BMG  ★  Willich, August Von

August Von Willich

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Willich.jpg


Born: November 19, 1810

Birthplace: Braunsberg Province, East Prussia

Father: Johann Georg N.W. Willich

Mother: Elisabeth Michalowski 1781 – 1851

Education:

Attended Military Academy at Berlin​
Learned the trade of Carpenter​

Occupation before War:

Early Embraced the teachings of Karl Marx and firm believer​
1828 – 1846: Served in the Prussian Army rising to 2nd​ Lt.​
1853: Immigrated to the United States​
Carpenter in Brooklyn, New York​
Editor of German Language labor Newspaper in Cincinnati, Ohio​

Civil War Career:

1861: Adjutant and Lt. of 9th​ Ohio Infantry Regiment​
1861: Major of 9th​ Ohio Infantry Regiment​
1861: Served in the Battle of Rich Mountain, Western Virginia​
1861 – 1862: Colonel of 32nd​ Indiana Infantry Regiment​
1861: Led his men at the Battle of Rowlett’s Station, Kentucky​
1862: Commended for his leadership at the Battle of Shiloh, Tennessee​
1862 – 1865: Brigadier General of Union Army Volunteers​
1862: Served in the Battle of Perryville, Kentucky
Willich 1.jpg
1862: Captured at the Battle of Stones River, Tennessee​
1862 – 1863: Prisoner of War held at Libby Prison​
1863: Paroled by the Confederate Army in May​
1863: Division Commander at the Battle of Chickamauga​
1863: Served in the Battle of Chattanooga, Tennessee​
1864: Brigade Commander in the Atlanta Georgia Campaign​
1864: Wounded at the Battle of Resaca, Georgia​
1864 – 1865: Union Army Post Commander in Kentucky​
1865: Brevetted Major General for his service in the War​
1865: Resigned from the Union Army on October 21st​

Occupation after War:

Hamilton County, Ohio Auditor​
Traveled to Germany during the War between Germany and France​
Offered his Services to William I of Germany​
Attended lectures by Karl Marx​
Suffered from Paralysis from Arm and his hand​

Died: January 22, 1878

Place of Death: St. Marys, Ohio

Age at time of Death: 67 years old

Burial Place: Elm Grove Cemetery, St. Marys, Ohio
 
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Attended lectures by Karl Marx
Really weird, seeing one of Marx's peer's in the Communist party commanding Union troops in the war. If I recall, he and Schimmelfennig were both members of the wing against Marx that was more directed towards previous socialist doctrines. I am certainly no expert though.
Certainly they weren't the only pro-communist Generals the army has had. I believe Smedley Butler was probably one, though I need to read more on him, could be wrong and I was making assumptions.
 
I've heard interesting writeups on Willich in Powell's Chickamauga series. It seems he often worked in menial jobs, as opposed to Marx who spent most of his time butting elbows with upper class types. Apparently he wanted to serve the German army in the Franco-Prussian War but was declined, partly due to age, but also probably because Marxism was starting to gain its negative reputation. AFAIK, there was no real issue with him being a brigadier general in the US Volunteers over his political beliefs.
 
Johann August Ernst von Willich was an early proponent of communism even though he once challenged Karl Marx to a duel. Marx refused but a duel was fought in Belgium by Marx's second, Konrad Schramm.
 
He offered his service to Wilhelm l of Germany but it was rejected due to age. This is the same monarch that he tried to dethrone years before and had to flee Europe because of.

The second sentence is not correct btw. Wilhelm I wasn't monarch at the time of Willich's troubles, that was his brother Friedrich Wilhelm IV. Willich actively participated in the Baden Revolution, so technically not aimed against the Prussian monarchy; though of course Prussia and "young" Wilhelm were involved.
 
Thanks for bringing that to my attention.It looks like I got my "Wilhems"mixed up.I should have realized that, I was just repeating what and how Stewart Sifakis had it written down.
 
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The second sentence is not correct btw. Wilhelm I wasn't monarch at the time of Willich's troubles, that was his brother Friedrich Wilhelm IV. Willich actively participated in the Baden Revolution, so technically not aimed against the Prussian monarchy; though of course Prussia and "young" Wilhelm were involved.
Same monarchy but not the same monarch?
 
Same monarchy but not the same monarch?
I mean, there wasn't one German monarchy in 1848. Prussia is the largest discounting Austria, but you still have Saxony, Bavaria, Wurttemburg, Baden, Hannover, and a bunch of smaller states. Many of the 48ers wanted to unit Germany under a single entity and even offered crowns to Frederick William, but he rejected them.
 
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