Like Grass before the Scythe: The Life and Death of Sgt William Remmel 121st NY Infantry

By William Remmel

Uncommonly articulate letters from a tender German-American soldier with the Union forces.
During a clash that observed loss of life stopover at many families within the land, this can be the tale of a tender recruit’s devotion to relations and country. William Remmel’s letters hide greater than complete years of provider within the 121st manhattan Infantry Regiment throughout the Civil warfare, from August 1862 to October of 1864. they supply information on army and social background within the japanese theater of operations and at the adventure of the homefront in upstate ny between a principally immigrant, working-class family members and group. like all different soldier in another struggle, Remmel’s reports are either common and certain. they're common in his event of boredom, privation, pain, and finally, obliteration. His conditions have been idiosyncratic in that he was once an immigrant boy, severe, considerate, articulate, who represents a constituency of one.
Sergeant Remmel’s unit (which was once for a time commanded via Emory Upton, a big determine within the post-war military) was once a part of the sixth Corps, military of the Potomac. He was once a German immigrant who had settled along with his mom and dad and kin in some distance upstate long island. the writer wrote in English and it seems that his mom and dad spoke back in German. maybe this cultural distinction led Remmel to be rather cautious in his writing and to provide an explanation for occasions with strange precision.
In addition to the real fabric on an immigrant family’s event, Remmel additionally bargains with the query of slavery, sickness and health facility care (when he was once wounded), the matter of tough war/total warfare, in addition to the campaigns of Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, and the Shenandoah Valley in 1864. He disappears, MIA, on the conflict of Cedar Creek, October 19, 1864. His relations believed he died as a POW at Andersonville felony, they usually spent a great deal of effort and time vainly attempting to ensure his fate.

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By William Remmel

Uncommonly articulate letters from a tender German-American soldier with the Union forces.
During a clash that observed loss of life stopover at many families within the land, this can be the tale of a tender recruit’s devotion to relations and country. William Remmel’s letters hide greater than complete years of provider within the 121st manhattan Infantry Regiment throughout the Civil warfare, from August 1862 to October of 1864. they supply information on army and social background within the japanese theater of operations and at the adventure of the homefront in upstate ny between a principally immigrant, working-class family members and group. like all different soldier in another struggle, Remmel’s reports are either common and certain. they're common in his event of boredom, privation, pain, and finally, obliteration. His conditions have been idiosyncratic in that he was once an immigrant boy, severe, considerate, articulate, who represents a constituency of one.
Sergeant Remmel’s unit (which was once for a time commanded via Emory Upton, a big determine within the post-war military) was once a part of the sixth Corps, military of the Potomac. He was once a German immigrant who had settled along with his mom and dad and kin in some distance upstate long island. the writer wrote in English and it seems that his mom and dad spoke back in German. maybe this cultural distinction led Remmel to be rather cautious in his writing and to provide an explanation for occasions with strange precision.
In addition to the real fabric on an immigrant family’s event, Remmel additionally bargains with the query of slavery, sickness and health facility care (when he was once wounded), the matter of tough war/total warfare, in addition to the campaigns of Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, and the Shenandoah Valley in 1864. He disappears, MIA, on the conflict of Cedar Creek, October 19, 1864. His relations believed he died as a POW at Andersonville felony, they usually spent a great deal of effort and time vainly attempting to ensure his fate.

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29 i've got not anything extra of value to write down you. i'll, for this reason, shut. forty two / bankruptcy 2. 1863 Please write me once you obtain this letter, to notify me no matter if you could have acquired all that I despatched you. out of your obedient son, William Remmel Camp of the 121st Regiment contrary Fredericksburg, Va. June the seventh, 1863 My expensive Brother Augustus, Your style letter used to be got a number of evenings in the past. i'm satisfied to listen to from you and to benefit that our humans have been all good and that Louisa could stay at domestic a while.

Matthew Gallman, The North Fights the Civil warfare: the house entrance (Chicago: Ivan R. Dee, 1994), eighty; Wiley, Billy Yank, 156; Remmel, “Harmon L. Remmel,” four. 60. The sixth Corps moved towards Culpeper Courthouse to counteract Lee’s flow, crossed the river at Rappahannock Station, and joined the most physique of the military of the Potomac. The enemy made no assault. The sixth Corps was once then despatched again over the river, towards Brandy Station, and drew up in line of conflict. The cavalry engaged the enemy, whereas the infantry was once despatched again towards Centreville.

Charley is especially a lot discontented and needs to come back to California. he's coming domestic quickly to spend New Year’s. This letter is longer than I meant, yet don't feel discouraged. Wishing you a cheerful stable evening, i'll shut. i'm going to write back. W. Remmel Camp of the 121st Regiment close to Hazel River, Va. December the twelfth, 1863 My pricey mom and dad, i'm pleased so one can recognize the final letters that you've got written me. Your final one, dated December sixth, I bought final evening and was once a lot happy to benefit that you simply have been all good.

Enclosed during this I ship $11, a part of the pay that I drew the day past from the Paymaster. I drew $28, yet 36 / bankruptcy 2. 1863 i've got got a rubber blanket and different articles, which fee huge, and in addition to I owed approximately $3 one of the boys. Please settle for of the small sum that I ship you and subsequent time will attempt to ship you extra. Hoping that it will achieve you secure. i'm going to shut this short letter, hoping to listen to from you quickly. you'll pay attention from the day-by-day papers in a really few days no matter if the military has made an assault.

J. : Fairleigh Dickinson collage Press, 1997), 25–27; Greiner, Coryell, and Smither, A Surgeon’s Civil warfare, 18–25; Warner, Generals in Blue, 451–53; Sears, A panorama grew to become crimson, 145–50. 12. On September 20, 1862, Col. James A. Suiter of the thirty fourth big apple Infantry said 32 killed, 109 wounded, and nine lacking on the conflict of Antietam. The regimental heritage of the thirty fourth cites forty three killed and seventy four wounded and doesn't contain a figure for these lacking. Survivors of the thirty fourth ny visited the 121st big apple quickly after the conflict of Antietam and shared their reviews.

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