II. FORMATION AND ENLISTMENT
Germany and Hungary Political Situation Before The American Civil War
Early in the nineteenth century the Congress of Vienna formally recognized replacement of the Holy Roman Empire and it’s more than 240 states with the German Confederation of 39 states. Opinions differed on what the new confederation should be. Many Germans wanted to fashion a liberal, progressive government on British and French models, with a constitution guaranteeing popular representation, trial by jury, and free speech. They also hoped for national unification. Such ideas were especially popular among middle-class professionals and university students. These aims also appealed to the various restive peoples within the Austrian Empire.
In 1848 a series of violent uprisings developed in European countries where legal attempts at economic and political change had proven unsuccessful. This revolution first erupted in February 1848 in France where supporters of voting rights and the socialists overthrew King Louis Philippe. The revolution in France spread to other countries in Europe including the German states, and Hungary.
The revolutions in Germany and Hungary were initiated by members of the middle class and nobility who began demanding constitutional and representative government and by workers and peasants who revolted against developing capitalist practices that were resulting in greater poverty. There was also a strong movement for German national unity and against the conservatism of the German Confederation and its Austrian-Prussian leadership. In Hungary, which was under Austrian rule, the patriot Lajos Kossuth assumed control of a breakaway government and declared independence for all Hungarian lands. Although governmental changes achieved by the revolutions of 1848 were short-lived, the revolutions influenced the course of European government in the long term by undermining the concept of absolute monarchy and establishing an impetus for liberalism and socialism (19). The Revolution of 1848 was the first German revolution to come from the people since the days of Martin Luther. It ended with tragic results for Germany and the rest of the world as WW I and WW II would be the long-term result (28).
The Immediate result of these 1848 revolutions in Hungary and the German States was substantial displacement of people including exile from their native land. Many of these people found their way to the United States including the political and military principals in the turmoil. Many of the Germans and the Hungarians concentrated their settlement in Chicago, St. Louis, central Illinois, and Cincinnati (2).
The arrival of the “Forty-Eighters” in Illinois began in strength in 1849 and reached its peak before 1860. Many settled in Chicago and around the Central Illinois town of Belleville. Those settling in Central Illinois were identified as “Latin Farmers” because of their educational background prior to immigration to America. Friedrich Hecker, a well-known and celebrated leader of the 1848 German revolution settled in Belleville and became a magnet of “forty eighters” to the central Illinois community.
Until arrival of the “Forty-Eighters” most of the German immigrants became Democrats due to the party’s appeal to foreigners. However, when the struggle against slavery started in this country, the Germans threw themselves into it with the same force that they had fought for liberty in their homeland. They did not get excited over states’ rights or have interest in the constitutional theories behind the debate. They did, however, comprehend their revolutionary idealism of 1848 and concluded that the United States was involved in a controversy over basic human rights in which one part of the nation defended a system opposite their 1848 fight for democracy and equality. The slavery controversy drew many political refugees of 1848 into a new field of political activity (28). Abraham Lincoln was quick to recognize the importance of the German vote, which had been written off by the Democrats. Stephan Douglas had counted on German support for years but the Germans abandoned the Democratic Party because of Douglas” pro-slavery vote in the Senate. Lincoln sought the German vote by secretly buying through an intermediary, the German language newspaper; “Illinois Staats-Anzeiger” published in Springfield. One of Lincoln’s closest political collaborators was Gustav Koerner of Belleville, Illinois who later became Lieutenant Governor, and a State Supreme Court Justice. He remained a friend of Lincoln’s throughout his career, and was a pallbearer at Lincoln’s funeral (23). Governor Yates of Illinois received so many pleas and demands from German constituents and political leaders that he hired a German-speaking secretary to handle the volume of correspondence (2). Both the Germans and the Hungarians were instrumental in getting Lincoln nominated and elected. When war became evident they bombarded Governor Yates and other political leaders offering help and to get a fair share of the spoils of war for their ethnic community.
Yet, the Germans and Hungarian Americans were not a cohesive group. Although most spoke the same language (German), much tension and mutual contempt characterized relations between Germans and Hungarians (2). The Hungarians were usually much better at lobbying for and getting positions, as the Germans were rather stodgy in their mannerisms and conduct. Native Americans often could not tell the difference between the nationalities as they both spoke German. This often resulted in politicians giving patronage to Hungarians, thinking they had satisfied the Germans (20). This confusion between the Hungarians and the Germans was the source of many disputes and just gave the Germans fits. The Germans prided themselves as better fighters and regarded Hungarians as “intriguers”.
Shortly after the Ft. Sumter surrender, old political insider Gustave Koener used his influence with Governor Yates of Illinois to promote plans for a German-American regiment. The political power of the German community, particularly in the Chicago area, was recognized by Yates and had to be addressed to accommodate the German people. Gustave contacted Frederick Karl Franz Hecker, an ex lawyer, and one of the military leaders of the 1848 Revolution in Germany and asked him to serve as commander of an all-German regiment. Frederick Hecker agreed to serve (2).
Meanwhile, Caspar Butz; George Schneider, editor of the Illinois Staats Zeitung newspaper, Anton Hesing, Cook County Sheriff; Lorenz Brentan, politician; approached Charles Knobelsdorf who was a veteran of the Schleswig-Holstein armed forces and Julian Kune, who fought in the 1848 Hungarian revolution to form a German speaking regiment. They agreed to form the regiment (2).
This set the cast for a potential major conflict by pitting the German speaking Hungarians against the German Americans, which had dissimilar political and military backgrounds from the European 1848 revolutions. It is a prime example of the error by American political powers in thinking since they all speak German, they all are German.
Friedrich Hecker, son of a well-to-do court councilor, was born on September 28, 1811 in the German Grand duchy of Baden. After schooling in Mannheim, universities of Heidelberg and Munich and in Paris, he received his doctorate in law and took up the practice of law in Mannheim in 1838. After marrying the daughter of a prominent Mannheim family, Hecker entered political life in 1842 by winning a seat in the lower chamber of the Baden State Assembly. He became famous for his dramatic speeches and theatrical actions in the liberal wing of the Assembly. In 1845 he made a name for himself throughout Germany for opposing incorporation of German speaking provinces of Schleswig and Holstein into Denmark. He became one of the most important leaders of the German Left opposing the princely governments (21).
Hecker knew how to utilize the burgeoning popular press to further his objective of German national unity and against the conservatism of the German Confederation and the Austrian-Prussian leadership. His popularity grew and people called him "their' Hecker. He understood little of the art of getting people to work together toward common goals and was subject to fits of discouragement and melancholy. In 1847 he immigrated to Algeria, but soon returned (22).
As late as March 1848 Hecker condemned the use of violence. He made the crowd's demands his own, since by house rules only representatives could directly address the body. On March 1, 1848 he joined other radicals in a call for the repeal of repressive decrees, taking of oaths to the constitution by all citizens (including the military), the repeal of all limits to political rights based on religion, the abolition of all feudal rights, the introduction of a popular military system, and popular local government and popular representation at the German Confederation. When the ministry responded favorably, he upped the demands. At an assembly called to meet at Offenburg on March 19, he insisted on a revision of the constitution, a merging of popular militias with the standing army, a complete revision of the tax system and full local self-government. When the Frankfurt Preparliament later that month failed to support this program, Hecker decided the time had come to strike (22).
Hecker and his associates called on revolutionaries to assemble on April 14 in Constance and from there they would carry the revolution throughout Baden and into Germany. The interim Frankfurt government, fearing the uprising would endanger national elections, tried negotiations, but also ordered out federal troops. When the few revolutionaries who showed up met regular soldiers, Hecker hoped to win the day with his time-tested rhetoric, but their commander ordered the drums to roll. On April 20 he was defeated and scattered by a force of Baden and Hessian troops whose commander was killed in the battle. Hecker fled to Switzerland where he found refuge with the family of Emil Frey (19) (21) (22). He issued a revolutionary newspaper while ordinary folks took up wearing flamboyantly romantic "Hecker" caps and sang the popular "Hecker Song." Though elected by a south Baden district to the National Assembly, its liberals denied him his seat. He tried to organize another revolt from his exile but failed. Hecker and his wife departed for America.
Friedrich Hecker was regarded as “the hero of 1848” both here and abroad. When he and his wife arrived in New York on October 5, 1848 he was escorted to the City Hall by a committee of the City Council and representatives of the German colony and was greeted by the mayor while a crowd of twenty thousand cheered (28). He went of tours of various cities where he went through a round of receptions as a revolutionary hero. He hoped to collect funds to support new assaults on the Prussian government. He soon learned, however, while many Americans cheered the Europeans rebel, they had little interest in financing them (2). In the spring of 1849 another uprising in Baden prompted Hecker to return to Europe to join the revolution but the movement was lost by the time he reached the German border and returned to American. He was finished with his German political and military involvement but his reputation and fame would follow him to America (21).
A variety of jobs took the ex-soldier and lawyer to Philadelphia, Cincinnati, and St. Louis. From St. Louis Hecker crossed the Mississippi River and purchased a farm near Belleville, Illinois where he became one of the famed “Latin Farmers”, German-Americans noted and named for their educational and intellectual attainments. Belleville was a thriving and well established German community. Many of the “forty eighters” had immigrated to American, got involved in politics and kept in touch with each other. There were only a few thousand “Forty-Eighters”, but their influence and visibility outweighed their modest numbers (2). Belleville was a central meeting place for them as a number of “forty-eighters” had settled there including Hecker who was known as “the Romantic of the Revolution”(28).
Hecker adapted himself to farming, breeding fine horses and cattle, and making excellent wine. He urged his countrymen to forget the past and settle down to hard labor as he had done. Yet he supplemented his farming income and occasionally went on extended lecture tours or political campaigns. He charged admission of fifty cents for his lectures. He published a biographical sketch of Thomas Paine and a German translation of his “Rights of Man” (28). Friedrich Hecker continued to earn a steady income from public speaking in both German and English. His politics mellowed and he would support the liberal wing of the Republican Party. Hecker’s fame and ability as a public speaker had the drawing power to make him a predominant figure in politics and educational advancement.
Carl Schurz, another German immigrant from the revolution of 1848, visited Friedrich Hecker at his farm in 1854 and found him a “pitiable figure.” He found a man once handsome and dignified wearing “a gray woolen shirt, baggy and shabby trousers and a pair of old carpet slippers”. Once a handsome man, Hecker in 1854 was haggard, and weary. Hecker’s farm was humble and he was living in the past because his present life was not worth living. Hecker complained of his malaria. “Ah, you will see what will become of an old revolutionist when he has to live on quinine pills” (2).
Hecker left his southern Illinois farm in 1861 after the Ft Sumter capture, crossed the Mississippi River and enlisted as a private in a three month German American regiment in St. Louis. Franz Sigel, a Baden revolutionary in the 1848 revolution, organized this Missouri volunteer unit against the secessionist state government. Hecker was fifty at the time. Gustave Koerner, a German American politician was interested in getting an Illinois regiment formed of German background. While in St. Louis Koerner visited Hecker, and found him thoroughly committed to the Union cause. Koener convinced Hecker to go to Chicago and become a part of the German regiment being formed in Chicago. Hecker’s reputation would be a big asset and major appeal to the German community in raising the regiment. The unit was to known as the” Hecker Regiment”.
Mr. Hecker’s personality, education and reputation would be an asset and a liability. Hecker depended on his oratorical abilities to resolve situations, even in military conflicts. He knew how to agitate and convince through his verbal abilities. His temperament was unsuited to complex situations and he had an uncontrollable temper. He was a brave man in combat but was extremely touchy about any slight. He was a man of great symbolic importance but utterly lacking any military gifts. Yet his service would be a remarkable performance for a man of his age and poor health condition (20.
Hecker arrived in Chicago to find that the “Hecker Regiment” existed primarily in the “imagination of its initiators”. “It was a humbug”, he told Mr. Koerner (2). He found officers in great numbers, but few privates. The Regiment held an election for officers on June 15, 1861. Frederick Hecker was elected Colonel. Because he was commanding the Lincoln Riflemen which were to become part of the 24th, Geza Mihalotzy was elected Lieutenant Colonel. Julian Kune was elected a Major.
Julian Kune was one of the “forty-eighters” as he was in the Hungarian army of liberation in 1848. Like Frederick Hecker, he was an exile and immigrated to the United States. Settling in Chicago in 1855, Julian Kune became a banker and a politician and became very involved in the nomination and election of Abraham Lincoln. The election of Governor Yates in the same election provided Kune the opportunity to increase his political influence in Illinois politics. He was elected an assistant clerk of the state Senate with an office in the State Capital where Abraham Lincoln established an office during the time between his election and his inauguration. During that time Kune became well acquainted with John Hay, Lincoln’s private secretary. (1)
Caspar Butz; George Schneider, editor of the Illinois Staats Zeitung newspaper, Anton Hesing, Cook County Sheriff; Lorenz Brentan, politician; approached Julian Kune to form a German speaking regiment. They also asked Charles Knobelsdorf who was a veteran of the Schleswig-Holstein armed forces and, who fought in the 1848 Hungarian revolution. Together, they agreed to form the regiment with Mr. Knobelsdorf planned to be the commander and Kune assistant commander (2).
Kune and Knobelsdorf began recruiting volunteers on May 1861. They established a camp on the south side of Chicago and a recruiting place in the city. After its original formation, the regiment occupied "Camp Robert Blum" on Cottage Grove Avenue near 35th street (a grove called Douglas Place). Later, this camp would be known as Camp Douglas and would become a prison location for Confederate soldiers.
Two German immigrant militia units, the Lincoln Riflemen, and the Union Cadets
had already been formed and were in three-month service in Cairo under the Illinois militia commander, Gen. Geo. B. McClellan. Since Julian Kune knew McClellan he was delegated to travel to Cairo to obtain approval from McClellan to incorporate these two units into the new regiment. Armed with a letter from Governor Yates asking for the release of the militia units, Kune obtained McClellan’s approval (1)
The Regiment now had to be accepted into the U.S. Army under the President's first call for 75,000 men to put down the rebellion. Mr. Kune and Mr. Knobelsdorf went to Washington expecting that the War Department would readily accept their regiment. After submitting the application to the War Department, they waited. Finally, they called on the Secretary of War in person and were informed the 75,000 quota had been exceeded and the regiment would not be needed in the U.S. Army. Kune's political connections again became invaluable. He knew Mr. John Hay from the Springfield days and Mr. Hay was now one of President Lincoln's private secretaries. Mr. Kune and Knobelsdorf with the help of Gen. Banks decided they needed to seek an interview with Mr. Lincoln himself to urge acceptance of the regiment. They decided to work through Mr. Hay to get a meeting with Lincoln (1).
Clad in the Austrian Jaeger Regiment uniforms, which caused quite an impression, the two Hungarians arrived at the White House only to find the corridors filled with people waiting to see the President. Many of them were on similar missions to get regimental acceptance into the Army. The question of how to gain admittance, while so many eminent statesmen were waiting, was quickly solved by their friend, John Hay. After sending their cards to Hay, he stepped to the door of his office and quietly asked them to step into his office. Without delaying them in his office, Mr. Hay led them into the President's room, where they found Salmon P. Chase and Gen. Banks, who evidently had spoken about them to the President. After being introduced to the President as Col. Knobelsdorf and Major Kune of the German-American Regiment, Mr. Lincoln said, "I see that Cameron (War Dept.) is opposed to accepting any more regiments. I am afraid I cannot help you, for (this with a twinkle in his eye) my influence with this administration don't amount to much." "Then again," he continued, "we have seventy-five thousand men already in the field, and if we should accept any more, we would not be able to feed them." Mr. Kune then replied, “Mr. President, you say that you have already seventy-five thousand men in the field. Permit me to tell you that it will take many times seventy-five thousand before this rebellion is put down; and as to the feeding proposition, the prairies of our own State of Illinois can raise more than enough to feed a million soldiers." Mr. Lincoln quietly handed the application to Mr. Hay with the remark: "John, enclose this paper with an order to the War Department to accept this regiment." (1) Thus, the 24th was accepted into the U.S. Army by personal order of the President of the United States, Abraham Lincoln.
When Kune and Knobelsdorf returned from Washington they learned, much to their surprise, Geza Mihalotzy of the Lincoln Riflemen militia unit was elected Lit. Colonel and Friedrich Hecker was elected Colonel and Kune was elected Major. Knobelsdorf was not included and was out. According to Major Kune, this was a clear breach of faith on the part of the officers of the regiment. He claimed this was the work of Col. Hecker (1). Kune swallowed bitter disappointment when Hecker took over. He wrote a personal letter to Governor Yates stating he feared the prospect of going into battle under the circumstances and asked permission to leave the Twenty-Fourth and raise a new regiment. His request was denied.
Geza Mihalotzy, also a “forty-eighter", was a native of Hungary and participated as an officer in the 1848 Hungarian uprising against the Austrian-Hungarian Empire. Mihalotzy served under Louis Kossuth who led the Hungarian uprising against the suppressed nationality groups of the Habsburg State. Eventually the Hungarians were forced to defend themselves not only from the Habsburgs but also the Czar of Russia who sent his armies to restore the Habsburg power (28). Kossuth fled to England and then to the United States. Geza Mihalotzy followed him to the United States and settled in Chicago where he was for years the proprietor of a drug store on Wells Street, near Madison (27).
Geza Mihalotzy wrote a letter on February 1861 to Julian Kune in Springfield where Abraham Lincoln had an office in the state capital building. Lincoln had been elected to the Presidency but remained in Springfield prior to his inauguration in March. He wrote to Kune:
Chicago, February 4, 1861
Dear Friend:
Will you do me the favor to present the enclosed letter to the gentleman addressed (Mr. Lincoln). We have organized a militia company under the name of “Lincoln Riflemen.” I have been elected Captain and Kovats Lieutenant of the same. The letter addressed to his excellency, Mr. Lincoln, containing a request for permission to use his name, you will please present first, if he is at home; if he is absent from Springfield, present it as soon as you have an opportunity. The second letter, addressed to his excellency, Gov. Yates, informs him of the organization of the company, and makes application for patent of commissioned officers elected according to law by the unanimous consent of the company, and also resolutions passed by the members. The third letter is an application for arms and accoutrements to the Adjutant-General of the State. We want Minnie Rifles. You will please exert your influence to the utmost in regard to the arms. Try and procure us good arms, as we are the first company of Hungarians and Bohemians formed in the United States. We wish to do honor to the country of our birth and the country of our adoption. I remain, respectfully yours,
Geza Mihalotzy (1)
Julian Kune presented the letters as requested. Lincoln approved the letter and asked Kune to forward his approval to Mihalotzy. The “Lincoln Rifleman” was formed as a militia unit and was mustered in for a three-month term. They were sent to Cairo, Illinois along with another Militia unit formed in Chicago made up of German immigrants called the Union Cadets. These units were under the command of Gen. Geo. B. McClellan who at that time was in command of the Illinois Militia. The Militia was sent to Cairo to check southern sympathizers in southern Illinois and to serve as a buffer to the southern leaning states of Kentucky and Missouri.
Mihalotzy expressed interest in having his militia unit incorporated into the 24th when the Chicago German Regiment was accepted into service of the Union. This request was granted as it would combine German backgrounds into the first all German regiment from Illinois. Mihalotzy was elected Lieutenant Colonel of the 24th, second in command to Colonel Hecker. This election of Mihalotzy and Hecker was a monumental surprise to Kune and Knobelsdorf when they returned from Washington after getting Lincoln’s approval for the 24th formation. Kune was elected a Major while Mr. Knobelsdorf was not elected to anything.
.. Letter From Mr. Mihalotzy to Abraham Lincoln Requesting Permission to Name His Company the Lincoln Riflemen Note: Abraham Lincoln's Reply
Original at Chicago Historical Society
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The commission of Geza Mihalotzy signed by Richard Yates, Governor of the State of Illinois. Original in the Illinois State Historical LIBRARY
Paul Vogel was born in Alsace, France, on March 24, 1842. He was born in the town of Behlenheim, a small farm village about twenty miles northwest of Strasbourg. Behlenheim is in the center of the Alsace region which for centuries has been under claim by the Germans and the French. The French were in control of the area when Paul Vogel's parents made the commitment to immigrate to America. It's possible they were escaping military conscription, hardships from the political situation or some form of financial problem.
Paul Vogel immigrated to the United States at the age of eleven. He came with his father (Paul Sr., age 28), mother (Barbara Suess Vogel, age 28), sisters (Barbara and Salome) and brothers (Christian and Jacob). Paul was the oldest child. They came on the ship, Zurich, from Havre, France. The family arrived in New York Feb. 3, 1853.
The Vogel’s originally settled in Napersville, Illinois about 35 miles southwest of Chicago. The family later moved to Wheeling, Illinois, Northwest of Chicago and in 1858 moved to Chicago. A sixth child was born to Paul Sr. and Barbara on January 12, 1855 and was named George Paul. George Paul would be the grandfather to Clarence, Robert, Harry and Edward Vogel.
Paul left the family and “went to work for myself, and further I never was with them afterwards” (13). The 1860 census in Chicago showed Paul's family was living in ward #7. The same 1860 census shows Paul Vogel was living in a hotel in the fourth ward. There were thirty-one other men shown at the hotel, including tailors, clerks, bookkeepers, blacksmiths, etc. Many were shown as having been born in Prussia. Paul was listed as twenty years old but he was really eighteen. We see this age deviation several times in Paul's records.
Paul was a member of the Turner Society of Chicago. This society formed a militia unit when the government made the first call for 75,000 men to put down the rebellion. Paul Vogel enlisted in this militia unit for a three-month term of duty on April 17, 1861. The unit, known as the “Turner Union Cadets” was sent to Cairo, Illinois and was attached to the 7th Ill. Infantry commanded by Gen. McClellan. Before the three-month duty was over, McClellan gave approval for the unit to be transported to Alton and be enlisted into the 24th Illinois as Co. G. It was at this time that Paul Vogel signed on with the 24th for a three-year enlistment (13).
COMPANY MUSTER ROLL
These are copies of the official records from the National Archives showing the Company Muster-in Roll of Pvt. Paul Vogel. It shows he enlisted May10, 1861 for three months. Later, at Camp Pope near Alton, Illinois, he enlisted for a period of three years. Bounty paid for his enlistment was $100.00.
Lieutenant Emil Frey
Emil Frey was born in Germany and was the son of liberal leader of the separatist’s movement and who eventually served as President of the government of Basel-Land (31). Emil’s farther was a friend and associate of Frederick Hecker who gave Hecker refuge when he fled to Switzerland after the 1848 revolution (31). When Emil Frey immigrated to the United States he found himself in central Illinois in the “Latin Farmers” region around Belleville, the area which became the magnet for the “forty eighters” of the 1848 German revolution.
Friedrich Hecker provided employment to Mr. Frey but there was a falling out and Emil lost his employment status on Hecker’s farm. Emil Frey asked for his back pay but Hecker refused to give it to him. Frey had a very bad time in getting work and finally found work picking strawberries, which was very hot and backbreaking. He became ill and was fired from that job. He tried work as a packer, an errand boy, a bootblack and other such jobs. Finally getting desperate, he wrote to Colonel Hecker in Chicago to sign up in his regiment. Hecker welcomed him by letter and on June 17 set out from Quincy to join the 24th. He reported to Colonel Hecker at 10 o’clock on June 18th and was sworn in immediately (31).
Hecker made him ensign of the regiment, which gave him responsibility for the regimental flags. During Hecker’s speech accepting the flag he said: “To you, the son of my friend, I now turn over the flag, the external symbol of the regiment’s honor.” Hecker favored Frey and in the beginning Frey shared a tent with Hecker’s son. Frey soon received promotions from Hecker and eventually ended up as a lieutenant.
Off To War, Chicago, June, 1861
Much work had to be done in Chicago to organize and build up the newly formed Twenty-Fourth Illinois Volunteer Infantry Regiment. Hecker’s arrival in Chicago presented to him a very discouraging state of affairs and he told Mr. Koerner the whole situation “was a Humbug” and the regiment exists primarily in the “imagination of its initiators” (2). While there were plenty of officers there were few privates.
The 24th was an independent unit until it was mustered into the U.S. Army service at Chicago on July 8, 1861 for a three-month period. After the election of officers on June 15, 1861 the regiment began to take shape even though the results of the election was not sitting well with many of the newly elected officers. Although an overwhelming number of the officers were from the European wars of independence of 1848 and the regiment spoke German, there was not a spirit of cohesiveness. Frederick Hecker, a German, was the commander with the rank of Colonel. Geza Mihalotzy, a Hungarian, probably was elected Lieutenant Colonel and second in command to appease the Hungarian faction in the regiment and because he was bringing in the “Lincoln Riflemen” militia company. The German speaking Hungarians and the German officers did not mix well. Hecker’s abrasive, unforgiving, and temperamental personality exaggerated this situation. Yet Hecker’s presence contributed to the successful regimental formation. His fame and reputation was extremely helpful in attracting recruits and whole companies of militia units such as the “Lincoln Riflemen” and the “Union Cadets”. Despite his age of fifty, Hecker presented a degree of enthusiasm, respect, and authority necessary to get the regiment put together in such a short period of time. He was a taskmaster in the beginning and that was necessary. The influence of Hecker can not be under stated - the 24th was called “The Hecker Jaeger Regiment”.
Recruits flowed in to "Camp Robert Blum" on Cottage Grove Avenue in Chicago, which was named after a victim of the 1848-war (28). Mostly they were men born in Germanic regions of Europe and immigrated to America with their families to escape the oppression and lack of freedom. Most of them spoke German. Now they volunteered to fight for their adopted country to preserve the Union. Their European backgrounds of oppression caused them to be anti-slavery and were very pro Lincoln. Their willingness to eagerly serve their adopted country is underscored by the fact this regiment would be the first full regiment to go into service from the Chicago area (24).
Finally, it was time to depart Chicago. A very pleasant scene took place at Camp Robert Blum with the presentation of the colors to the regiment. The regiment marched in dress parade at Camp Robert Blum to receive the magnificent colors, which were the gift at a cost of $300.00 of Mr. Ludwig and Mr. Mueller. They were beautiful banners made of double weighted silk. The first was the national flag with the Stars and Stripes in red, white and blue with yellow stars as was the custom at that time. The name, "24th Regt. Ill. Vol." was in gold lettering on the fourth red stripe from the top. The second flag was the regimental colors. It had a dark blue background with silk gold fringe. There was an eagle with spread wings, red ribbons and yellow stars in circular formation (25).
All the companies were lined up before Col. Hecker and his staff and Col. Pitcher, U. S. Army mustering officer. A number of the home guard units were present along with large numbers of spectators. The Great Western Band furnished the music. Otto Ludwig made the presentation of the colors and spoke in German: “Soldiers of the Hecker Jaeger Regiment, you behold the glorious Stars and Stripes, the banner of the Union. We give it into your charge, knowing that you will defend it”. Mr. L Brentano followed in a brief spirited speech urging they should protect the flag of the freest country the world ever saw. Three deafening cheers were given with great enthusiasm (24).
It was now Col. Hecker’s turn to display his oratorical abilities so famous in European revolution of 1848 and he did indeed generate much emotion. As he received the colors he spoke in his native language:
“Soldiers! Comrades! It is now twelve years ago that I stood opposed in strife to the despotisms of Europe, and took up arms against them in behalf of freedom and independence. I now take a solemn oath to here defend the same.” (24)
Hecker laid his sword against the flag as he said this and the affect was electric. Few speakers could have more of an impression on the recruits and spectators than Col. Hecker could. A large roar arose from the line as he continued:
“If we shall come to an engagement with the traitors to liberty, I will be your leader. I, on foot, will ask you to follow men, and if I fall, I only ask you to bring me back from the field having revenged me. My hair is gray, the last hours of my life are not far off, but the arms I have taken up for our dear adopted country shall only be laid down with life. I will lead you to victory. Will you follow this flag?”(24).
Hecker then turned the flag over to the regiment ensign, Emil Frey (31). The crowd roared with tears, shouts and yells. They gave cheer after cheer with three cheers for the flag, three cheers for the Union and three cheers for Hecker (24).
It was now time to make preparations for departure. Women and children, fathers and mothers said their goodbye to their husbands, sons and fathers. Many would not return and many would leave as boys and return as men with experience and mental tribulations beyond comprehension.
The breaking of camp at Camp Robert Blum made rapid progress and by 5 o’clock the column was in marching order and filed out into Cottage Grove Avenue. Led off by the Great Western Band and escorted by a militia unit called the Hoffman Dragoons, the regiment moved up Cottage Grove Avenue to State Street, over to Twelfth and Clark streets to Madison, crossing the bridge over the Chicago River at Madison to the West Side Union Depot. Along their whole march the regiment was received with great enthusiasm (24). They left in a special train of twenty cars of the St. Louis, Alton and Chicago RR at 8 o’clock on June 18, 1861. They were on their way to Camp Pope at Alton, Illinois. Little camp equipment was taken as this would be supplied along with uniforms and arms upon arrival at Alton (24).
Camp Pope, Alton, Illinois, June, 1861
The regiment traveled all night by train and arrived on the morning of the 19th, 1861at Camp Alton, located in a valley north of town. Alton, Illinois is located on the Mississippi River opposite Missouri, up river of St. Louis.
The Chicago German Turners militia unit joined the 24th in Alton. The Turner Society of Chicago had formed a three-month militia unit prior to the official formation of the 24th. The Chicago German Turners unit was sent to Cairo, Illinois and was attached to the 7th Illinois Infantry. Before the three month term of service was up the company moved to Alton and was enlisted under the 24th as company G. (13) The reports of Co. G indicates: “July 8 - This company (G) enrolled forty-six men at Alton. This company was mustered into the United States service with forty-six men. August 18 - Enrolled eighteen men at Ironton, making the minimum number of men for a company organization.” Some of the men who were originally signed for three months refused to sign for a period of three years. They were mustered out, paid for their three months service and left the company. In order to maintain the minimum number of men in the Company, additional recruits were added. Most of the men in the company did sign up for the full three years. They served for the duration of the life of the regiment, were wounded, died in battle, or died of disease. Out of a total of 102 officers and men originally associated with Co. G, only thirty (30) men were mustered out at the end of their three year term.
The “Lincoln Rifles” under the command of Lt. Col. Geza Mihalotzy also arrived from Cairo where they were under service as a militia unit. The “Lincoln Rifles” were dressed in gray jackets and glistening rifles and “excited the admiration of all recruits” as they arrived in Alton (3). Since most of the 24th arrived from Chicago without arms and uniforms, the arrival of the Lincoln Rifles and the Turner Militia must have been created quite a stir for the men.
Additional companies were added to the regiment from enlistees from down state Illinois. Two German companies had been organized in Ottawa and Bloomington and were incorporated into the 24th. Many of the men were from Bloomington, Ottawa, Alton, Morris and Mendota.
On July 16, the Great Western band arrived in camp and became the regimental band. The Regimental Surgeon, Dr. William Wagner, indicates the band ".... Contributed not a little in establishing a consciousness of duty and responsibility, and also in keeping the men in good spirits" (3).
One of the first orders of business was the official mustering in of the regiment into US service on July 8, 1861. The officers were mustered in as well for the staff headquarters. The following is recorded in the official records: “Muster-in roll of field and staff of the Independent Hecker Jaeger Regiment of United States Volunteers, commanded by Colonel Frederick Hecker, called into the service of the United States by the President from July 8, 1861 (date of this muster) for the term of three years, unless sooner discharged. I certify, on honor, that I have mustered the officers whose names are borne on this roll, their horses and equipment, and have mustered them into the service of the United States for the term of three year, unless sooner discharged. Thomas Gamble Pitcher, Captain, Eighth Infantry, Mustering Officer (15).
While at Camp Pope, the men learned elementary schooling in such factors as marching, the proper handling of firearms, company drill, etc. Since most of the officers had military experience in Hungary, Germany and Austria, the 24th ranks received better training than many of the newly formed units. Since the unit spoke German, the drilling must have been quite a scene to the soldiers of other regiments from down state Illinois. Colonel Hecker was a heavy disciplinarian. The colonel’s vocabulary of profanity expressed in a mixture of German and English was legendary. Slackers and incompetents in the Twenty-Fourth Illinois got the full force of his tongue (5).
The Twenty-Fourth Illinois Regiment was made up of the headquarters, which included field and staff and non-commissioned staff. There was a band with thirteen members under the leadership of William Berkhardt. There were ten companies identified as Companies A through K. No J Company was indicated which was normal to do in the early-formed regiments. Company G originally was under the command of Captain Julius Standan, First Lieutenant George A. Guenther, Second Lieutenant Peter Hand and First Sergeant Edward Bornemann. Peter Hand would later return to Chicago to form the Peter Hand Brewery Co. Edward Bornemann would later become the last Commander of Company G. There were one hundred and two men shown to be in Company G. Authorized manning of the 24th was 808 men. However, Major Kune later reported there were 1200 men in the regiment when the 24th entered Missouri (1).
The regiments were organized into brigades, divisions and corps. A Union brigade commander would be a brigadier general or a colonel. The brigade commander would have a staff of a few aides-de-camp, an assistant adjutant general, a brigade surgeon, an assistant quartermaster, a brigade commissary officer plus a few enlisted clerks. There would be four or five regiments in a brigade and the division usually had two or three brigades. Two or three divisions plus a brigade of four or five artillery batteries comprised a Corp, which averaged between 9,000 and 13,500 men and between twenty (20) and forty-six (46) pieces of artillery. An army would have a number of corps. The Army of the Potomac, for example, had seven infantry corps and one Corp of cavalry.
The Twenty-Fourth would remain together for the term of their enlistment. They would, however, be in various brigades, divisions, corps, divisions and Armies. They would always be in the Western operations of the war.
