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On Oct. 10, 1888, 45th New York veterans gathered for the dedication of their monument just north of Gettysburg, where they were overwhelmed 25 years earlier. Many in the all-German regiment were captured on July 1, 1863 and sent to prisoner-of-war camps in the South, including the most notorious one of all at Andersonville, Ga. Among the speakers that fall day was Christian Boehm, who as a 40-year-old corporal in Company I at Gettysburg eluded the Rebels and survived the battle unscathed. He re-enlisted in 1864 and served until the end of the war.
"May this magnificent monument forever demonstrate to future generations that sons of the German nation fell here as heros and good patriots," said Boehm, who gave his speech entirely in German, "and that those who are born in a foreign country are capable to fulfill their duty to their adopted fatherland, and when necessary, bravely lay down their lives." ...
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.. upon close inspection of the William Tipton photograph, a crescent moon, the symbol of the XI Corps, and two rifles adorn the monument for the 45th New York, also known as the 5th German Rifles. The large building in the background is Stevens Hall, built in 1868 and today used as a dormitory at Gettysburg College. ...
... As this enlargement of Tipton's image shows, one of the requirements for a Civil War veteran evidently was facial hair ...
... often lots and lots of facial hair. In fact, it took a close examination ...
... of the left background to find these young men, probably sons of veterans, who didn't require a good shave. (For more Tipton images,
view my Pinterest page.)
My great grandfather, 1st Lt. Louis Hofferberth served with the 45th NY Volunteers.
ReplyDeleteProud of him
DeleteMy great grandfather, Louis Hofferberth served with the 45th New York Volunteers.
ReplyDelete-Bill Wahl
Thank you for posting these pictures. It is unlikely my ancestor who served with them, 1st Lt Ratzmann, is in the picture since it seems likely he died from a liver related illness in 1864, but it is nice to see the faces of those he served with from the start of the war until then.
ReplyDeleteHave these soldiers been identified?
ReplyDeletemy great-great grandfather, Nicolas Horne, was in this regiment. was there a list made of the men in the photo? I learned that he is buried in All Faith's cemetery in Queens (Formerly Lutheran) in a plot that was purchased for men in the unit.
ReplyDeleteMy great-grandfather is Nicholas Horne. I would visit his grave often when I lived in NY.
DeleteMy Great-Great-Grandfather, Ignaz Merkel, served in this regiment as a private, Company C, from the regiment's formation (New York City (Manhattan) 1861), and mustered out in Nashville TN October 1864, when many members chose to end their service, having served their 3-year enlistment. Grandfather was slightly wounded May 1, 1863 at Chancellorsville: he missed the devastating Confederate attack led by Stonewall Jackson the following day. By my count, only three dozen members of the regiment appear in this photo. Having a photo of Grandfather, I do not find any face that resembles him. IAE, to have found the photo is a treasure.
ReplyDeleteMy G-G Grandfather - Killian Beyer - is in this photo. I have his identical framed copy of this picture, and I know he was there in Gettysburg for this event in 1888.
ReplyDeleteWalking the ground that he fought on that first day of Gettysburg was a very moving experience. As an Artilleryman myself, I also stood where the Confederate batteries were emplaced on the hill to the north and from which they fired down on the men of the 45th. It was a very advantageous position to be in for them. As veterans, the 45th must have known immediately that they were in a bad spot, and must have felt defenseless and vulnerable down below, spread out in a line on that field. Very tough situation.
Rest in peace brothers.