Preoccupied with trying to unify the various German states under its banner, Prussia did not participate in the American Civil War. However, several members of the Prussian military served as officers and enlisted men in both armies, just as numerous men who previously immigrated to the United States. Also, official military observers were sent to North America to observe the tactics of both armies, which were later studied by future military leaders of Prussia and then the unified Germany.
Among the effects that Prussia had on the war was the new saddle used by the Union cavalry: Union General George McClellan had studied Prussian saddles and used them as a basis for his McClellan saddle.[1]
In the Confederacy, the most famous Prussian was Heros von Borcke, an officer serving on the staff of cavalry commander Jeb Stuart. The highest-ranking Prussian immigrant in the Confederate States Army was Adolphus Heiman, a veteran of the Mexican–American War who became a colonel and probably a brigadier general before he died in 1862. Baron Robert von Massow, the son of the King of Prussia's chamberlain, served under John S. Mosby in the 43rd Virginia Cavalry Battalion, known as Mosby's Rangers. Massow would later serve as commander of the German IX Corps just prior to World War I.[3]Justus Scheibert was a Prussian military observer who for seven months followed Robert E. Lee's actions at several battles, including the Battle of Chancellorsville and the Battle of Gettysburg in 1863. Upon returning to Prussia in 1864, Scheibert wrote down his observations and placed them in several of Prussia's best libraries. From there what Scheibert learned helped Prussia and later unified Germany in five different wars.[4]
Official actionedit
Most of the small German states were too interested in the current events of Europe to concern themselves with the American war, but they tended to sympathize with the Union's attempt to defeat the Confederacy.[citation needed] As major powers, Prussia and its rival German state, the Austrian Empire, were more interested, but on the whole, they were still less involved in the war than the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and the Second French Empire were.[5] In regard to Sherman's actions in Georgia, Prussian General Helmuth von Moltke said that "an armed mob" had nothing of value to be learned from. In response, Sherman compared Moltke to an "ass".[6] There is some evidence that the story is apocryphal since Sherman, appearing before the Mixed Commission of American and British Claims (1871), was quoted as saying, "Moltke was never fool enough to say that. I have seen Moltke in person; I did not presume to ask him the question because I did not presume he was such an ass to say that. The Prussian army learned many a lesson and profited from them by our war and their officers were prompt to acknowledge it."[7]
In 1862, British Foreign Secretary Lord John Russell tried unsuccessfully to have Prussia take part along with France and Russia to seek an armistice to end the war.[8]
Cartmell, Donald (2001). The Civil War book of lists. Career Press. ISBN1-56414-504-2. Retrieved 25 April 2009.
Glatthaar, Joseph (2001). The American Civil War: the war in the West, 1863-1865. Osprey Publishing. ISBN1-84176-242-3.
Heidler, David (2002). Encyclopedia Of The American Civil War. W. W. Norton & Company. ISBN0-393-04758-X.
Mackey, Robert (2005). The Uncivil War: Irregular Warfare in the Upper South, 1861-1865. University of Oklahoma Press. ISBN0-8061-3736-3.
O'Brien, Cormac (2007). Secret Lives of the Civil War: What Your Teachers Never Told You about the War Between the States. Quirk Books. ISBN1-59474-138-7.
Robins, Edward (1905). William T. Sherman. George W. Jacobs & Co. ISBN1-56414-504-2. Retrieved 11 July 2013.
Scheibert, Justus (2001). Frederic Trautmann (ed.). A Prussian observes the American Civil War: the military studies of Justus Scheibert. University of Missouri Press. ISBN0-8262-1348-0.
February 16, 2024
prussia, american, civil, preoccupied, with, trying, unify, various, german, states, under, banner, prussia, participate, american, civil, however, several, members, prussian, military, served, officers, enlisted, both, armies, just, numerous, previously, immi. Preoccupied with trying to unify the various German states under its banner Prussia did not participate in the American Civil War However several members of the Prussian military served as officers and enlisted men in both armies just as numerous men who previously immigrated to the United States Also official military observers were sent to North America to observe the tactics of both armies which were later studied by future military leaders of Prussia and then the unified Germany Among the effects that Prussia had on the war was the new saddle used by the Union cavalry Union General George McClellan had studied Prussian saddles and used them as a basis for his McClellan saddle 1 Contents 1 Individuals 2 Official action 3 Notes 4 ReferencesIndividuals editSix generals who fought for the Union were Prussian born The highest ranking was Maj Gen Peter J Osterhaus a corps commander who served under William Tecumseh Sherman in the March to the Sea Carl Schurz was a famous political appointment who later became Secretary of the Interior Karl Leopold Matthies was involved in charging Missionary Ridge in Chattanooga Tennessee only to be wounded Alexander Schimmelfennig avoided capture for two days at the Battle of Gettysburg by hiding in a pigsty August Willich was captured at the Battle of Stones River and was wounded at the Battle of Resaca The other was Frederick Salomon brother of the wartime governor of Wisconsin Edward Salomon 2 In the Confederacy the most famous Prussian was Heros von Borcke an officer serving on the staff of cavalry commander Jeb Stuart The highest ranking Prussian immigrant in the Confederate States Army was Adolphus Heiman a veteran of the Mexican American War who became a colonel and probably a brigadier general before he died in 1862 Baron Robert von Massow the son of the King of Prussia s chamberlain served under John S Mosby in the 43rd Virginia Cavalry Battalion known as Mosby s Rangers Massow would later serve as commander of the German IX Corps just prior to World War I 3 Justus Scheibert was a Prussian military observer who for seven months followed Robert E Lee s actions at several battles including the Battle of Chancellorsville and the Battle of Gettysburg in 1863 Upon returning to Prussia in 1864 Scheibert wrote down his observations and placed them in several of Prussia s best libraries From there what Scheibert learned helped Prussia and later unified Germany in five different wars 4 Official action editMost of the small German states were too interested in the current events of Europe to concern themselves with the American war but they tended to sympathize with the Union s attempt to defeat the Confederacy citation needed As major powers Prussia and its rival German state the Austrian Empire were more interested but on the whole they were still less involved in the war than the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and the Second French Empire were 5 In regard to Sherman s actions in Georgia Prussian General Helmuth von Moltke said that an armed mob had nothing of value to be learned from In response Sherman compared Moltke to an ass 6 There is some evidence that the story is apocryphal since Sherman appearing before the Mixed Commission of American and British Claims 1871 was quoted as saying Moltke was never fool enough to say that I have seen Moltke in person I did not presume to ask him the question because I did not presume he was such an ass to say that The Prussian army learned many a lesson and profited from them by our war and their officers were prompt to acknowledge it 7 In 1862 British Foreign Secretary Lord John Russell tried unsuccessfully to have Prussia take part along with France and Russia to seek an armistice to end the war 8 Notes edit O Brien p 62 Cartmell p 85 Mackey p 82 Scheibert p xi xii Heidler p 718 Glatthaar p 91 Robins p 273 Heidler p 1685References editCartmell Donald 2001 The Civil War book of lists Career Press ISBN 1 56414 504 2 Retrieved 25 April 2009 Glatthaar Joseph 2001 The American Civil War the war in the West 1863 1865 Osprey Publishing ISBN 1 84176 242 3 Heidler David 2002 Encyclopedia Of The American Civil War W W Norton amp Company ISBN 0 393 04758 X Mackey Robert 2005 The Uncivil War Irregular Warfare in the Upper South 1861 1865 University of Oklahoma Press ISBN 0 8061 3736 3 O Brien Cormac 2007 Secret Lives of the Civil War What Your Teachers Never Told You about the War Between the States Quirk Books ISBN 1 59474 138 7 Robins Edward 1905 William T Sherman George W Jacobs amp Co ISBN 1 56414 504 2 Retrieved 11 July 2013 Scheibert Justus 2001 Frederic Trautmann ed A Prussian observes the American Civil War the military studies of Justus Scheibert University of Missouri Press ISBN 0 8262 1348 0 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Prussia and the American Civil War amp oldid 1072642914, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
