Albany Grand Army of the Republic Posts

The Civil War saw over two million men enlist and fight with the Union Army. Over 450,000 men mustered into service from New York. Albany County did its part for the war effort, supplying thousands of men.

Albany County provided men for the following military units:

• Cavalry: Regiments, 2nd, 3rd, 6th, 7th, 9th, 12th, 13th, 16th, 18th, 20th, 21st, 22nd, 25th, 1st Mounted Rifles, 1st and 2nd Veteran
• Artillery: Regiments, Battery M, 1st; Battery C and M, 2nd; 4th, 7th, 13th, 14, and 16th
• Independent Batteries, 11th and 12th
• Sharpshooters: Regiments, 9th
• Engineers: Regiments, 15th and 50th
• Infantry: Regiments, 2nd, 3rd, 7th Veteran, 9th, 17th Veteran , 18th, 20th, 22nd, 30th, 34th, 43rd, 44th, 61st, 62nd, 63rd, 91st, 93rd, 104th, 148th, 175th, 177th, 179th, 184th, 186th, 188th, 189th, 192nd, and 194th1

To support and aid former Union soldiers, Surgeon Benjamin Franklin Stephenson founded the first Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) post in 1866 in Decatur, Illinois. Posts originally were set up like Union Army encampments that followed military specs. 

By 1869, the structure of posts dropped its military system and became similar to Masonic Lodges and the posts acted more as Fraternal organizations. Membership soon increased. Due to its political lobbying the GAR fought for Civil War veterans and their widows in gaining pensions. The efforts of the GAR enabled the establishing of May 30th as Decoration Day where the graves of the war dead should be decorated with flowers. In 1971 Decoration Day became known as Memorial Day and also a federal holiday.

The following is a typical GAR marker that holds an American Flag. Unfortunately these markers are disappearing from cemeteries due to theft and for maintenance reasons. The markers are removed with negative motives without regard to the deceased veteran nor his family.

Albany soon followed forming its own GAR posts named after military officers who died on the battlefield.

• Lewis Benedict Post #5, chartered 30 January 1867

Lewis Benedict
photo credit: JD Haren
www.findagrave.com

• George S. Dawson Post # 63, chartered 26 November 1875

George S. Dawson
photo credit:
Col. George L. Willard Camp # 154

• Lewis O. Morris Post # 121, chartered 20 August 1870

Lewis O. Morris
photo credit:
Col. George L. Willard Camp # 154

• Timothy J. Quinn Post #601, chartered 04 October 1886
• William A. Jackson Post # 644, 31 December 1889

William A. Jackson
photo credit:
Col. George L. Willard Camp # 154

The following Albany GAR Posts also formed Ladies Auxiliary Units:

• Lewis Benedict Woman's Relief Corps
• Lewis O. Morris Woman's Relief Corps

The Grand Army of the Republic dissolved in 1956 when its last member died. Albany saw its last Civil War veteran, Frederick W. Reohr, laid to rest on 16 August 1937. He was the last member of the Lewis  Benedict Post.2 The GAR was succeeded by the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War (SUVCW) which is composed of male descendants of Union veterans.

For further reading see:

The New York History Blog

Col. George L. Willard Camp # 154, Albany, NY

1. Data culled from an photocopied undocumented source in 1981.

2. https://www.facebook.com/FriendsofAlbanyHistory/posts/2094783163903268

Military Monday : Dr. William Ogden McDonald

This week's military bio is on Dr. William Ogden McDonald. Aside from marrying my first cousin five times removed, Barbara Helen Hitchcock; and that he was a surgeon in the Civil War very little is known about him. Most of the documentation that I have on him comes from his 26 March 1918 obituary in The Brooklyn Daily Eagle. His obituary is below:

W.O. McDONALD DIES;

CIVIL WAR SURGEON

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With Armies of Cumberland and

Potomac in Many Battles. 

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Dr. William Ogden McDonald, a Civil War veteran, and a practicing physician and surgeon in New York City for fifty years, died at his residence, 519 Fifth street, South Brooklyn yesterday, after a short illness. His funeral services will be held private, followed by cremation. Dr. McDonald is survived by his wife, Barbara Helen Hitchcock, who was born in Troy, N.Y., and to whom he was married on January 9, 1870. He is also survived by a brother, Dr. Roderick E. McDonald of Daytona Beach, Fla.

Dr. McDonald was born in Waddington, N.Y., the son of Angus McDonald of Scotland and Ann Case. He was educated in public and private schools, and graduated from the new York Medical College in March, 1855. He practiced in New York City until the breaking out of the Civil War, when he entered the service of the United States on June 10, 1861, as assistant surgeon of the Sixty-first Regiment of New York Volunteers. In January, 1863, he became surgeon of the Twenty-seventh Regiment of Connecticut, ranking as surgeon of United States Volunteers staff. He was in the Army of the Potomac until May, 1863, when he was sent to the Army of the Cumberland, as surgeon of the Second Regiment of Kentucky Cavalry in the Cavalry Corps. He participated in the Peninsular campaign, the battles of Antietam, Fredericksburg and "Mud March," Chancellorsville, Chickamauga, Chattanooga, the operations around Lookout Mountain and Missionary Ridge, and in Sherman's march to Atlanta. He went with his command to Resaca, Ga., He was then sent to the Army of the Potomac, with which he took part in the Wilderness campaign, and from that on to Appomattox. During this service he was on duty in the depot field hospital of the Army of the Potomac, and when that was dissolved he became chief medical officer of the Third Division of the Fifth Army Corps, and afterward chief medical officer of the hospital of the Sixth Army Corps.

Dr. McDonald resigned from the Army service on June 10, 1865, with the rank of lieutenant colonel, and was examining surgeon for pensions in New York City from 1877 to 1884. He practiced medicine in New York City, with the interval of his service in the Army, from March, 1855 to 1905, when he retired from practice. For some twenty years he was in the faculty of the New York Homeopathic Medical College, first as professor of anatomy, and afterward as professor of gynecology.

Dr. McDonald was a member of the American Institute of Homeopathy, the Army and Navy Club of Connecticut, the Society of the Army of the Potomac, the New York Commandery of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion, and of George Washington Post, G.A.R.

Germans in the Civil War

It is supposed that Robert E. Lee said, “Take the Dutch out of the Union army and we could whip the Yankees easily.”[1] New York State supplied the Union with the largest number of German born soldiers in the Civil War- totaling 36,680.  In 1869 Doctor Benjamin Apthorp Gould, the actuary for the United States Sanitary Commission, published Investigations in the Military and Anthropological Statistics of American Soldiers.  Using census records, Dr. Gould showed that the Germans supplied a larger proportionate share of volunteers for the Union army than either the native Americans-many of whom hired substitutes under the bounty system-or the Irish.  According to Dr. Gould’s figures:

176,817 Germans enlisted in the Federal army, which totaled 2,018,200 men, though they would have had to supply only 118,402 in proportion to their share of the population.  Native Americans should have supplied 1,660,068 but actually only 1,523,267 were enlisted.  The Irish, like the Germans, exceeded their quota, supplying 144,221 when their share would have been only 139,052.  Since there were not as many Germans as Irish in the United States by 1860, it was plain that the Germans exceeded them as well as other nationalities in their contributions to the Union armies.[2]

According to Reimer, approximately 400 Germans from Albany fought in the Civil War.  Although numerous Germans from Albany fought in the war, the city did not have specific regiments organized that were composed of mainly German stock except for Company D of the Twentieth Regiment of Infantry, or the United Turner Rifles.  However, New York City did create numerous regiments that mustered in the German element; for example, the Fourth New York Calvary, also called Dickel’s Mounted Rifles; the Second Battery, Light Artillery, New York, otherwise known as Blenker’s Battery; the Seventh New York Regiment of Infantry, also known as the Steuben Regiment; the Eighth New York Regiment of Infantry, also referred to as the First German Rifles; the Twenty-ninth New York Regiment of Infantry, familiarly known as the First Astor Rifles; the Forty-fifth New York Regiment of Infantry (Veteran), also celebrated as the Fifth German Regiment and Rifles: Howe’s Rifles; the Forty-sixth New York Regiment of Infantry, otherwise known as the Frémont Regiment; the Fifty-second New York Regiment of Infantry, commonly recognized as the Sigel Rifles or the German Rangers; the Fifty-fourth New York Regiment of Infantry, usually identified as the Barney Rifles or Schwarzes-Yäger Regiment; and the Eighty-sixth New York Regiment of Infantry, generally acknowledged as the Steuben Rangers.[3]

The numerous contributions made by the Germans in the Civil War tended to discredit the nativists’ attacks upon them that were frequently heard in the prewar years.  The war gave them a chance not only to raise their prestige as citizens, but also to fortify their leadership roles in the community.  Many individuals previously conscripted into German military service acquired traits from their experiences in the military that remained with them for the rest of their lives.  Respect for discipline, honesty, and hard work were such traits.  Germans now pointed to the Civil War as proof of their deserved place in American society.[4] After the Civil War, the war investment appeared to pay off with large political dividends.  The anti-German bias subsided.  Later, historians noted that the Civil War ended the vogue of calling the Germans “Dutchmen.”[5] The Civil War not only helped to confirm the course of German-American activism, but also encouraged the acquisition of the English language.  In a war economy, efficiency was valued highly- if a worker understood no English, he stood the possibility of being laid off.  Therefore, the belief that knowledge of English enhanced one’s job prospects and earnings was both true and tested.[6]

An example of a German-born individual profiting from the Civil War was George Krank (1829-1907).  Krank held many occupations, such as saloon owner, musician, and real estate agent.  He helped recruit the German element in the “South End” during the Civil War.  Krank held the rank of Second Lieutenant in the New York State Volunteers Seventh Regiment of Heavy Artillery.  After the war he was immensely popular and was elected First Ward Alderman in 1872.  He is said to have claimed that he aided the city in having public water pipes installed and run up Second Avenue.  The 1873 Albany Directory lists Krank as First Ward Alderman, deputy sheriff, and real estate agent.[7]  During the 1880s, he was captain of the German militia organization- the Washington Rifles.  Behind his beloved Our Lady Help of Christians Church lies Krank Street and also Krank Park.  Although in the “South End” of today George Krank might be forgotten for his deeds, his surname is prominently displayed on street signs and the park billboard.

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[1] Rippley, The German-Americans, p. 65.

[2] O’Connor, The German-Americans, pp. 129-130. Faust, The German Element in the United States, pp. 522-526. Rudolf A. Hofmeister, The Germans of Chicago (Champaign: Stipes Publishing Company, 1976), p. 87.

[3] Faust, The German Element in the United States, p. 527. Frederick Phisterer, comp., New York in the War of the Rebellion, 1861-1865 (Albany: J. B. Lyon Company, State Printers, 1912), pp. 803-822, 1788-1805, 1815-1831, 1958-1970, 2062-2076, 2319-2337, 2305-2321, 2415-2436, 2445-2463. For an excellent survey of a locally organized regiment that included many Germans residing in the Albany County town of Bethlehem; see, Robert Keating, Carnival of Blood: The Civil War Ordeal of the Seventh New York Heavy Artillery (Baltimore: Butternut & Blue, 1998).

[4] Bergquist, “German-Americans,” in Multiculturalism in the United States, p. 61.  Yox, “Decline of the German-American Community in Buffalo,” p. 94. Guido A. Dobbert, “German-Americans Between New and Old Fatherland,” American Quarterly 19(4): 669.

[5] Andrew P. Yox, “Bonds of Community: Buffalo’s German Element,” New York History 66(2): 156. Idem, Decline of the German-American Community in Buffalo, p. 101.

[6] Yox, “Decline of the German-American Community in Buffalo,” pp. 107-108.

[7] 1873 Albany City Directory (Albany: Sampson, Davenport, & Company, 1873), p. 123.

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks: Week 3; Charles Koreman

Until last year, since the early 1850s there have been three men named Charles Koreman living in Albany.  A father, a son, and a grandson; all with the same name.  This bio will focus on Charles I. His name was not always Charles.

Charles Koreman, circa 1872

He was born Adrianus Johannes Koremans on 31 January 1844 in the city of Zierikzee, in the Province of Zeeland, in the Netherlands; to Cornelis Koremans and Maria Catharina Colen.  Charles was the younger brother of my great-great grandfather, Henry Koreman.  The author believes that sometime after the family arrived in the United States, circa 1852, that Adrianus Johannes Koremans' (Adriaan John Koreman in English) name was changed to Charles Koreman.  From there the name stuck.

Adrianus Johannes Koremans, Dutch birth certificate

In the 1860 New York State Census, 16 year old Charles was listed without an occupation but residing with his parents.  The following year the Civil War broke out and the young immigrant boy desired to show his patriotism for his new homeland.  He longed to enlist as a volunteer soldier. Against his parents' wishes he was mustered into the 177th Regiment of NYS Volunteers as a Private on 16 October 1862; and within five weeks Charles was discharged as a minor on 23 November 1862 for enlisting without his parents consent.

Record from 177th Regt. NYSV, Adjutant General Book

Record from 177th Regt. NYSV, Muster Rolls

Record of Discharge 

However within two years Charles re-enlisted as a Private this time in the 12th Cavalry, NYSV on 8 September 1864 for a one year term.  He was discharged on 14 June 1865 at Raleigh, North Carolina.

Charles Koreman, 12th Cavalry, NYSV

Record from 12th Cavalry, NYSV Adjutant General Book

Record from 12th Cavalry, NYSV Descriptive Rolls

Charles Koreman, 12th Cavalry. NYSV, Discharge Paper

After the war Charles re-entered life as a civilian and took up the occupation as a saddler.  At one point Charles and older brother Henry were in business together as saddlers in 1873 according to the Albany City Directory for that year.  Below is a listing from the directory for their business.

1873 Albany City Directory Ad

Also around 1873 Charles married Magdelena Behrhof (1854 - 1892). Magdelena was the younger sister of Margaret Behrhof who married Henry Koreman in 1863.  Two Koreman brothers married two Behrhof sisters.

Magdelena Behrhof Koreman, circa 1875

Charles and Magdelena resided in Albany's South End on Osborn Street for a number of years before moving around the corner to 77 Catherine Street in a neighborhood known as the "beehive." The couple had eight children;

• Charles (1874-1877)
• Henry (1876-1876)
• Margaret (1877-1938)
• Charles Joseph (1878-1938)
• Peter Edward (1880-1933)
• Henry William (1884-1939)
• Frank Joseph (1886-1915)
• Adrian Charles (1890-1927)

Charles Koreman seated center of picture with crossed arms

From 1888 till 1893 Charles was employed as a foreman at the Carriage Manufactory of James Goold Company until his eye sight started declining.  I believe the photo above to be the workers from the Goold Carriage Company.  His poor eyesight enabled him to apply for a pension with the United States government for service during the Civil War.  An affidavit from his Civil War pension files is below detailing his troubles.

Affidavit from Koreman's pension records

Charles kept his ties with other Civil War soldiers by joining one of the local Grand Army of the Republic posts.  As of this writing, the author knows that Charles was a member of one the three GAR posts in Albany but not which one.  Below is a photo of Charles on the right; seated perhaps next to his brother-in-law, Joseph Wagner, who also fought in the war.  Both men are wearing GAR dress uniforms.

Charles Koreman, seated right

Charles died on Christmas Day 1908 in Albany at 77 Catherine Street.  He collapsed and was found in the hallway of his home according to the Albany Evening Journal.  One of the last photographs of Charles is below.  Charles is seated left; brother Henry is seated right; and an unknown Koreman relative is standing behind them.  The unknown man may be Henry Koreman Jr.?  Charles was buried in Our Lady Help of Christians Cemetery in Glenmont, NY.

Koreman photo circa 1908