acquainted with the history of the Civil War, knows that the question
of first and greatest importance which arose and demanded solution
was that of the position in the struggle of the border slave
states, namely, Maryland, Kentucky and Missouri, writes Prof. John
W. Burgess. Mr. Lincoln’s administration gave its attention most
seriously and anxiously to the work of holding these slave states
back from passing secession ordinances, and preventing them from
being occupied by the armies of the Southern Confederacy.
The most important among these states was Missouri. It was the
largest; it reached away up into the very heart of the North; it
commanded the left bank of the Mississippi for some 500 miles, and
the great United States arsenal of the west, containing the arms and
munitions for that whole section of our country, was located in St.
Louis. It had been stocked to its utmost capacity by the Secretary
of War of the preceding administration, Mr. Floyd of Virginia, in
the expectation that it would certainly fall into the hands of the
South. The Governor of the State, C. F. Jackson, manifested the
stand he would take in his reply to President Lincoln’s requisition
for Missouri’s quota of the first call for troops. He defied the
President in the words: “Your requisition, in my judgment, is
illegal, unconstitutional and revolutionary in its object; inhuman
and diabolical and cannot be complied with.”
It happened most fortunately, however, that the Commandant of the
arsenal was a staunch Unionist, Nathaniel Lyon. He immediately
recognized the peril of the situation. He had only three men to guard
the arsenal and there was in the city a full company of secessionist
militia calling themselves Minute Men. Moreover, two companies of the
State Militia composed of Germans had shortly before been disarmed by
the general of the state militia. Under these conditions Lyon turned
to F. P. Blair for advice. Blair was acquainted with the views and
sympathies of the inhabitants perfectly, and knew that he could rely
only upon the Germans to save the arsenal and then the city and the
State for the Union.
Thus far Prof. Burgess. The first step toward secession was the
establishment of Camp Jackson, at St. Louis, with a view to taking
the State out of the Union. General Lyon, who had been recently
transferred from Fort Riley, resolved to leave nothing undone to
thwart the Confederate plot, and soon had his plans ready. The
officers in command of the first four regiments loyal to the Union
were Frank P. Blair, Heinrich Baernstein, then publisher of “Der
Anzeiger des Westens;” Franz Sigel, of the revolutionary army of
Baden, who had distinguished himself at Heppenheim, in Hessia, and
at Waghausel and Kuppenheim, and Col. Schuttner. The Turn Verein,
located on Tenth, between Market and Walnut streets, was animated
by a fighting spirit. Four companies of Turners had assembled early
in the night at the St. Louis Arsenal and placed themselves at the
disposition of General Lyon. A constant stream of German volunteers
added to the regiment, who were provided with arms by the commander.
There were approximately 800 men, of whom nine-tenths were of direct
German blood.
This was the situation on May 10, 1861. A council of war was held
by General Lyon, Blair, Sigel and their associates, and General
Lyon decided to strike a blow before the rebels were ready to act.
The volunteers were assigned to their posts during the night. By 10
o’clock the next morning Camp Jackson found itself surrounded and
General Lyon demanded its surrender. There was no way out, but the
full wrath of the defeated rebels turned upon the Germans. As the
prisoners were being marched to the arsenal, street riots broke out
at many places along the line, and the Germans were assailed on every
hand with cries of “dirty Dutch” and other insulting epithets. Almost
at the first movement on Camp Jackson, Constantin Standanski, the
master-at-arms of the St. Louis Turn Verein, was wounded from ambush,
and died several days later.
After the capture of Camp Jackson, Lyon took his troops to Jefferson
City, capital of the State, and forced the Governor to fly. Jackson
never returned. Lyon took Boonville, where he was reinforced by the
First Iowa, and two weeks later moved on Sedalia by way of Tipton. He
was there joined by two regiments from Kansas, and went into camp at
Springfield.
Meanwhile, General Sigel, with the Second and Third Missouri, took
a course toward the southwestern part of the State, coming up with
the rebels at Carthage. His artillery, largely composed of the Baden
artillerists of 1848, soon got the better of the enemy. A battle took
place August 10 at Wilson’s Creek, where the heroic Lyon, recklessly
exposing himself, was killed. An imposing monument marks his memory
in St. Louis.
This is in brief the story of how Missouri was saved to the Union.
=Muhlenberg, Frederick August.=--German-American patriot, brother of
General Peter Muhlenberg. Elected to the Continental Congress by the
Assembly of Pennsylvania 1779 and 1780; Speaker of the Assembly 1781
and 1782; Chairman Pennsylvania Convention to ratify the Constitution
of the United States 1787. Member of Congress for four terms, and the
first Speaker of the American House of Representatives; also Speaker
in the third Congress.
=Muhlenberg, Heinrich Melchior.=--Founder of the Lutheran Church
in America. Born Sept. 6, 1711, at Eimbeck, Hanover. Sailed 1742,
and after paying a visit to the Salzburg Protestants near Savannah,
Georgia, settled in Pennsylvania. Erected what is known as the oldest
Lutheran Church of brick in America at Trappe, where it is still
preserved. He built the Zions Church, dedicated 1769, in which by
order of Congress the memorial services to George Washington were
held, attended by the Senate, House and Supreme Court and many
generals, and where Light Horse Harry Lee first used the phrases
“First in peace, first in war and first in the hearts of his
countrymen.” Muhlenberg’s three sons, all German Lutheran pastors,
became famous in war, politics and natural science.
=Muhlenberg, Johann Gabriel Peter.=--American general in the
Revolutionary war. Born in Montgomery Co., Pa., October 1, 1746,
son of Heinrich M. Muhlenberg. With his two younger brothers,
Frederick August and Heinrich Ernst, he went in 1763 to Halle,
Germany, to study for the ministry, returning to Philadelphia in
1766. At the outbreak of the Revolution he was pastor of the German
Lutheran Community of Woodstock, Virginia. Participated actively
in the measures preceding armed resistance to the unjust measures
of Parliament, and on the recommendation of Washington and Patrick
Henry was appointed Colonel of the Eighth (or German) regiment of
Virginia. He preached to his congregation for the last time in
January, 1776, on the duty of the citizen to his country, concluding
with the memorable words: “There is a time for everything, for
prayer, for preaching and also for fighting. The time for fighting
has arrived.” He had scarcely concluded the benediction when he
cast off his clerical gown and stood revealed in full regimentals.
An indescribable scene of patriotic enthusiasm followed, and many
of his parishioners crowded around him and enlisted for service. On
February 21, 1777, he was promoted to brigadier general by order
of Congress. After the defeat of the American army at Brandywine,
his brigade covered the retreat with invincible bravery, and in the
battle of Germantown he performed his duty with distinction, causing
the enemy’s right wing to give way but unable to prevent the loss of
the battle. In the storming of the redoubts at Yorktown he played a
conspicuous part, commanding the light infantry which captured the
left bulwarks of the British fortifications and decided the battle.
After the war he was vice-president of the high executive Council of
Pennsylvania and was elected to a seat in the first, second and sixth
Congress. He was elected eight times to the position of president of
the German Society of Pennsylvania. He is represented in Statuary
Hall in the Capitol at Washington by a monument of marble presented
by the State of Pennsylvania.
The following interesting story of the career of General Muhlenberg,
by Mrs. Elizabeth Gadsby, Historian of the Daughters of the American
Revolution, is taken from the Washington “Post” of July 5, 1903:
The father, John Peter Gabriel Muhlenberg, located at Trappe, Pa.,
and was the founder of the Lutheran Church in America.
During the Revolution the armies passed and repassed their home so
frequently they never knew when the table was set whether the food
prepared for themselves would be eaten by the English or American
soldiers. They were frequently in great danger from the skirmishing
which constantly took place all around them, and often suffered the
pangs of hunger, every field of grain and forage being devastated by
the armies.
Peter was sent to the University of Halle, in Prussia, where, tiring
of his studies and the strict confinement, he ran away and joined
the Prussian dragoons, which gave him his first military ardor and
ambition. After several years of hardship he left the army and
studied for the ministry. He returned to America, going back to
Europe to be ordained in England in 1771, and was then called to the
pastorate at Woodstock, Va., to preach to the Germans who had settled
on the frontier of that State.
In March, 1773, the Virginia Assembly recommended a committee of
correspondence, and the House of Burgesses passed a resolution making
the first day of June a day of fasting and prayer in sympathy with
Boston, whose port Parliament had ordered closed. Governor Dunmore
declared this resolution treason, and indignantly dissolved the House
of Burgesses. Great excitement prevailed. The governor, finding the
people of his colony in great sympathy with the cause of freedom,
aroused himself for immediate action, and endeavored to bring the
Indians in hostile array against the colonists, also causing a rumor
to be spread that the slaves would rise in insurrection against the
colonists.
In April he removed the powder from the old magazine at the Capitol.
His ships were laden and ready for flight or defense. The powder was
put on board the governor’s ship.
The people demanded the return of the powder to Williamsburg.
Dunmore became alarmed when Patrick Henry marched at the head of his
volunteers toward the Capitol to capture the powder. Arriving at
Great Bridge, the first conflict took place between the English and
the colonists.
Dunmore kept the powder, but ordered the Receiver General to pay its
full value, which sum Patrick Henry turned into the public treasury.
The closing of the port of Boston caused great indignation throughout
the land; memorable resolutions were introduced by George Mason, and
were adopted by the Assembly.
Jefferson truly said, “The closing of the port of Boston acted as an
electric shock, placing every man in Virginia on his feet.”
Patrick Henry was warmly supported by the Rev. Muhlenberg, who had
been quietly working among his people. A meeting of patriots was
called in the assembly room of the old Apollo Tavern at Williamsburg,
where delegates were appointed to meet in Fairfax County, where a
convention was determined upon. Muhlenberg was chosen colonel of
the Eighth Regiment, he and Henry being the only civilians of the
Virginia line to whom regiments were assigned.
Muhlenberg was at this time only twenty-nine years of age. His
well-known character gave the convention confidence that he was
worthy of the trust.
Hence he abandoned the altar for the sword. His people were scattered
miles along the frontier of Virginia, but the news spread like fire,
and the Sunday he was to preach his last sermon the rude country
church could not hold the tenth of them. The surrounding woods were
filled with people, horses and every sort of vehicle. It was a scene
long depicted in their memories and oft told to their descendants
until every schoolboy is familiar with the story.
The decided step was taken by their pastor; the exciting times called
forth the highest feelings in man, the love of country! Patriotism!
and “Liberty or death!” was the cry.
They needed but the spark to burst into flame and needless to say he
supplied the flint and tinder to kindle that spark.
His concluding words were:
“There is a time for everything, a time to preach and a
time to pray, but that time has passed away. There is a
time to fight, and that time has now come.”
He pronounced the benediction, and, turning back his robe, appeared
in martial array, his soldierly form clad in the uniform of a colonel.
The scene beggars description and has no parallel in history.
The people flocked around him, eager to be ranked among his followers.
The drummers struck up for volunteers and over 300 enlisted that day.
Throughout the war for independence General Washington depended on
him to recruit the army in Virginia, which he never failed to do
under the most trying circumstances; men seemed to spring up like
mushrooms when he needed them to replenish his oft depleted ranks.
Lord Dunmore was ravishing the country; Colonel Muhlenberg followed
closely on his heels. Dunmore built Great Bridge and took up quarters
in Norfolk; finding himself closely hemmed in, he burned the town,
then one of the finest cities in the South, for which act he was
severely criticized by the British. After his defeat he took refuge
in Portsmouth, still holding command of the sea, harrowing the
people, destroying property, until, finding his quarters too hot, he
hurriedly set sail for Grogans Island in the bay. Gen. Andrew Lewis
drove him from there, and he sailed for New York, and soon after
returned to England.
The North now claimed the attention and eager eyes were watching
there, the South resting comparatively quiet.
At this time General Clinton marched South, Ben. Lee following
closely in his tracks, arriving at Williamsburg March 29, 1776, just
twelve days after the surrender of Boston.
Colonel Muhlenberg had been in command at Suffolk. He now joined
General Lee, with him following up Clinton to South Carolina. This
led on to the battle of Sullivan’s Island, and Charleston, which was
so disastrous to the enemy they returned at once to New York.
General Lee, in his official report, says:
“I know not which corps I have the greatest reason to be pleased
with, Colonel Muhlenberg’s Virginians or the North Carolina troops;
both are equally alert, zealous and spirited.”
These, too, were raw recruits which drew such praise from the finest
military critic of the day.
It was well indeed for Muhlenberg to have such praise, for the usual
jealousies, bickering and wrongly placed commendations followed him
throughout the war, but his keen sense of duty, his noble Christian
spirit ever made him forget self and kept him above petty strife
throughout the long and bitter struggle.
At the battles of Brandywine and Germantown Muhlenberg’s troops were
ever foremost in action, and the one regiment which used the bayonet.
They had no words of commendation above the other regiments from
their commander. Yet the English spoke highly of their daring and
bravery. Riding at the rear of his brigade, it being the last in
retreat, his tired horse was too jaded to jump a fence, and he, after
many weary hours in the saddle, worn with fatigue, was aroused by a
ball whistling past his head and the cry running along the enemy’s
line: “Pick off that officer on the white horse!” The general turned
and saw a young officer single him out, only waiting for a musket,
which was being loaded for him, to shoot. He drew his pistol and
though at some distance, shot him through the head.
General Washington chose General Muhlenberg to be with him in that
terrible winter at Valley Forge. His troops were stationed along
the river, in consequence, nearer the British and in more exposed
condition from both cold and the enemy.
His intrepid valor and endurance seemed to communicate to his
soldiers, who were frequently throughout the campaign without tents,
clothing or food sufficient to maintain life, and when their time
of enlistment was up would return to their homes in wretched rags,
be clothed by loving hands from the fruit of domestic looms and, at
their beloved commander’s request, return and take up the burden of
war again.
His parents resided at Trappe, not far from Valley Forge, and he
sometimes rode off alone at night to visit them, returning by early
dawn. He several times narrowly escaped capture.
In 1777 he was promoted to the rank of brigadier general.
He was often called from Virginia, the base of his actions, to assist
Washington at other points when that wise head needed a strong hand.
In 1779, after one of those hard marches and months of labor, after
an absence of three years from his family, while on his way home to
a much-needed rest, he was ordered to Richmond and in the time of
Virginia’s direst need was put at the head of all forces needed for
her defense.
The enemy who said, “The root of all resistance lies in the
Commonwealth of Virginia and must be destroyed.”
So the Americans considered it most important to be defended. The
advance of General Gates was already decided upon, but without the
help of the organized troops and supplies it could not be done.
And Muhlenberg was again called on to collect recruits. This was
no trifling task, as the militia were scattered and unpaid; but it
required a man of great military skill and personal influence to
fulfill this mission.
His whole force, with the exception of one regiment at Fort Pitt,
were prisoners at Charleston, which had been recaptured by Clinton in
May, 1780. Virginia now became the seat of war. A fleet sailed up the
James, ravaging with fire and sword.
Illustration: MAJ. GEN. PETER MUHLENBERG
General Muhlenberg began his march to meet them with 800 raw
recruits, urging his officers to lose no opportunity to instruct and
fit them for the oncoming struggle. He sent Generals Gregory and
Benbury to Great Bridge, and as soon as he received reinforcements he
advanced upon Portsmouth and drove the enemy in, so harrassing them
that they were forced to withdraw, and embarked for New York. This
repulse of their boasted descent in Virginia proved very humiliating.
The enemy being withdrawn, Governor Jefferson, with his economic
views, saw fit to disband the troops. After they were disbanded
General Muhlenberg’s command was about 1,000, of which General
Green detached 400 for the Southern army, leaving Virginia in this
defenseless condition at a most critical time, as General Phillips’
invasion with 2,200 and Benedict Arnold’s with 2,000 landed at
Portsmouth January 2, 1781. At the death of General Phillips, Arnold
took command; then sailed up the James to Richmond, desolating the
country. A bloody record on the page of history.
After driving Governor Jefferson from his capital at Richmond,
General Steuben, being the only force at hand, was not able to attack
or resist this onslaught.
Arnold sailed down the tortuous James and fell back to Portsmouth,
where he strongly intrenched himself, threatening to give the rebels
such a blow as would shake the whole continent. General Greene
returned to Virginia, and, with General Steuben, began to collect
forces and supplies, leaving Muhlenberg to watch Arnold and keep him
from further depredations.
There was a project set on foot to capture Arnold personally.
“Conscience makes cowards of us all,” so he who had once been brave
and fearless surrounded himself with a trusty guard day and night.
The attempt proved futile, as it had in New York.
A detachment of the fleet under M. de Lilly arriving at this time
gave General Muhlenberg great hopes of capturing the traitor. All
plans were made, but the French commander deemed the Elizabeth River
too shallow for his boats, and just as they were well on the eve of
accomplishing this greatly desired object M. de Lilly set sail for
Newport, thus dashing the revived hopes of General Muhlenberg, who
had set himself to capture the traitor.
The importance of capturing Arnold and dislodging the enemy in
Virginia was deeply felt by Washington, and he urged on his officers
to leave no means untried to accomplish that purpose. He induced
Admiral Detouches to set sail for the Chesapeake, and the Marquis
de Lafayette was dispatched with 1,200 of the continental line to
co-operate with the fleet and take command in Virginia.
General Muhlenberg and General Gregory, with a reinforcement of 800
men, were in charge at West Landing.
Matters were now hastening on to the near close of hostilities.
Lafayette was in command in Virginia, and Muhlenberg, as usual, was
taking a heavy hand at the game.
Cornwallis was being hemmed in at Yorktown, and Muhlenberg was put
in command of the advance guard, which required the utmost military
skill and tact, for had Cornwallis attempted to escape the whole
weight of the battle would have fallen on this line, and no doubt
would have proved fatal by overwhelming numbers.
The British commander waited in vain for help from without, and was
at last compelled to surrender on that memorable day, October 12,
1781, at Yorktown.
General Muhlenberg continued in the army until the treaty of peace
in 1783. The trusted warm friend of General Washington, who had ever
relied on him to add to the volunteers in recruiting the army at
the briefest possible notice since the first volunteers the day he
forsook the altar for the sword.
After the treaty of peace had been signed at Versailles he retired
to a much-needed rest in the bosom of his family, where he found his
home had suffered severely from the misfortunes of war.
Himself broken in health and fortune, but happy in the consciousness
of a duty well done, he could say with Baron Steuben, “If we win the
great prize we fight for the struggle cannot be too great.”
His former congregation implored him to return and take up his
pastoral duties among them, but he said: “It would never do to mount
the parson after the soldier.”
He was then called to serve the political side of his country, and
was elected to Congress in 1789, and served in that capacity until
1801. His brother was elected the first Speaker of the House of
Representatives.
In 1801 he was elected Senator, and in 1803 he was appointed
collector of the port of Philadelphia. Until the day of his death he
served his country with honor and distinction.
The Luthern Church in which Muhlenberg preached was torn down about
seventy-five years ago.
There is a house in Woodstock, on North Main Street, partly built
of the logs from the old church. On the site of the old church has
been erected an Episcopal church. As Muhlenberg had taken Episcopal
orders, they claim him, as well as the cemetery, which they have sold
in lots. A Presbyterian Church and chapel and several business houses
are on this lot.
One of the oldest citizens, now eighty-four years of age, says he
remembers well the old pulpit, which stood upon the lot some years
after the church had been torn down.
The house in which Muhlenberg lived, and in which tradition says he
entertained General Washington, was torn down about twelve years ago.
=Nagel, Charles.=--Secretary of Commerce and Labor under President
Taft, 1909-13. Born in Colorado County, Texas, August 9, 1849, son of
Hermann and Friedericke (Litzmann) N. Prominent lawyer, resident in
St. Louis. Studied Roman law, political economy, etc., University of
Berlin, 1873; (LL.D. Brown U., 1913, also Villanova U., Pa. and Wash.
U., St. Louis). Admitted to bar 1873; lecturer St. Louis Law School,
1885-09. Member Missouri House of Representatives, 1881-3; president
St. Louis City Council, 1893-7; member Republican National Committee
1908-12. Trustee Washington U., St. Louis.