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Col. Prinz Felix Constantin Alexander Johann Nepomuk Salm-Salm (b. 1828, d. 1870). One of the most colorful characters of the Civil War the prince had to wait until the end of 1864 to finally lead troops to battle. Born in Alholt in the Prussian province of Westphalia as the youngest son of the Salm-Salm family, he entered the military to seek glory. As lieutenant in the Prussian Hussars he was decorated for bravery during the Schleswig-Holstein War. To avoid creditors he enlisted afterwards in the Austrian army but could not keep from gambling their either. His father forced him to go to the United States where he arrived in 1861 shortly after the start of the war. Fellow German, Gen. Ludwig Blenker, offered him the position as chief of staff, which Salm-Salm accepted. At a reception of Pres. Abraham Lincoln for officers, the prince met his future wife Agnes Elisabeth Leclerq Joy, who was called by her Indian nickname “Winona”. The couple married in August 1862 and only the princess’ connection to the Lincoln family kept her husband in the officer corps. He was given the commission as colonel of the 8th New York Infantry, which he joined shortly before the battle of Fredericksburg. However, the regiment was kept in the army’s rear and did not see any action. The Salm-Salms – Agnes accompanied him always in the field – were part of the entourage around Gen. Joseph Hooker in his much-storied winter camp. Shortly before the start of the campaigning season the enlistment of the prince’s regiment expired. His wife obtained for him the command of the 68th New York instead, but it was not until June of 1864 that he joined his men in Alabama. Hearing of Gen. John Hood’s invasion of Tennessee the prince left his regiment and travelled to Nashville where he got a position in Gen. James Steedman’s staff. After witnessing the crushing defeat of Hood, Salm-Salm ordered the 68th to meet him at Stephenson, Alabama to join the pursuit of the retreating Confederates. At Decatur, the prince finally led his men into battle against Hood’s rear guard. As commander of a Reserve Brigade the prince was ordered to chase Southern raiders in January 1865, but was not able to trap them. For his actions in the Franklin-Nashville Campaign he received – with the help of recommendations of his superiors and through his wife’s influence – a brevet promotion to brigadier general of volunteers dating from April 13, 1865. Salm-Salm was mustered out in November together with his regiment. Through connections to former Prussian and Austrian comrades he obtained a commission as colonel in the army of the Mexican Emperor Maximilian. He stayed with him until the end. The emperor, two generals and Salm-Salm were sentenced to death by Pres. Benito Juarez, but after the death of the others the prince’s punishment was reduced to seven years in prison. His wife however convinced Juarez to let him go and the couple arrived in December 1867 in Prussia. Salm-Salm published his diary on the last days in the life of Emperor Maximilian and received the commission as major in the Prussian army. He went to war with France in 1870 and died while leading his Fusilier Battalion in the battle of Gravelotte on August 18.

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

Teaches: Chargers

I think his wife deserves the brigadier spot.

ORIGINAL: Drex

I think his wife deserves the brigadier spot.

She would have gotten better ratings.

It was not unusual during the war that spouses of officers lobbied for their husbands in the political centres. After all the men were in the field. If they had not so many political allies the more important it was for them to use other channels to influence the right persons. Salm-Salm had not been to West Point, was neither Democrat nor Republican, nor was he well-liked in the German community because he was of noble birth. And his association with Blenker might have damaged the relation towards influential Germans like Schurz or Sigel.

Thanks! This guy has got to be one of the more interesting ones we've got.

Although jkbluesman didn't mention it, Salm-Salm's wife must have been a knock out. Any mention of her Charms?

She worked as rider in the circus, as actress and learned the profession as nurse once the couple was back in Prussia. I did not mention that they secretly married (at least for their parents).
On German wikipedia there are some pictures.

Hmm, not my cup of tea but obviously she was a good talker.

Wow!

Gil, you mentioned that Salm-Salm's picture is not in the database. If you still need one, you can find it here.

Thanks, I got one and it's been processed. So, once I edit the bio it will be available.

Even though he’s far from the most important guy out there, I finally caved in and edited this bio, since I was curious about the prince. Not many changes, though I did incorporate the explanation for why a wife’s help might have been essential, since I found that interesting. And I chopped the bits about being in Hooker’s camp and his publishing his diary, since I needed space.

Based on what I’m reading here, I can’t help but wonder whether his ratings are still a bit generous. But I guess it’s okay, since he doesn’t appear in the game until April 1865, so he won’t be seen all that much.

By the way, a Google search led me to discover that his wife’s book, “Ten Years of My Life,” was just reissued back in January. Also, there is an interesting regimental website with some newspaper pieces from the time about Salm-Salm: http://www.dmna.state.ny.us/historic/re ... InfCWN.htm

Prince Felix Constantin Alexander Johann Nepomuk Salm-Salm (b. 1828, d. 1870). One of the most colorful characters of the Civil War, Prince Salm-Salm had to wait until the end of 1864 to finally led troops to battle. The youngest scion of the House of Salm-Salm, he was born in Alholt, Westphalia, on December 25, 1828. Having entered the military to seek glory, he served as a lieutenant in the Prussian Hussars and was decorated for bravery during the Schleswig-Holstein War of 1848-1851. Hoping to avoid creditors, he enlisted afterwards in the Austrian army but could not keep from gambling there, either. His father forced him to go to the United States, where he arrived shortly after the start of the Civil War. A fellow German, Union Gen. Ludwig Blenker, offered him the position as chief of staff, which he accepted. At a reception for officers held by Pres. Abraham Lincoln, the prince met his future wife Agnes Elisabeth Leclerq Joy, a spirited woman known for riding a half-wild mustang around Washington. The couple married on August 30, 1862, and later that fall the princess’ connection to the Lincolns kept him in the officer corps as the War Department attempted to thin its ranks. (It was not unusual during the war for wives of officers to lobby for husbands who were off in the field, and was especially important when the men lacked allies. Salm-Salm had not been to West Point, was not politically active, was not well-liked in the German community because of his noble birth, and his association with Blenker might have damaged his relation with influential Germans such as Gen. Carl Schurz or Gen. Franz Sigel – making his wife’s connections all the more important.) Commissioned as Colonel of the 8th New York Infantry, the prince joined his regiment in December, shortly before the Battle of Fredericksburg (at which it remained in reserve); however, the regiment’s enlistment expired that April. His wife next obtained for him the command of the 68th New York, but it was not until June 1864 that he joined the unit, which protected rail lines near the Alabama-Tennessee border. Hearing of Gen. John Hood’s invasion of Tennessee that autumn and eager for combat, he left his regiment and traveled to Nashville, where he got a position on the staff of local district commander Gen. James B. Steedman. After witnessing the crushing defeat of Hood’s forces, Salm-Salm ordered his regiment to meet him at Stephenson, Alabama to join the pursuit of the Confederates as they retreated into Georgia. The prince finally led his men into battle at Decatur, Alabama, against Hood’s rear guard in December, and then in early January assumed command of a Reserve Brigade in an unsuccessful attempt to catch Confederate raiders. Recommended for promotion by his superiors for his performance, Salm-Salm was not made a brevet brigadier general of volunteers until April 13 – and even then, his wife’s influence was crucial. He was mustered out that November together with his regiment – and, in a sense, his wife was mustered out too, since she had accompanied him in the field for two years, serving as a battlefield nurse who was so dedicated that she would tear up her husband’s bed sheets to make bandages. Through connections to former Prussian and Austrian comrades he obtained a commission as colonel in the army of the Mexican Emperor Maximilian, with whom he stayed with until the end: the emperor, two generals and Salm-Salm were sentenced to death by Pres. Benito Juarez, but after the death of the others the prince’s punishment was reduced to seven years in prison, and his wife’s intervention gained his release. The two arrived in Prussia in December 1867 and Salm-Salm, who soon received a major’s commission in the Prussian army, was later killed while leading his Fusilier Battalion in the Battle of Gravelotte on August 18, 1870. (Bio by Joern Kaesebier)

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

Teaches: Chargers

Start date: 102