Brig. Gen. Max Weber

[jkBluesman]

Brig. Gen. Max Weber (b. 1824, d. 1901). Due to a crippling wound he received in his first real battle, Weber’s military record would list the command of garrison troops for most of the time. Born in Baden-Baden, Germany in 1824, he graduated from the military academy in Baden. Weber became involved in radical politics and after the failed 1848 German Revolution - where he fought under future Union general Franz Sigel - he immigrated to the United States. Weber ran a German hotel in New York City, in which many German immigrants stayed after their arrival in the US. Weber supported them to do the right first steps in their new life. At the outbreak of the Civil War Weber joined the Union Army and raised a German-American unit, the “Turner-Rifles” which formed the nucleus for the 20th New York, a regiment which used the German colours of black, red and gold besides the stars and stripes. When the regiment was assigned to the brigade of Gen. Ludwig Blenker, Weber protested successfully against it as he despised the German officer for his arrogant behaviour and pompous appearance. The regiment and its commander were thus sent to Fort Monroe, Virginia, which remained in Northern throughout the war. In May, 1862, Weber was promoted to brigadier general of volunteers and during Gen. George B. McClellan’s Peninsula Campaign, Weber was involved in the capture of Norfolk and got subsequently in command of the third brigade, 3rd division, II corps in the Army of the Potomac. After the Union invasion had been repulsed, the army was sent north for the Maryland Campaign. At Antietam (September 17, 1862), Weber let his inexperienced troops against the Confederate Centre at the afterwards called Bloody Lane. Their charge was repulsed with heavy losses – the brigade suffered more than 450 casualties in five minutes. The general himself was badly wounded in the shoulder of his right arm. Although he recovered he could not longer use his right arm and was assigned recruiting and administrative duties throughout 1863. He was again on active duty the next year. As commander of the garrison of Harpers Ferry, he served under David Hunter and Franz Sigel in the Shenandoah Valley in May, but could not accomplish much with his small force of about 800 men. This was Weber’s last field duty. He resigned from the army together with Sigel in May 1865. After the war he worked in the Internal Revenue Department until was appointed as US Consul to Naples. Weber died on June 15, 1901.

Ldr: 4
Tact: 3
Init: 2
Cmd: 3
Cav: 0

Teaches: Charge

[jkBluesman]

As Weber is not listed in Heidler and only briefly mentioned in the sources I did find, I have no dates for his life after the war. Also, one source says he was in Naples, another one mentions Nantes, France. So if someone (perhaps with "Generals in Blue") can clarifie this, I would be thankful.

The "Turner Rifles" should be considered for LU status. They fought on the Peninsula and Antietam for example.

[Gil R.]

Thanks. The bio is copied, and the Turner Rifles are added to the list of possible LU's.

[Gil R.]

And Max Weber has the honor of being Bio #250, mainly because 1) he's a Union general and 2) his bio is short.


Brig. Gen. Max Weber (b. 1824, d. 1901). Due to a crippling wound he received in his first real battle, Weber’s military record would list the command of garrison troops for most of the time. Born in Baden-Baden, Germany in 1824, he graduated from the military academy in Baden. Weber became involved in radical politics and after the failed 1848 German Revolution – in which he fought under future Union general Franz Sigel – he immigrated to the United States, as did many other former comrades. After arriving, Weber ran a German hotel in New York City in which many German immigrants stayed after their arrival in the United States, receiving support from Weber as they adapted to their new life. At the outbreak of the Civil War, Weber joined the Union Army and raised a German-American unit, the “Turner Rifles,” which formed the nucleus of the 20th New York Infantry, a regiment which fought under the German colors of black, red and gold as well as the Stars and Stripes. When his regiment was assigned to the brigade of Gen. Ludwig Blenker, Weber protested successfully against the move because he despised the German officer for his arrogant behavior and pompous appearance. The regiment and its colonel were thus sent to Fort Monroe, located at the tip of the Virginia Peninsula, which remained in Northern control throughout the war. In May 1862, Weber was promoted to brigadier general of volunteers and, as part of Gen. George B. McClellan’s Peninsula Campaign, was involved in fort commander Gen. John E. Wool’s capture of Norfolk, located across Hampton Roads from Fort Monroe. Weber subsequently received command of the 3rd brigade, 3rd division, II Corps in the Army of the Potomac. After the Union’s invasion of the peninsula had been repulsed and then defeated for a second time at Manassas that August, the army was sent north for the Maryland Campaign. At Antietam on September 17, Weber led his inexperienced troops against the Confederate Center at the defensive position afterwards called the “Bloody Lane.” Their charge was repulsed with heavy losses: the brigade suffered more than 450 casualties in five minutes, and the general himself was badly wounded in his right shoulder. Although he recovered, he could no longer use his right arm and was assigned to recruiting and administrative duties throughout 1863, but he returned to active duty the next year. As commander of the garrison at Harper’s Ferry, he served under Gen. David Hunter and his old commander from Germany, Sigel, in the Shenandoah Valley in May, but could not accomplish much with his small force of about 800 men. This was Weber’s last field duty, and he resigned from the army together with Sigel in May 1865. After the war, he worked in the Internal Revenue Department until he was appointed as U.S. Consul to Naples. Weber died on June 15, 1901. (Bio by Joern Kaesebier)

Ldr: 4
Tact: 3
Init: 2
Cmd: 3
Cav: 0

Teaches: Chargers

Start date: 32 or 33

[wzh55]

According to my newly found source : "Who Was Who in the Civil War" by Stewart Sifakis (Question: anyone else have this book, is it a reliable source? It seems pretty complete)

Weber, Max : "Subsequently he was an American diplomat ay Nantes, France, and a tax official."

It also says that his crippling injury was his right arm that happened at Antietam when assign to John Sedgwick's division.

Just some "For Your Info", info. Love my new book.

[wzh55]

Never Mind just testing