October 23, 2007

New Bremen and the Civil War

Mark Bernstein, who has authored other books about New Bremen's History addressed the club about his latest book project that is due to be released in book stores in about 11 weeks.  The book is titled 'New Bremen and the Civil War' and is focused on the Civil War history of the Ohio 37th Company C.  Company C was comprised of about 110 soldiers from the area with approximately 40 hailing from New Bremen.

In August 1881, Charles Hipp, a wood manufacturer from St Marys began recruiting efforts in New Bremen.  The local population at the time was 640 in the village and about 1000 in surrounding German Township.  The area was populated by German immigrants who enjoyed the inexpensive farmland, low taxes and who were happy to have avoided the military draft in Germany.

Mark was able to locate significant history on those who enlisted from the National Archives which maintains a library of envelopes on each soldier who fought in the war.  He shared that the first soldiers from New Bremen were an average of 23 years old and were 5 foot 7 inches in height.  Ten were farmers, five were laborers and the rest were craftsmen.

The book follows the Ohio 37th through 15 months of the war from Vicksburg to Chattanooga to Atlanta to Charleston and on to Raleigh.  They traveled by foot and for many of the soldiers it was their first experience of life outside of the local area.  Many of the soldiers reenlisted after their original term of service was completed and the company suffered about 30% loss in the war.

Mark shared that he invested about 2 years in the research and writing of the book but on a part time basis.  The book is in print currently and will be available in about 11 weeks.  It will include a complete roster and history of each soldier.

Hosting Rotarian: Jim Dicke II