A German regiment in the Civil War: The 45th New York State Volunteer Infantry "5th German Rifles"

Military Images, Mar/Apr 2000 by Halpin, William J

The Revolution of 1848 and the other troubles of that time in the Germanic states of Europe drove thousands of Germans, many of them ex-military men, to the shores of America. Known as "Forty-eighters," these refugees from European turmoil had deep republican sentiments for which they were willing to fight in the new land. Within days of Abraham Lincoln's call for 75,000 volunteers, Germans such as Alexander von Schimmelfennig were organizing ethnic regiments. The "I st German Rifles" -- 8th New York Volunteers -- had been organized under Louis Blenker, a colorful Forty-eighter from Worms in Germany's Rhineland.

The 8th N.Y. captured the imagination of New York City and recruiting among Germans continued at a hectic pace. The 45th New York State Volunteer Regiment was a result of this early enthusiasm. Recruiting for the regiment, also called the 5th German Rifles, commenced in August of 1861 with the regiment reaching full strength of nearly a thousand men by mid-October 1861.

Recruitment was entirely out of New York City's German population of immigrants or first generation Americans. The colonel of the regiment was George von Amsberg, a military man who had seen much service in the Hungarian Revolution. Second in command was Edward Count von Wratislaw, who had recruited several companies. The regiment had a recruiting office in downtown New York and was camped at what is now the Manhattan entrance to the Triborough Bridge. It was while encamped that the regiment incurred its first casualty, a private who was accidentally shot and killed through the clumsiness of a fellow soldier.

The regiment left New York City on October 9, 1861, to become part of Julius Stahel's brigade of Blenker's Division of the Army of the Potomac; it suffered its first man killed in action during a skirmish with Confederate cavalry at Annandale, Virginia. The 45th was most heavily engaged at Second Bull Run, Chancellorsville, and Gettysburg. At Second Bull Run, the regiment made a charge down the hill by the Dogan House to a point below the current Warrenton Turnpike, where it was thrown back by a reinforced Confederate regiment and severe artillery fire from the right flank. The rout was observed by Captain Dilger of the Ohio artillery who stated that due to the intensity of the artillery fire, it was impossible to rally the men.

The bad luck of the 45th followed it to Chancellorsville, where it became one of the first victims of Stonewall Jackson's epic flank march. Hooker placed the XI Corps in an exposed position on the Orange Turnpike, with the 45th at the extreme end of the line. Pickets of the 45th were the first to detect the movement of Confederate troops in the woods adjacent to the XI Corps position. The pickets ran back to the Corps position and breathlessly reported the Rebel presence. Unfortunately, they were thought to have exaggerated what they saw and the XI Corps was surprised.

While common myth has it that the XI Corps dropped its weapons and ran, ample evidence shows that several attempts to stop the Confederate advance were made. The 45th, together with other units, attempted at least two stands against the attack, but the Rebel push was unstoppable. Evidence indicates that the 45th did not drop its arms and run because the unit requested few full sets of replacement equipment after the battle and suffered several dead and wounded in the retreat, and a narrative exits of an officer of the 45th detailing the unit's resistance.

At Gettysburg, the unit finally got a chance to show what it was made of On the morning of July 1, 1863, the 45th was encamped along the Emmitsburg road when word came of a battle beginning near Gettysburg. The regiment, then under the command of Lt. Colonel Adolphus Dobke, moved out at the double quick, running through the town in the late morning to take an initial position just outside of town off the Mummasburg Road on what is now Howard Avenue. The regiment drove Confederate snipers out of an orchard and then drove more Confederates out of the McLean barn. Corporal Rudolf Schwarz of the 45th captured his own brother, a Confederate, in the barn! Corporal Schwarz would die later in the day.

As the Union position collapsed, the 45th N.Y. retreated through the town. Part of the regiment under Captain Francis Irsch was cut off in town near the Eagle Hotel and adjacent buildings where they continued to resist until the hopelessness of their situation became manifest. After surrendering, they refused parole and many lost their lives in Andersonville and Libby prison. Capt. Irsch received the Medal of Honor for his heroism at the McLean bam and in the town.

The remainder of the regiment escaped to Cemetery Hill, holding the area near the cemetery gate house where today stand the cannon marking the position of Dilger's battery.

On July 2nd, the 45th made a night march to reinforce General George Greene's fellow New Yorkers on Culp's Hill. The Germans recaptured and held some rifle pits until relieved on the morning of July 3rd. They returned to Cemetery Hill where a volunteer detail under Sergeant Link fought to suppress Confederate rifle fire from the town so that Union artillery could turn to help repulse Pickett's Charge. All members of the volunteer party were killed or wounded. Sergeant Link died of his wounds in New York City.