US-Maj. Gen. Franz Sigel

[jkBluesman]

Maj. Gen. Franz Sigel (b. 1824, d. 1902). Sigel was one of the so called Fortyeighters, who emigrated from Germany to the United States after the Revolution of 1848. Sigel had been trained in the army of Baden before becoming one of the state’s democratic, revolutionary leaders. When Prussian troops ended the Revolution in Baden, Sigel saved his outnumbered men by retreating to Switzerland. To escape the revenge seeking royalist German governments he fled to London, where he was one of the democratic Germans, opposed by the communist Germans (Karl Marx called Sigel “the beardless Napoleon”). In 1852 Sigel arrived in New York. Due to his military record and his political influence on German immigrants in Missouri, Sigel was commissioned a colonel as the war began. His reputation was so high that German-born Americans wrote the hymn “I’m going to fight mit Sigel”. He saw first action at Carthage and Wilson’s Creek, both unsuccessful attempts to drive the Confederate forces of the state. But he managed the retreat with his merely trained and outnumbered troops well. In December 1861 the Brig. Gen. (ranking from May 17, 1861) commanded two divisions of Gen. Samuel R. Curtis’ Army of the Southwest. At Pea Ridge, Arkansas, Sigel’s forces reinforced the almost beaten Union troops on the second day. His attack, supported by heavy artillery fire, proofed decisive: The Confederates under Gen. Earl Van Dorn withdrew and had to abandon Missouri and Arkansas. Sigel was promoted to Maj. Gen. in March 1862. During his first command in the East he suffered defeat from Gen. Thomas Jackson in his famous valley campaign. When Gen. John Pope was transferred from the West to the East, Sigel commanded the 1st corps in the new modelled Army of Virginia. Badly beaten at Second Bull Run, Sigel was one of the heavily criticized officers though Pope was the one to blame. The depressed Sigel was shifted to the Army of the Potomac and commanded the 11th corps at Fredericksburg, where it formed the reserve. Due to bad health Sigel resigned after the battle. Pres. Abraham Lincoln convinced him to take command of the Department of West Virginia in the campaign of 1864, where Sigel got the task of threatening the Shenandoah Valley. But he was repulsed at New Market after the legendary attack of the Virginia Military Institute’s cadets. Gen. David Hunter replaced the unfortunate Sigel. He quit the army in May 1865 and became a publisher (though he would never speak English well) in Baltimore and New York supporting the Republicans. He was honoured after his death (former Gen. Carl Schurz had delivered the funeral oration) in St. Louis and New York with an equestrian statue, which in his native country was reserved to monarchs.

Ldr: 3
Tact: 3
Init: 2
Cmd: 3
Cav: 0

Teaches: Recruiting (?)

[Gil R.]

Done already. A few cosmetic changes, plus some additional info on New Market that I didn't boldface. Quite an interesting bio.

Maj. Gen. Franz Sigel (b. 1824, d. 1902). Sigel was one of the so called “Fortyeighters,” who emigrated from Germany to the United States after the Revolution of 1848. Sigel had been trained in the army of Baden before becoming one of the state’s democratic, revolutionary leaders. When Prussian troops ended the Revolution in Baden, Sigel saved his outnumbered men by retreating to Switzerland. To escape the revenge-seeking royalist German governments he fled to London, where he was one of the democratic Germans who were opposed by the communist Germans. (Karl Marx called Sigel “the beardless Napoleon.”) In 1852 Sigel arrived in New York. Due to his military record and his political influence on German immigrants in Missouri, Sigel was commissioned a Colonel as the war began. His reputation was so high that German-born Americans wrote the hymn “I’m going to fight mit Sigel.” For those interested, I found the lyrics and tune at http://www.grantcamp.org/mitsigel.htm He saw first action at Carthage, on July 5, 1861, and Wilson’s Creek a month later, both unsuccessful attempts to drive the Confederate forces of the state. But he managed the retreat with his merely trained and outnumbered troops well. Having been promoted a Brigadier General on August 7 (to rank from May 17, 1861), Sigel commanded two divisions of Gen. Samuel R. Curtis’ Army of the Southwest. At Pea Ridge, Arkansas, Sigel’s forces reinforced the almost beaten Union troops on the second day. His attack, supported by heavy artillery fire, proved decisive: the Confederates under Gen. Earl Van Dorn withdrew and had to abandon Missouri and Arkansas. Sigel was promoted to Major General in March 1862 and sent eastward to command a division in the Shenandoah Valley. During this first command, Sigel suffered defeat from Gen. Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson in his famous Valley Campaign. When Gen. John Pope was transferred from the West to the East, Sigel commanded the I Corps in Pope’s newly modeled Army of Virginia. Badly beaten at Second Bull Run, Sigel was one of the officers heavily criticized for the defeat, though Pope was the one to blame. The depressed Sigel was shifted to the Army of the Potomac, in which he commanded the XI Corps at Fredericksburg, where it formed the reserve. Due to bad health Sigel resigned after the battle, which had been fought on December 13, 1862. At least partly because of his need for support in the German community in the upcoming presidential election, Pres. Abraham Lincoln convinced him to take command of the Department of West Virginia for the Valley Campaigns of 1864, where Sigel was given the task of threatening the Shenandoah Valley. Almost immediately, Sigel suffered a major setback when he was repulsed at New Market on May 15 by the legendary counterattack of the Virginia Military Institute’s cadets, who had marched eighty miles in four days to fight alongside Confederate troops under Gen. John C. Breckinridge. Gen. David Hunter subsequently replaced the unfortunate Sigel (and burned VMI in retaliation a month later). Sigel quit the army in May 1865 and became a publisher (though he would never speak English well) in Baltimore and New York, supporting the Republicans. When he died he was eulogized by Carl Schurz, another prominent Union general who left Germany in the aftermath of the failed revolution, and later was honored with equestrian statues in St. Louis and New York, an honor which in his native country was reserved to monarchs. (Bio by Joern Kaesebier)

Ldr: 3
Tact: 3
Init: 2
Cmd: 3
Cav: 0

Start date: 14

Teaches: Nothing

[jkBluesman]

The song is written in a strange German-English, reminding me of today, when Germans adopt English words that are not used in Britain or the US like "Handy" for mobile phone.
One question on the editing (just to be sure for future bios): as in most volumes on the Civil War you use Roman digits for Union corps and Arabic for Confederate corps, right?

[Gil R.]

Yes, since that's what I've seen more often. It doesn't matter a lot, but I like to be consistent when it comes to style. (Four years on a student newspaper drummed into me the value of choosing a single style and sticking to it. Just looks more professional.)

[christof139]

The song is written in a strange German-English, reminding me of today, when Germans adopt English words that are not used in Britain or the US like "Handy" for mobile phone.
One question on the editing (just to be sure for future bios): as in most volumes on the Civil War you use Roman digits for Union corps and Arabic for Confederate corps, right?

Yes, since that's what I've seen more often. It doesn't matter a lot, but I like to be consistent when it comes to style. (Four years on a student newspaper drummed into me the value of choosing a single style and sticking to it. Just looks more professional.)

Most ACW OOB's or ORBAT's, actual reports, etc. both from that time period and after, and within present military usage, a Corps is designated with a Roman Numeral and Division and Brigades with Arabic numerals. Numerical Army designations are usually Arbaic Numerals if numerals are used.

Chris

PS: And yes, the vast majority of CSA Coprs and Divisions were nymbered, including in the Trans Miss. Dept. You're welcome.