Franz Sigel

Franz Sigel (November 18, 1824 – August 21, 1902) was a German military officer and immigrant to the United States who was a teacher, newspaperman, politician, and served as a Union general in the American Civil War. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (693x1024, 104 KB) This image has been released into the public domain by the copyright holder, its copyright has expired, or it is ineligible for copyright. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (693x1024, 104 KB) This image has been released into the public domain by the copyright holder, its copyright has expired, or it is ineligible for copyright. ... November 18 is the 322nd day of the year (323rd in leap years), with 43 remaining. ... 1824 was a leap year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... August 21 is the 233rd day of the year (234th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1902 (MCMII) was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... The 21st Michigan Infantry, a company of Shermans veterans. ... General is a high military rank, used by nearly every country in the world. ... The American Civil War (1861–1865) was fought in North America within the United States of America, between twenty-four mostly northern states of the Union and the Confederate States of America, a coalition of eleven southern states that declared their independence and claimed the right of secession from the...

Sigel was born in Sinsheim, Baden (which later became part of Germany). He graduated from Karlsruhe Military Academy in 1843 and was commissioned a lieutenant in the Baden Army. He got to know the revolutionaries Friedrich Hecker and Gustav von Struve and became associated with the revolutionary movement. He was wounded in a duel in 1847. The same year he retired from the army to begin law school studies in Heidelberg. After organizing a revolutionary free corps in Mannheim and later in the Seekreis county, he soon became a leader of the Baden revolutionary forces (with the rank of colonel) in the 1848 Revolution, being one of the few revolutionaries with military command experience. In April 1848, he led the "Sigel-Zug", recruiting a militia of more than 4,000 volunteers to lead a siege against the city of Freiburg. His army was annihilated on April 23, 1848 by the better-equipped and more experienced Prussian and Württemberg troops. After Prussia suppressed the revolution, he fled to Switzerland and then to England. Sigel emigrated to the United States in 1852, like many other German "Forty-Eighters". Sinsheim is a town in southwestern Germany, in the state Baden-Württemberg in the district Rhein-Neckar between Heidelberg and Heilbronn. ... 1843 was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... A Lieutenant is a military, paramilitary or police officer. ... For other uses, see Baden (disambiguation). ... Friedrich Franz Karl Hecker (September 28, 1811 - March 24, 1881), German revolutionary, was born at Eichtersheim in the Palatinate, his father being a revenue official. ... Gustav Struve, known as Gustav von Struve until he gave up his title, was born 11 October 1805 in Munich, Germany and died 21 August 1870 in Vienna, Austria. ... 1847 was a common year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ... // A law school is an institution where future lawyers obtain legal degrees. ... Heidelberg (halfway between Stuttgart and Frankfurt) is a city in Baden-Württemberg, Germany. ... Basic information Country: Germany Federal state: Land Baden-Württemberg Regions: Rhein-Neckar District: Independent municipality Population: 324,787 (Mai 2005) Additional information Area: 144. ... It has been suggested that polkovnik be merged into this article or section. ... // Preliminaries Germany at the time of the Revolutions of 1848 was a hodgepodge of over 30 states loosely bound together in the German Confederation after the Congress of Vienna in 1815. ... Freiburg city from Schlossberg Freiburg im Breisgau is a city in Baden-Württemberg, Germany, in the Breisgau region, on the western edge of the southern Black Forest (German: Schwarzwald) with about 214,000 inhabitants. ... April 23 is the 113th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (114th in leap years). ... 1848 is a leap year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The coat of arms of the Kingdom of Prussia, 1701-1918 The word Prussia (German: Preußen, Polish: Prusy, Lithuanian: PrÅ«sai, Latin: Borussia) has had various (often contradictory) meanings: The land of the Baltic Prussians (in what is now parts of southern Lithuania, the Kaliningrad exclave of Russia and... Württemberg (often spelled Wurttemberg in English) refers to an area and a former state in Swabia, a region in south-western Germany. ... The coat of arms of the Kingdom of Prussia, 1701-1918 The word Prussia (German: Preußen, Polish: Prusy, Lithuanian: PrÅ«sai, Latin: Borussia) has had various (often contradictory) meanings: The land of the Baltic Prussians (in what is now parts of southern Lithuania, the Kaliningrad exclave of Russia and... Wikimedia Commons has media related to: England Travel guide to England from Wikitravel English language English law English (people) List of monarchs of England – Kings of England family tree List of English people Angeln (region in northern Germany, presumably the origin of the Angles for whom England is named) UK... 1852 was a leap year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... The Forty-Eighters were Germans who traveled to the United States and Australia after the Revolutions of 1848. ...

Sigel taught in the New York City public schools and served in the state militia. In 1857 he became a professor at the German-American Institute in St. Louis. He was elected director of the St. Louis public schools in 1860. He was influential in the Missouri emigrant community and attracted Germans to the Union and anti-slavery causes when he openly supported them in 1861. The city is at the center of international finance, politics, entertainment, and culture, and is one of the worlds major global cities (along with London, Tokyo and Paris) with a virtually unrivaled collection of museums, galleries, performance venues, media outlets, international corporations, and stock exchanges. ... 1857 was a common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... The Gateway Arch, shown here behind the Old Courthouse, is the most recognizable part of the St. ... 1860 is the leap year starting on Sunday. ... Map of the division of the states during the Civil War. ... 1861 is a common year starting on Tuesday. ...

At the start of the war. Sigel recruited and organized an expedition to southwest Missouri and fought the Battle of Carthage, defeating 8,000 Confederates with only 800 of his own men. He was commissioned colonel of the 3rd Missouri Infantry on May 4, 1861. President Abraham Lincoln was actively seeking the support of anti-slavery, Unionist immigrants. Sigel was a good candidate to advance this plan and he was promoted to brigadier general two weeks later. Battle of Carthage, from Harpers Weekly The Battle of Carthage was a battle of the American Civil War, occurring on July 5, 1861 in Jasper County, Missouri. ... For other meanings of confederate and confederacy, see confederacy (disambiguation) National Motto Deo Vindice (Latin: Under God our Vindicator) Official language English de facto nationwide Various European and Native American languages regionally Capital Montgomery, Alabama February 4, 1861–May 29, 1861 Richmond, Virginia May 29, 1861–April 9, 1865 Largest... It has been suggested that polkovnik be merged into this article or section. ... May 4 is the 124th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (125th in leap years). ... 1861 is a common year starting on Tuesday. ... The President of the United States (unofficially abbreviated POTUS) is the head of state of the United States. ... Abraham Lincoln (February 12, 1809 – April 15, 1865), sometimes called Abe Lincoln and nicknamed Honest Abe, the Rail Splitter, and the Great Emancipator, was the 16th President of the United States (1861 to 1865), and the first president from the Republican Party. ... A Brigadier General, or one-star general, is the lowest rank of general officer in the United States and some other countries, ranking just above Colonel and just below Major General. ...

Sigel served under Nathaniel Lyon in the capture of the Confederate Camp Jackson in St. Louis and at the Battle of Wilson's Creek, where his command was routed. His finest performance came on March 8, 1862, at the Battle of Pea Ridge where he commanded two divisions and personally directed the Union artillery in the defeat of Major General Earl Van Dorn. Nathaniel Lyon Nathaniel Lyon (July 14, 1818 - August 10, 1861) was the first Union general to be killed in the American Civil War and is noted for his action in the state of Missouri at the beginning of the conflict. ... Battle of Wilsons Creek Conflict American Civil War Date August 10, 1861 Place Greene County and Christian County, Missouri Result Confederate victory The Battle of Wilsons Creek, also known as the Battle of Oak Hills or the First Battle of Springfield, was a battle in the American Civil... March 8 poster from Portugal March 8 is the 67th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (68th in Leap years). ... 1862 was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... The Battle of Pea Ridge (also known as The Battle of Elkhorn Tavern) was a land battle of the American Civil War which occurred on 7 March 1862 at Pea Ridge in northwest Arkansas, near Bentonville. ... Earl Van Dorn Earl Van Dorn (September 17, 1820 – May 7, 1863) was a Confederate Major General during the American Civil War. ...

Sigel was promoted to major general on March 21, 1862. He served as a division commander in the Shenandoah Valley and fought unsuccessfully against Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson, who managed to outwit and defeat the larger Union force in a number of small engagements. He commanded the I Corps in John Pope's Army of Virginia at the Second Battle of Bull Run, another Union defeat, where he was wounded in the hand. March 21 is the 80th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (81st in leap years). ... 1862 was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... Canoeing on the Shenandoah River near Winchester, VA. The Shenandoah Valley region of western Virginia, from Winchester to Staunton, is bounded by the Blue Ridge mountains to the East and the Allegheny mountains to the West. ... For the 1960s country music artist, see Stonewall Jackson (musician); for the submarine, see USS Stonewall Jackson (SSBN-634). ... Unit Distinctive_Unit_Insignia of the United States Army I Corps, Americas Corps. ... Major General John Pope John Pope (March 18, 1822 – September 23, 1892) was a career Army officer and general in the American Civil War. ... The Army of Virginia was organized as a major unit of the Union Army and operated briefly and unsuccessfully in 1862 in the American Civil War. ... The Second Battle of Bull Run, also known as the Second Battle of Manassas, was fought August 30, 1862, as the major battle in the Northern Virginia Campaign of the American Civil War. ...

Over the winter of 1862–1863 Sigel commanded the XI Corps, consisting primarily of German immigrant soldiers in the Army of the Potomac. During this period, the corps saw no action; it stayed in reserve during the Battle of Fredericksburg. Sigel had developed a reputation as an inept general, but his ability to recruit and motivate German immigrants kept him alive in a politically sensitive position. Many of these soldiers could speak little English beyond "I fights mit Sigel", which was their proud slogan. They were quite disgruntled when Sigel left the corps in February, 1863, and he was replaced by Oliver O. Howard, who had no immigrant affinities. Fortunately for Sigel, the two black marks in the XI Corps' reputation—Chancellorsville and Gettysburg—would occur after he was relieved. 1862 was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... 1863 is a common year starting on Thursday. ... The XI Corps (Eleventh Corps) was a corps of the Union Army during the American Civil War, best remembered for its humiliating defeats at the battles of Chancellorsville and Gettysburg in 1863. ... Generals Burnside, Hancock, Couch, Ferro, Patrick, Wilcox, Cochrane, Buford and others. ... The Battle of Fredericksburg, fought on December 13, 1862 between General Robert E. Lees Army of Northern Virginia and the Army of the Potomac commanded by Maj. ... February is the second month of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1863 is a common year starting on Thursday. ... Portrait of Oliver O. Howard by Mathew Brady, ca. ... The Battle of Chancellorsville was a major battle of the American Civil War in 1863. ... Main article: Gettysburg Campaign The Battle of Gettysburg (July 1–3, 1863), fought in and around the town of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, as part of the Gettysburg Campaign, was the largest battle ever fought in North America, and is generally considered to be the turning point of the American Civil War. ...

The reason for Sigel's relief is unclear. Some accounts cite failing health; others that he expressed his displeasure at the small size of his corps and asked to be relieved. General-in-chief Henry W. Halleck detested Sigel and managed to keep him relegated to light duty in eastern Pennsylvania until March, 1864. President Lincoln, needing political assistance in his quest for renomination, directed Secretary of War Edwin M. Stanton to place Sigel in command of the new Department of West Virginia. Henry Wager Halleck (1815 - 1872) was an American soldier and politician. ... State nickname: The Keystone State Official languages None Capital Harrisburg Largest city Philadelphia Governor Ed Rendell (D) Senators Arlen Specter (R) Rick Santorum (R) Area  - Total  - % water Ranked 33rd 119,283 km² 2. ... March is the third month of the year in the Gregorian Calendar and one of seven Gregorian months with the length of 31 days. ... 1864 was a leap year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ... Edwin M. Stanton Edwin McMasters Stanton (December 19, 1814 – December 24, 1869), was an American lawyer, politician and Secretary of War through most of the American Civil War and in the Reconstruction era. ... State nickname: Mountain State Other U.S. States Capital Charleston Largest city Charleston Governor Joe Manchin (D) Senators Robert Byrd (D) Jay Rockefeller (D) Official languages English Area 62,809 km² (41st)  - Land 62,436 km²  - Water 376 km² (0. ...

In his new command, Sigel opened the Valley Campaigns of 1864, launching an invasion of the Shenandoah Valley. He was soundly defeated by John C. Breckenridge at the Battle of New Market, on May 15, 1864, which was particularly embarrassing due to the prominent role young cadets from the Virginia Military Institute played in his defeat. In July he fought Jubal A. Early at Harpers Ferry, but soon afterwards was relieved of his command for "lack of aggression" and replaced by David Hunter. Eastern Theater operations in 1864 The Valley Campaigns of 1864 were American Civil War operations and battles that took place in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia from May to October, 1864. ... Canoeing on the Shenandoah River near Winchester, VA. The Shenandoah Valley region of western Virginia, from Winchester to Staunton, is bounded by the Blue Ridge mountains to the East and the Allegheny mountains to the West. ... John Cabell Breckinridge (January 16, 1821–May 17, 1875) was a U.S. Representative and a Senator from Kentucky and the fourteenth Vice President of the United States. ... The Battle of New Market was a battle fought on May 15, 1864, in Virginia during Valley Campaigns of 1864 in the American Civil War. ... May 15 is the 135th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (136th in leap years). ... 1864 was a leap year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ... July is the seventh month of the year in the Gregorian Calendar and one of seven Gregorian months with the length of 31 days. ... Jubal Anderson Early (November 3, 1816 – March 2, 1894) was a lawyer and Confederate general in the American Civil War. ... Harpers Ferry, West Virginia 1865. ... David Hunter David Hunter (July 21, 1802 – February 2, 1886) was a Union general in the American Civil War. ...

Sigel resigned his commission on May 4, 1865, and worked as a journalist in Baltimore, and as a newspaper editor in New York City. He filled a variety of political positions there, both as a Democrat and a Republican. In 1887, President Grover Cleveland appointed him pension agent for the city of New York. Franz Sigel died in New York in 1902 and is buried there in Woodlawn Cemetery. May 4 is the 124th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (125th in leap years). ... 1865 is a common year starting on Sunday. ... This article is about the city in the US state of Maryland. ... The city is at the center of international finance, politics, entertainment, and culture, and is one of the worlds major global cities (along with London, Tokyo and Paris) with a virtually unrivaled collection of museums, galleries, performance venues, media outlets, international corporations, and stock exchanges. ... The Democratic Party, founded in 1792, is the longest-standing political party in the world. ... The Republican Party, often called the GOP (for Grand Old Party), is a political party and is one of the two major political parties in the United States (the other being the Democratic Party). ... 1887 is a common year starting on Saturday (click on link for calendar). ... Stephen Grover Cleveland (March 18, 1837–June 24, 1908) was the 22nd (1885–1889) and 24th (1893–1897) President of the United States, and the only President to serve two non-consecutive terms. ... 1902 (MCMII) was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ...

References

• Eicher, John H., & Eicher, David J.: Civil War High Commands, Stanford University Press, 2001, ISBN 0-8047-3641-3