43Rd Illinois History
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43rd Illinois Volunteer Infantry Regiment “Koerner Regiment” The 43rd Illinois was recruited throughout the state, to include Chicago, Peoria, Quincy, Rock Island, Galesburg, Springfield and elsewhere from principally Immigrant & First Generation German-American’s, the largest core group of the Regiment came from St. Clair County. All three of it’s Commanders came from this region (Raith, Engelmann & Dengler). ! Recruiting Poster for the “Unattached German Regiment for Illinois” The idea of the Regiment was that of Gustav Koerner, and he sent a letter, on 24 July, 1861 to Senator Trumbull and President Lincoln, asking for permission to form an “All German Regiment”. However the red tape of Washington DC, prevented a quick answer and many of the dissatisfied soldiers who left the 9th Illinois (after their three month enlistment), joined the 12th Missouri, under Peter J. Osterhaus. Koerner seeing many a good soldier join Missouri Regiment, appealed to Governor Yates who immediately accepted his idea as part of the second call of troops. Once permission was granted, Mexican War veterans Captain Julius Raith and Lieutenant Adolph Engelmann (who was the brother in law of Koerner) were some of the first to enlist, and became very instrumental in recruiting area Germans into war service. Koerner was successful in getting seven companies of men to Springfield by September 1st, 1861. Colonel Julius Raith was the regiment’s first Commanding Officer, as appointed by Governor Yates, but the unit would name itself the “Koerner Regiment“. Julius Raith was born on 29 March 1820; in Goppingen, Wurtemberg. At an early age he showed great abilities as an engineer and his father gave him a fitting education. In 1837; he immigrated to America with his father and settled in St. Clair County. He studied to become a millwright in Columbia, IL; and quickly became an expert within the trade. During the Mexican War, he enlisted in the 2nd Illinois Infantry; under Colonel Bissell; and was commissioned a Captain in Company H. Captain Raith, won laurels in the Battle of Buena Vista; after he charged the Battalion of Guanahaunta; here Raith captured their flag and carried it himself until he was compelled to abandon it. Afterwards, he married Elizabeth Rebecca Hughes (b. February 1832); the daughter of the Honorable S.D. Hughes of Belleville; and he moved to St. Louis, MO. His two sons were born around 1853 & 1855. Elizabeth passed away on 29 December 1859. By 1860; Julius had opened a large flour mill that he had built in O’Fallon, IL; simply entitled “Julius Raith & Co.”. The Forty-Third were initially armed with Harper’s Ferry & English Tower muskets that were remanufactured from flintlock to percussion muskets. The 43rd Illinois would initially be sent to quell the Confederate uprising in Missouri, serving briefly in Otterville & Tipton, Missouri. The initial muskets were basically useless since they were supplied with the wrong percussion caps for their usage; as Colonel Raith pleaded with Gustav Koerner for his assistance to persuade General Halleck, for new muskets. While in Missouri; the officers and men, of the 43rd Illinois were “promised” to be attached to Sigel’s Division (along with the 9th Wisconsin); and Sigel wanted them; unfortunately for both sides, this was to never happen, to much displeasure of the troops. Before departing Missouri the 43rd was fulfilled with their last two companies and they were rearmed with Belgian rifles that were excellent weapons, but a heavy one. In February 1862; the regiment was eight hundred strong, and embarked aboard the steamer Memphis for Fort Henry, arriving on 6 February. They were immediately assigned to the third brigade in McClernand’s Division, in Grant’s Army of West Tennessee. By the end of the month, they occupied Ft. Henry for two days, during the Battle of Fort Donelson, Tennessee; their being left behind caused much dissatisfaction within the ranks. Afterwards, they were headed for Savannah, Tennessee; onboard the steamer Eugenie arriving there on 3 March, 1862. The 43rd was sent to join Grant’s main army at Pittsburg Landing, linking up with them on 22 March, 1862. Here they were attached to the 1st Division under the command of Major General John A. McClernand, with Colonel Leonard Ross in command of the 3rd Brigade. The 43rd was attached with the 17th, 29th & 49th Illinois. The 43rd was bivouacked near and to the northeast of the Shiloh Church. During this time, the Division Commanders (all Brigadier Generals) were squabbling about seniority, with General McClernand being one of the big ones. Lieutenant Colonel Engelmann wrote his wife, and advised her not to place a division number on her mail to him. Also during this time, Colonel Raith penned a letter to Gustav Koerner… ''I expect some political capital was made of our being left behind at Fort Henry; but we have all got reconciled to being left, as there was rather considerable militia general- ship displayed there; and as none of us belong to the mutual admiration society we should have got but little credit, if we had done anything. I am afraid Papa Lincoln is making generals too fast. If the war lasts much longer, some of them he has made will last no longer than the next general engagement. Some of them have at least sense enough to keep military men as their aides. We are encamped about eight miles above Savannah, Tenn., on the west side of the river, in very fine timber. There must be at least 60,000 troops here. The camp talk is that we shall wait here until Buell comes up with his command. The health of the men is getting better. It was rather bad as long as we were on the boats. We are in very good spirits and as harmonious as ever, and keep the men in first rate discipline; and they all feel comfortable and proud in comparison with some of the regiments around us. Give my respects to all inquiring friends. ''Yours respectfully, ''J. Raith." In the days leading up to Sunday, 6 April 1862; many regiments on the southern edges of the Pittsburg Landing camp ground could hear the rustling of leaves as Rebel scouts surveyed the landscape, and on more than a few occasions spotted them in the dense wooded area. It was stated that there were no end to the tents, and stretched as far as the eye could see. Camp life was easy for the 43rd Illinois; with only one reconnaissance scouting mission held on 4 April 1862. The Koerner Regiment scouted south of General W.T. Sherman’s position, and saw no action, nor Confederate soldiers. The 43rd was only paraded, but how Colonel Raith conducted himself and the Regiment, earned Sherman’s confidence. Early in the morning on 6 April 1862; around 7 AM, Colonel Raith realized the threat after hearing small arms fire in the distance to the southwest towards Sherman‘s Division, in Fraley Field, he instructed Lt. Colonel Engelmann to notify General McClernand of the approaching enemy and battle was imminent. Raith instructed the regiment to strike their tents, wagons loaded and form a color line. The 43rd formed its color line prior to 7:30 AM. When Engelmann returned he was instructed to inform Colonel Reardon (of the 29th Illinois) to command the 3rd Brigade in Colonel Ross‘s absence (he was on furlough), but Colonel Reardon was out sick & unable to command, so the Brigade command fell to Colonel Raith. As Raith immediately instructed Engelmann to turn out the 49th Illinois, the enemy was approaching. Engelmann found that the 49th didn’t believe that the enemy was as close as he said, and returned to their breakfast. The arrival of wounded and panic stricken Federal troops of Sherman & Prentiss’s Divisions entering the bivouac of the 3rd Brigade, changed all that, but the men of the 49th had barely enough time to grab their muskets and accruements before they entered the fight, as they didn’t form a line, to counter the Confederate surprise offensive. One fortunate item was in the favor of the defending soldiers, is that their camp was mainly concealed by a heavy wooded area, which bought additional time. By making the attempt in getting the men of the 49th up and ready, Raith’s actions saved many additional lives that day, as the men of the 3rd Brigade, 1st Division of the Army of the Tennessee put up a staunch defense, the 43rd Illinois were the only regiment ready for action, in the Brigade, that fateful morning. The Brigade was positioned in a strong defensive line to the left of Hildebrand; and in defense of the Waterhouse Battery. Colonel Raith however found himself commanding a brigade by himself without any aides, or mounted orderlies to disseminate his orders. Colonel Raith rode his horse between the regiments under his command, to keep his troops rallied and in the fight. The Rebels burst onto the battlefield, in large numbers with “terrific yells”. The initial shock of the oncoming Confederates pushed the 3rd Brigade back into a makeshift line, that supported Sherman’s Left Flank. By 8 AM, with Engelmann in command of the 43rd would push forward and held it’s line supporting Waterhouse’s Battery (Company E, 1st Illinois Light Artillery); Captain‘s Schimminger & Ehrhardt‘s Companies personally protected the battery. The 53rd Ohio which had just arrived, was ahead of the 43rd & 49th Illinois (to the left of the 43rd) and being faced with the onslaught of Confederate attackers, ran through the Illinois lines and could not be rallied, nor were they seen for the remainder of the day.