German Yank at Yellow Tavern

[Frederick14Va]

The Daily Dispatch: May 18, 1864. Richmond Dispatch

Last Monday, on the battlefield of the Yellow Tavern, there was found the body of a German Yankee youth. In a buttonhole of his jacket was a crumpled piece of paper, upon which was written with pencil, in almost illegible characters, the following: "L John Wilhelmer, of the 2d New York cavalry, am dying; shot through the heart. They have all gone and left me here to die alone. Whoever finds this will please send it to my sister, Sarah Wilhelmer, Brooklyn, N. Y. She is the only relative I have in this country. My dear sister do not break your heart for me. Write to James Vatmeyer, of my company, and he will pay you fifty dollars he owes me." The body of Wilhelmer was buried on the field he had fallen in a bad cause. The note will be sent North to his sister by the next flag of truce.

 

[Pat Young]

Thanks for posting this.

 

[Pat Young]

The Daily Dispatch: May 18, 1864. Richmond Dispatch

Last Monday, on the battlefield of the Yellow Tavern, there was found the body of a German Yankee youth. In a buttonhole of his jacket was a crumpled piece of paper, upon which was written with pencil, in almost illegible characters, the following: "L John Wilhelmer, of the 2d New York cavalry, am dying; shot through the heart. They have all gone and left me here to die alone. Whoever finds this will please send it to my sister, Sarah Wilhelmer, Brooklyn, N. Y. She is the only relative I have in this country. My dear sister do not break your heart for me. Write to James Vatmeyer, of my company, and he will pay you fifty dollars he owes me." The body of Wilhelmer was buried on the field he had fallen in a bad cause. The note will be sent North to his sister by the next flag of truce.

That is a very poignent note. I wonder if she ever received it.

 

[Pat Young]

Here is New York State's page on the 2nd NY Cavalry:

http://dmna.ny.gov/historic/reghist/civil/cavalry/2ndCav/2ndCavMain.htm

 

[Pat Young]

It is interesting that the regiment, while designated a New York unit, was formed as follows:

The Second New York Cavalry was organized in July, 1861, at Washington, D. C. Col. J. Mansfield Davies having recruited six full companies in and about New York, was ordered with them to Washington, where he was joined by two companies from each of the following States: New Jersey, Indiana, and Connecticut.

Indiana?

 

[Pat Young]

The regiment was called the "Harris Light Cavalry," and sometimes is designated that in the ORR. Interesting to note that Judson Kilpatrick was its original Lt. Col. Soon after, Kilpatrick took command of the regiment.

 

[Rebforever]

That is interesting for sure.

 

[Pat Young]

At the time of the Battle of Yellow Tavern, the 2nd was commanded by Colonel Otto Harhaus. Anyone know if this unit was disproportionately German in composition?

 

[Pat Young]

New York State's web site says:

The" Harris Light" was twice recruited to nearly its full complement of enlisted men, there being upwards of 2,800 names carried on its rolls at various times. Many of the officers were promoted in the regiment, and some to several grades. Notwithstanding this, there were, at different times, 185 different commissioned officers in the regiment. Many of these officers came from the ranks. Of its original officers, Kilpatrick and Davies became major generals of volunteers, and Duffie, Whitaker and Randol became brigadier generals. Some 43 officers and about 400 men were carried on the rolls at the time the regiment was mustered out.

http://dmna.ny.gov/historic/reghist/civil/cavalry/2ndCav/2ndCavHistSketch.htm

 

[Pat Young]

I looked through the NY rosters but could not find any info on him.

http://dmna.ny.gov/historic/reghist/civil/rosters/rosterscavalry.htm

 

[wilber6150]

Just a thought out loud, but shot thru the heart but can still fill out a note?

 

[wilber6150]

I looked through the NY rosters but could not find any info on him.

http://dmna.ny.gov/historic/reghist/civil/rosters/rosterscavalry.htm

Wonder if there is anything on Vatmeyer, the man who owed him money?

 

[Pat Young]

Just a thought out loud, but shot thru the heart but can still fill out a note?

Yeah, that ocurred to me. Also wondered why a German would write to his sister in English, although he might have wanted the Confederate who found the note to understand it.

 

[Mark F. Jenkins]

Just a thought out loud, but shot thru the heart but can still fill out a note?

I'm guessing he was shot in the chest... and I doubt he worried too much about the distinction.

Incidentally, I keep misreading the headline as "German Tank at Yellow Tavern" and thinking what a shock that would have been...

 

[Pat Young]

I'm guessing he was shot in the chest... and I doubt he worried too much about the distinction.

Incidentally, I keep misreading the headline as "German Tank at Yellow Tavern" and thinking what a shock that would have been...

LOL

 

[wilber6150]

Yeah, that ocurred to me. Also wondered why a German would write to his sister in English, although he might have wanted the Confederate who found the note to understand it.

Ive been looking thru the rosters for either man mentioned and can't find anything.

 

[101combatvet]

Just a thought out loud, but shot thru the heart but can still fill out a note?

No! Probably a fatal chest wound.

 

[101combatvet]

Ive been looking thru the rosters for either man mentioned and can't find anything.

The rosters can be incomplete. Also, handwritten notes from a dying man, might be hard to decipher.

 

[wilber6150]

Or it could be a propaganda piece..Left by his comrads to die alone, fighting for a bad cause, kind Confederates sending note on to his sister...

 

[wilber6150]

Its been my experience that in relation to Union units at least that rosters are generally pretty complete especially when unit designations have been given..Now there could be some misspelling but there should be two names that are at least similar.Now a search could also be done for his sister to see if she submitted anything to the government for his death..