Foreign Generals in the Union Army

[major bill]

For another thread in this forum I reread Foreign Recruitment for Union Forces by Robert L. Peterson and John A. Hudson in Civil War History Vol. 7 # 2.

In the article it states that the Union had 18 foreign brigadier generals (9 Germans, 2 Irishmen, 2 Frenchmen, 2 Hungarians, 1 Pole, 1 Russian and 1 Swede) and 4 foreign major generals (3 Germans and 1 Hungarian). I was wondering who the Hungarian major general was.

 

[Legion Para]

NOTABLE HUNGARIANS AND THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS IN THE CIVIL WAR

By Stephen Beszedits

http://suvcw.org/mollus/art014.htm

The three most prominent and most-written about Hungarians of the Civil War are Alexander Asboth, Julius Stahel and Charles Zagonyi.

 

[Legion Para]

 

[Legion Para]

 

[major bill]

Thank you, I don't know if I remember him. I knew someone would know.

 

[East Tennessee Roots]

For another thread in this forum I reread Foreign Recruitment for Union Forces by Robert L. Peterson and John A. Hudson in Civil War History Vol. 7 # 2.

In the article it states that the Union had 18 foreign brigadier generals (9 Germans, 2 Irishmen, 2 Frenchmen, 2 Hungarians, 1 Pole, 1 Russian and 1 Swede) and 4 foreign major generals (3 Germans and 1 Hungarian). I was wondering who the Hungarian major general was.

The one from Poland is a main character in Ralph Peter's "Cain At Gettysburg"

Krzyzanowski, Wlademir, brigadier-general, was born in
Raznova Poland, July 8, 1824 He was a revolutionist in Poland
and fled to New York in 1846, becoming a civil engineer. In
1861 he organized the Turner rifles, was commissioned captain,
and on Oct. 22, he became colonel of the 58th N. Y. volunteers,
which he led in the Army of the Potomac. He distinguished
himself particularly during the war at the battle of
Chancellorsville. He was appointed brigadier-general of
volunteers, Nov. 29, 1862, and his commission expired March 4,
1863, the senate failing to ratify the appointment. He was
mustered out Oct. 1, 1865, and was given a civil appointment in
California, afterwards serving as governor of Alaska and as
inspector of customs at various South American ports. He was
appointed special agent of the treasury department in the New
York custom house in 1883, and held this office until his
death, which occurred in New York city, Jan. 31, 1887.

Source: The Union Army, vol. 8

 

[East Tennessee Roots]

For another thread in this forum I reread Foreign Recruitment for Union Forces by Robert L. Peterson and John A. Hudson in Civil War History Vol. 7 # 2.

In the article it states that the Union had 18 foreign brigadier generals (9 Germans, 2 Irishmen, 2 Frenchmen, 2 Hungarians, 1 Pole, 1 Russian and 1 Swede) and 4 foreign major generals (3 Germans and 1 Hungarian). I was wondering who the Hungarian major general was.

Frederick Knefler

born 4/12/1834 in Arad, Hungary
died 6/14/1901 in Indianapolis, IN
Promotions:
* Capt 8/24/1861
* Capt 9/8/1861 (Captain and A. A. G.)
* Colonel 8/27/1862 (As of 79th IN Infantry)
* Brig-General 3/13/1865 by Brevet

 

[Tomasz]

Hello everyone,

Krzyzanowski, Wlademir, brigadier-general, was born in
Raznova Poland, July 8, 1824

Krzyżanowski's first name was actually Włodzimierz, and his middle name was Bonawentura. The place where he was born was named Rożnowo.

Krzyżanowski wasn't the only Union general born in Poland. Another one was Albin Franciszek Schoepf, born on the 1st March 1822 in Podgórze. He served in Austrian army gaining a rank of captain, but left it in 1848 during the Hungarian Revolution - what's more, he joint the Polish Legion (part of the Hungarian Revolutionary Army) as a private. Soon he became a major, after the fall of the uprising he was interned in the Ottoman Empire. Later he served in the Turkish army and then emigrated to the United States. In the civil war, as the brigadier general of volunteers, he took part in the battle of Camp Wildcat on September 30, 1861. He also fought in the battles of Mill Springs and Perryville. Conflicted with Don Carlos Buell, Schoepf was moved to Fort Daleware in 1863.

There was also Józef Karge, born on 4th July 1823 in Olędry Terespotockie. He fought against N. B. Forrest at Bolivar, but he hadn't been a general yet; he gained this rank in March 1865.

 

[Pat Young]

For another thread in this forum I reread Foreign Recruitment for Union Forces by Robert L. Peterson and John A. Hudson in Civil War History Vol. 7 # 2.

In the article it states that the Union had 18 foreign brigadier generals (9 Germans, 2 Irishmen, 2 Frenchmen, 2 Hungarians, 1 Pole, 1 Russian and 1 Swede) and 4 foreign major generals (3 Germans and 1 Hungarian). I was wondering who the Hungarian major general was.

Off the top of my head, I can think of three Irish-born Union brigadiers:
Thomas Francis Meagher
James Shields
Thomas A. Smyth

 

[Pat Young]

I see that Damian Shiels has posted a list of Union and Confederate Irish generals.

http://irishamericancivilwar.com/resources/generals/

 

[Pat Young]

Damian lists a dozen Irish-born generals.

 

[Tomasz]

Ireland wasn't independent back then - perhaps some Irish men were thought to be British? That's just my guess. Similar situation was with Poland, occupied by three neighbouring empires - Krzyżanowski is described as German sometimes, while Karge and Schoepf have even family names that sound German or Austrian. Also Stahel, mentioned before - Hungary was a part of the Austrian Habsburgs' monarchy, his family name sounds German and I believe he is thought to be a German (or Austrian) general sometimes.

 

[Pat Young]

Ireland wasn't independent back then - perhaps some Irish men were thought to be British?

That can't be the case, because the list in the OP does not include any British generals.

Either Damian is wrong or the article from Civil War History is wrong. Since I have researched several of the generals on Damian's list, I say the article undercounts.

 

[Tomasz]

I meant British like, let's say, Grant or Lee - they had English ancestors as far as I know, but nobody would call them so, they'd be counted as Americans I guess. Perhaps the author of the article didn't research some generals' family roots well enough and assumed the family name that sounded English (like Shields? or Smyth maybe?) implied English ancestors. Just like Karge and Schoepf sound German.
I agree that the article undercounts.

 

[Pat Young]

I meant British like, let's say, Grant or Lee - they had English ancestors as far as I know, but nobody would call them so, they'd be counted as Americans I guess. Perhaps the author of the article didn't research some generals' family roots well enough and assumed the family name that sounded English (like Shields? or Smyth maybe?) implied English ancestors. Just like Karge and Schoepf sound German.
I agree that the article undercounts.

The folks Damian lists were all actually born in Ireland.

 

[Tomasz]

Well, just like Karge and Schoepf were born in Poland. Then apparently authors of Foreign Recruitment for Union Forces did very lazy research. ;D

 

[Pat Young]

Well, just like Karge and Schoepf were born in Poland. Then apparently authors of Foreign Recruitment for Union Forces did very lazy research. ;D

Seems like it.

 

[thomas aagaard]

Ireland wasn't independent back then - perhaps some Irish men were thought to be British? That's just my guess. Similar situation was with Poland, occupied by three neighbouring empires - Krzyżanowski is described as German sometimes, while Karge and Schoepf have even family names that sound German or Austrian. Also Stahel, mentioned before - Hungary was a part of the Austrian Habsburgs' monarchy, his family name sounds German and I believe he is thought to be a German (or Austrian) general sometimes.

There was no Germany back then...

But sometimes Germany was given anyway... guess it was easier then to explain to some clerk exactly what small country in the German confederation your was from.

 

[Tomasz]

There was no Germany back then...

I didn't mention Germany as a state - I meant German nationality and German language. In Poland all German-speaking people from Saxony, Prussia, Bavaria, Swabia etc., and often even from Austria, were called "Niemcy" back then - "the Germans".
Carl Schurz, Heros von Borcke or Alexander Schimmelfennig aren't called "Prussians" very often, usually I read that they were just Germans. Franz Sigel was from Baden, but it's not mentioned very often as far as I know, he's called German, too. I believe the reason is what you have mentioned:

But sometimes Germany was given anyway... guess it was easier then to explain to some clerk exactly what small country in the German confederation your was from.

 

[NedBaldwin]

I meant British like, let's say, Grant or Lee - they had English ancestors as far as I know, but nobody would call them so, they'd be counted as Americans I guess. Perhaps the author of the article didn't research some generals' family roots well enough and assumed the family name that sounded English (like Shields? or Smyth maybe?) implied English ancestors. Just like Karge and Schoepf sound German.
I agree that the article undercounts.

No mention of Switzerland since lazy authors assume that John E Smith is such an America sounding name.

Also John MacArthur was born in Scotland