COL Koltes, John A.

John A. Koltes​

Born: 1823

Birthplace: Rhenish, Prussia

Occupation before War:

Served in the Revolution in Prussia​

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1846: Immigrated to the United States from Prussia​

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Orderly Sergeant during the Mexican – American War​

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Served in United States Marine Corps​

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Employee of the United States Mint in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania​

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Advocate for Immigrants in the United States​

Civil War Career:

1861 – 1862: Colonel of 73rd​ Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment​

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Acting Brigade Commander in Von Steinwehr's Division​

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Killed at the Second Battle of Bull Run, Virginia​

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His friends helped get him promotion to Brig. General, and were carrying his promotion when they met his body coming from battle​

Died: August 30, 1862

Place of Death: Manassas, Virginia

Age at time of Death: 38 or 39 years old

Burial Place: Glenwood Memorial Gardens, Broomall, Pennsylvania

 

[Pollaco]

He was leading his brigade (1st. Brigade, 2nd. Division 1st Corps) in assualts upon the Confederate positions when he fell.

 

[John S. Carter]

John A. Koltes​

View attachment 367987

Born: 1823

Birthplace: Rhenish, Prussia

Occupation before War:

Served in the Revolution in Prussia​

​

1846: Immigrated to the United States from Prussia​

​

Orderly Sergeant during the Mexican – American War​

​

Served in United States Marine Corps​

​

Employee of the United States Mint in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania​

​

Advocate for Immigrants in the United States​

Civil War Career:

1861 – 1862: Colonel of 73rd​ Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment​

​

Acting Brigade Commander in Von Steinwehr's Division​

​

Killed at the Second Battle of Bull Run, Virginia​

​

His friends helped get him promotion to Brig. General, and were carrying his promotion when they met his body coming from battle​

Died: August 30, 1862

Place of Death: Manassas, Virginia

Age at time of Death: 38 or 39 years old

Burial Place: Glenwood Memorial Gardens, Broomall, Pennsylvania

Being from a family who have served in the NAVY,I find it interesting that while that there are events of the NAVY both Union and Conf.that there is no battles event that the Marines took a part in with with the NAVY or in action on their own'Was there even a Marine Corp of accountable size?

 

[Seduzal]

Thanks for sharing this awesome article.

 

[Luke Freet]

Being from a family who have served in the NAVY,I find it interesting that while that there are events of the NAVY both Union and Conf.that there is no battles event that the Marines took a part in with with the NAVY or in action on their own'Was there even a Marine Corp of accountable size?

The marine corps existed, but it was a very small force and was not the elite fighting force it is today. Its purpose at this time was to provide troop protection for US war ships and the merchant marine.
However, there was a provisional battalion of Marines that fought at 1st Bull Run.

 

[JerseyBart]

Excellent article and a dashing looking photo!!
Dumb question from me: were his friends carrying the promotion knowing he was dead as a tribute or were they expecting to tell their living friend that they procured a promotion for him only to find him being carried off the field?

 

[NFB22]

Being from a family who have served in the NAVY,I find it interesting that while that there are events of the NAVY both Union and Conf.that there is no battles event that the Marines took a part in with with the NAVY or in action on their own'Was there even a Marine Corp of accountable size?

The U.S. Marine Corps along with their Confederate counterparts actually took an active role in the war but they numbered so few, very often their contributions were not noted. The USMC was never larger than a few regiments size wise with the CSMC numbering around a 1/3-1/2 of the size of the USMC.

For the most part the USMC did most of their work, as they had in years previous, serving aboard naval vessels. They were on the Kearsarge during her duel with the CSS Alabama as well as multiple vessels during the Battle of Hampton Roads, Mobile Bay, New Orleans, etc. They could also be found on the Mississippi and blockade duty. Cpl John Mackie was the first Marine to be awarded the MoH after his actions during the Battle of Drewry's Bluff.

Marines were involved in a number of raids such as the burning of the Judah in Pensacola early in the war and the raid on Fort Sumter in 1863. They took part in a small number of amphibious operations such as the Battle of Port Royal and the Battle of Fort Fisher and were the first ashore in New Orleans after the city fell. Notable land actions include 1st Bull Run, Honey Hill and some other smaller actions near the coast.

At the end of the war, Marines were tasked with guarding some of the suspected Lincoln assassination conspirators at Washington Navy Yard.

 

[rpkennedy]

However, there was a provisional battalion of Marines that fought at 1st Bull Run.

Not to mention storming Harper's Ferry under Colonel Robert E. Lee just before the war.

Ryan

 

[rpkennedy]

Excellent article and a dashing looking photo!!
Dumb question from me: were his friends carrying the promotion knowing he was dead as a tribute or were they expecting to tell their living friend that they procured a promotion for him only to find him being carried off the field?

I read it as they were bringing it to him in the field thinking that he was unhurt but met his body on the way.

Ryan

 

[Pollaco]

Not to mention storming Harper's Ferry under Colonel Robert E. Lee just before the war.

Ryan

I often wondered about that, why an Army colonel in charge of marines? Wasn't there any "Marine rank"in the vicinity?

 

[rpkennedy]

I often wondered about that, why an Army colonel in charge of marines? Wasn't there any "Marine rank"in the vicinity?

I would imagine that Lee was the nearest, reliable, and most senior officer available. I would think senior Marine officers were very few and far between.

Ryan

 

[Luke Freet]

I feel like this has become more of a thread about the US Marines in the war.

 

[Pollaco]

I feel like this has become more of a thread about the US Marines in the war.

I agree, this supposed to be a thread about John Koltes' career in the Civil War. His experience as a marine was a long time before the war and probably played no part.

 

[Remington M Koltes]

Hey guys, my name is Remington M Koltes and I'm Col. John A. Koltes's Great-great-great grandson through his son William.

Let me just say thanks for keeping his memory alive. Stumbling upon this forum was really, really cool. Up until recently I didn't know much about my lineage, though I seem to remember my old man mentioning the Colonel. Anyway, I didn't expect a quick Google search to reveal so much! Thanks for providing so much great info!

Also, in keeping with the precedant he apparently set, my father, brother, and I all enlisted in the corps and served various tours of duty. Isn't it strange how something like that can run in the family?

 

[Luke Freet]

Hey guys, my name is Remington M Koltes and I'm Col. John A. Koltes's Great-great-great grandson through his son William.

Let me just say thanks for keeping his memory alive. Stumbling upon this forum was really, really cool. Up until recently I didn't know much about my lineage, though I seem to remember my old man mentioning the Colonel. Anyway, I didn't expect a quick Google search to reveal so much! Thanks for providing so much great info!

Also, in keeping with the precedant he apparently set, my father, brother, and I all enlisted in the corps and served various tours of duty. Isn't it strange how something like that can run in the family?

I wouldn't say strange. I believe the Stuart family has someone fight in each and every war the US has fought. There are many other cases like this.
Am shocked to hear that Koltes had descendants. I'm guessing Rob missed some info on his family, maybe due to his foreign origins making record searching a bit harder for many of us here. If you can provide information on his family tree, maybe Rob can get around to updating this (or make a new thread with the updated information).

 

[gentlemanrob]

Additions

 

[Remington M Koltes]

I wouldn't say strange. I believe the Stuart family has someone fight in each and every war the US has fought. There are many other cases like this.
Am shocked to hear that Koltes had descendants. I'm guessing Rob missed some info on his family, maybe due to his foreign origins making record searching a bit harder for many of us here. If you can provide information on his family tree, maybe Rob can get around to updating this (or make a new thread with the updated information).

Yeah, Col Koltes is where my ancestry searches hit a dead end. I can't find many pre-immigration documents on him.

I did find some census documents from 1860 on my now inactive Ancestry account that showed he was living in Pennsylvania (ostensibly while working at the mint) with his wife Caroline, and 3 children, unfortunately the only one of whom I remember is William.

Just the next year, I believe he raised a regiment of his fellow German immigrants before settling back into the Corps in a more official capacity.

Edit: his wife's name was Caroline, not Pauline.

 

[Remington M Koltes]

Additions

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Hanging these on my wall for sure

Edit: It's now my life's goal to find that watch

 

[Pollaco]

I'm not real sure but it appears that a Col. Gustaves A. Muehleck took command of the 73rd Pennsylvania when Koltes took over command of the 2nd brigade in Blenker's Division. His brigade was part of the forces that opposed Stonewall Jackson in the Shenandoah Valley.

 

[NFB22]

I often wondered about that, why an Army colonel in charge of marines? Wasn't there any "Marine rank"in the vicinity?

Highest rank available in terms of Marines was a Major and he actually served as the USMC Paymaster and didn't have any type of command in the field. Lt. Israel Greene was ranking officer and led the assault on the engine house and was the Marine that wounded John Brown during his capture.

Sorry it took me so long to respond to this @Polloco

Not to derail the thread about the subject, just deserved an answer I thought.