for sharing it. O'Rorke is the latest addition to my "How come I never heard about this person?" roster of heroes!

 

[Brendan]

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"Private Silas Coster. Born February 8th, 1841 in the Province of Friesland, Holland. Silas and his family immigrated to the United States in the Spring of 1853 and reached Prairie La Crosse on July 5th, 1853.

Enlisted in Company B, 2nd Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry Regiment on March 30th, 1862. First battle he would take part in would be at Brawner's Farm, VA on August 28th, 1862. Silas would go on to be present at every major engagement the 2nd Wisconsin fought in until after Gettysburg.

On July 1st at Gettysburg, PA he was wounded above the right knee which would require amputation above the wound. He was in Courthouse Hospital in Gettysburg for the remainder of the battle and would later succumb to blood poisoning on July 30th, 1863. He is buried in Gettysburg at the Soldiers National Cemetery in the Wisconsin section. He was 22 years old."

Source: Company B, 2nd Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Comp...Infantry-LaCrosse-Light-Guard/195192460506734

 

[Pat Young]

This is one of the most moving stories of the many moving stories you relate on your blog! Thank you so much for sharing it. O'Rorke is the latest addition to my "How come I never heard about this person?" roster of heroes!

Thanks KansasFreestater. The impact on his his wife really impressed me, although she became a very dedicated servant of the Church and of her community.

 

[Brendan]

Lt. Martin J. Manning, 8th New Jersey Infantry, born in Liverpool, England, of Irish descent. Fought at the Wheatfield at Gettysburg. Source: https://www.flickr.com/photos/pwbaker/765666766/

 

[W. Richardson]

Here is an index to the series.

http://www.longislandwins.com/columns/detail/the_immigrants_civil_war_gettysburg

A good series.............But...........

Were they not immigrants fighting on the Southern side ??? I could have sworn there were.........

Respectfully,

William

 

[Brendan]

A good series.............But...........

Were they not immigrants fighting on the Southern side ??? I could have sworn there were.........

Respectfully,

William

Pat mentioned that he was working on an article about Irish immigrants in the Louisiana Tigers when his editor cut the series short. Also, this is an open forum for posting immigrant stories, so please, add some Rebs to the mix!

 

[Pat Young]

A good series.............But...........

Were they not immigrants fighting on the Southern side ??? I could have sworn there were.........

Respectfully,

William

I was looking at several Confederate immigrant stories on Gettysburg, but frankly found Gettysburg overwhelming. On the other hand, I have a six-parter on Pat Cleburne the is growing to a nine parter. His is likely to be the longest single immigrant bio in my entire series.

 

[W. Richardson]

I was looking at several Confederate immigrant stories on Gettysburg, but frankly found Gettysburg overwhelming. On the other hand, I have a six-parter on Pat Cleburne the is growing to a nine parter. His is likely to be the longest single immigrant bio in my entire series.

Great..............look forward to those Confederate stories on Gettysburg...........You have a very good post going and I have enjoyed reading it. Thank you for sharing Pat and Brendan !

Respectfully,

William

 

[Pat Young]

Great..............look forward to those Confederate stories on Gettysburg...........You have a very good post going and I have enjoyed reading it. Thank you for sharing Pat and Brendan !

Respectfully,

William

William, I will be adding those in 2016.

In the meantime, here is my series on Cleburne so far. He is my most popular figure this year:

http://www.longislandwins.com/columns/detail/pat_cleburne_from_irish_childhood_to_confederate_death

 

[W. Richardson]

William, I will be adding those in 2016.

In the meantime, here is my series on Cleburne so far. He is my most popular figure this year:

http://www.longislandwins.com/columns/detail/pat_cleburne_from_irish_childhood_to_confederate_death

Thank you Pat, I am going to go and read them now...........You said 2016, did you mean 2015.....

Respectfully,

William

 

[Pat Young]

Thank you Pat, I am going to go and read them now...........You said 2016, did you mean 2015.....

Respectfully,

William

No. I had been writing on CW 150 anniversaries. I will not have time to backfill until 2016

 

[W. Richardson]

No. I had been writing on CW 150 anniversaries. I will not have time to backfill until 2016

Okay, and thank you Pat for the link to Cleburne !!

Respectfully,

William

 

[Pat Young]

Okay, and thank you Pat for the link to Cleburne !!

Respectfully,

William

Any time.