Joshua Bennett
German Catholics did fight in the American Civil War, with approximately 40,000 serving in the Union Army. German immigrants were the largest ethnic contingent fighting for the Union, with more than 200,000 native-born Germans and 250,000 first-generation German-Americans serving. However, several thousand also fought for the Confederacy, particularly in Louisiana and Texas. German Catholics' support for the Union cause was more ambivalent than that of the Irish community, and they failed to organize for the northern war effort in large numbers.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of German-Americans who fought for the Confederacy | Several thousand |
| Number of German-Americans who fought for the Union | 200,000 native-born Germans, 250,000 1st-generation German-Americans |
| Percentage of Union soldiers who were immigrants | 23.4% (approximately 516,000 soldiers) |
| Number of German-born Union soldiers | 216,000 |
| States with the highest number of native-born German Union soldiers | New York (36,000), Wisconsin (30,000), Ohio (20,000) |
| German Union soldiers of all faiths | Yes |
| Most devoted German immigrants to the Union cause | "Forty-Eighters" (political refugees from the failed revolutions in Germany in 1848) |
| German-born Confederate officers | Lt. Col. Heros von Borcke, Maj. Gen. Carl Schurz, Brig. Gen. August Willich, Louis Blenker, Max Weber, Alexander Schimmelfennig |
| Number of German Catholics who served in the Civil War | 40,000 |
| States where German-Catholics agreed to fight | Pennsylvania, Midwest |
| Reason German-Catholics agreed to fight | Opposed slavery and its extension into new territories |
| Number of German Catholics in the US at the start of the Civil War | 600,000 |
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What You'll Learn
- German Catholics in Pennsylvania and the Midwest opposed slavery
- German Catholics supported the Union, but not as eagerly as the Irish
- Lt. Col. Heros von Borcke was the most famous German officer in the Confederacy
- German Catholics were less devoted to the Union cause than German Protestants
- German Catholics fought on both sides of the American Civil War
German Catholics in Pennsylvania and the Midwest opposed slavery
During the Great Awakening of the late 18th century, German Methodist and Baptist preachers urged slaveholders to free their slaves. In 1780, Pennsylvania passed the first state Abolition Act in the United States, ending slavery through gradual emancipation. German Catholics in Pennsylvania were also politically active in opposing slavery. They formed the moderate Midlands with the Quakers, seeking land and autonomy from zealous or hierarchical overlords.
In the Midwest, German Catholics were part of the Forty-Eighters, a political movement of revolutionaries from the failed German revolutions of 1848. The Forty-Eighters strongly supported abolitionist Republicans and leaned towards liberal Protestantism or agnosticism. They viewed Catholics with suspicion and failed to organize for the northern war effort in large numbers. However, German-Americans were the largest ethnic contingent to fight for the Union in the American Civil War. More than 200,000 native-born Germans and 250,000 first-generation German-Americans served in the Union Army, particularly from states like New York, Wisconsin, and Ohio.
Overall, German Catholics in Pennsylvania and the Midwest played a significant role in opposing slavery through political activism, religious beliefs, and military service.
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German Catholics supported the Union, but not as eagerly as the Irish
German Catholics supported the Union during the American Civil War, but their enthusiasm for the cause was not as strong as that of the Irish community. German Catholics in Pennsylvania and the Midwest agreed to fight for the Union because they opposed slavery and its expansion into new territories. The most devoted German immigrants to the Union cause were the "Forty-Eighters", who were political refugees from the failed revolutions in Germany in 1848. They strongly supported the abolitionist Republicans and tended towards liberal Protestantism or agnosticism, viewing Catholics with suspicion.
The support of German Catholics for the Union was also reflected in the military leadership. Major General Franz Sigel, a native German and a member of the Forty-Eighters, was the highest-ranking German-American officer in the Union Army. His popularity among Germans led many to enlist and fight under his command. Other prominent German-American officers in the Union Army included Major General Carl Schurz, Brigadier General August Willich, Louis Blenker, Max Weber, and Alexander Schimmelfennig.
While German Catholics contributed significantly to the Union cause, their mobilisation for the northern war effort was not as widespread as that of the Irish community. The Irish Brigade, consisting of several New York, Massachusetts, and Pennsylvania regiments, served with distinction in combat, suffering heavy casualties at Antietam, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, and Gettysburg. The bravery and sacrifices of the Irish Brigade inspired many more Irish Americans to enlist and fight for the Union.
In conclusion, while German Catholics supported the Union during the American Civil War, their mobilisation and enthusiasm were not as fervent as those of the Irish community. The German Catholics' support was influenced by their opposition to slavery and their political leanings, while the Irish community's strong identification with the Union resulted in a more passionate and widespread mobilisation for the northern war effort.
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Lt. Col. Heros von Borcke was the most famous German officer in the Confederacy
Von Borcke was born into an old Pomeranian noble family and became a Prussian cavalry officer in 1855. He served with the Guards Cuirassiers and later with the 5th Squadron of the 2d Brandenburg Dragoons. Financial difficulties forced him to quit the Prussian service, and he emigrated to the Confederate States in 1862. By the end of that month, he had reached Richmond, the capital of the Confederate States. He was given the rank of captain in the Provisional Army of the Confederate States on June 1, 1862.
General Stuart was impressed by Von Borcke, and the two became close friends. Following the cavalry's famed "ride around McClellan's army," General Stuart wrote:
> Capt. Heros von Borcke, a Prussian cavalry officer, who lately ran the blockade, assigned me by the honorable Secretary of War, joined in the charge of the First Squadron in gallant style, and subsequently, by his energy, skill, and activity, won the praise and admiration of all.
Von Borcke was promoted to the rank of major in August 1862, an appointment confirmed by the Confederate States Congress on September 19. He rode with General Stuart as his adjutant general during the Northern Virginia and the Maryland campaigns, further adding to his reputation for bravery in the face of the enemy.
In 1864, Von Borcke was promoted to lieutenant colonel. When the Confederacy collapsed in 1865, he returned to Prussia and resumed his military career. He fought in the Austro-Prussian War in 1866, receiving the Order of the Red Eagle for his gallantry. However, his old wounds always plagued him, and he retired from the Prussian Army as a captain in 1867. He died in Berlin in 1895 due to sepsis caused by a remaining projectile from a wound he received during the Battle of Middleburg in 1863.
While Lt. Col. Heros von Borcke was the most famous German officer in the Confederacy, other German-born soldiers also reached high ranks in the Confederate Army. These included General John A. Wagener of South Carolina, Colonel Adolphus Heiman, and Colonel Augustus Buchel. Hundreds of German-born officers led regiments during the war, and several thousand German-born individuals fought for the Confederacy.
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German Catholics were less devoted to the Union cause than German Protestants
The most devoted German immigrants to the Union cause were the "
German Catholics in Pennsylvania and the Midwest agreed to fight because they staunchly opposed slavery and its extension into new territories. However, German Catholics in other regions did not show the same level of support for the Union cause.
It is worth noting that German Catholics did make a significant contribution to the war effort, with approximately 40,000 serving in the Union armed forces. They also faced anti-Catholic prejudice from some of their fellow soldiers, particularly the German Forty-Eighters.
In summary, while German-Americans were heavily represented in the Union Army, German Catholics were less devoted to the Union cause than German Protestants due to a variety of political, religious, and cultural factors.
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German Catholics fought on both sides of the American Civil War
German-Americans were the largest ethnic contingent to fight for the Union in the American Civil War. More than 200,000 native-born Germans, along with another 250,000 first-generation German-Americans, served in the Union Army, notably from New York, Wisconsin, and Ohio. Many Germans enlisted to fight under Major General Franz Sigel, a popular Union commander and native German who was appointed by President Abraham Lincoln.
Several thousand German-Americans also fought for the Confederacy. Most German-born residents of the Confederacy lived in Louisiana and Texas, with others in Virginia and the Carolinas. Lt. Col. Heros von Borcke, a Prussian cavalry officer, is the most famous German officer in the Confederacy. Von Borcke served as Adjutant and Chief of Staff to Confederate Maj. Gen. J.E.B. Stuart and became one of his closest confidants.
While there were German Union soldiers of all faiths, the most devoted German immigrants to the Union cause were the "Forty-Eighters." They were political refugees from the failed revolutions in Germany in 1848 who strongly supported abolitionist Republicans and opposed slavery. German Catholics in Pennsylvania and the Midwest also agreed to fight because they opposed slavery and its extension into new territories.
Catholics made a major contribution to the war effort and showed great valor on the battlefield. By the end of the war, the Church's prestige was greatly enhanced, and Americans had witnessed countless acts of Catholic charity. Catholics and non-Catholics living, marching, and fighting together overcame many old prejudices.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, several thousand German Catholics fought for the Confederacy.
German Catholics in Pennsylvania and the Midwest agreed to fight because they staunchly opposed slavery and its extension into new territories.
While precise statistics on Catholic service in the Civil War are unknown, approximately 40,000 German Catholics served in the American Civil War.
Lt. Col. Heros von Borcke, a Prussian cavalry officer, is the most famous German officer in the Confederacy. Simon Baruch, a Confederate army surgeon, became a leading advocate of hydrotherapy and bath houses in New York City after the war. His son was Bernard Baruch, a famous presidential advisor.
German Catholics faced some opposition from German Union soldiers, who were mostly made up of Forty-Eighters—political refugees from the failed revolutions in Germany in 1848 who strongly supported the Union and viewed Catholics with suspicion.
