CINCINNATI
 CIVIL WAR ROUND TABLE
Serving Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana Since 1956

Great Website for Planning Civil War Travel: Civil War Traveler

Speaker: Joseph R. Reinhart, Louisville Civil War Round Table

Topic: Bullets, Bayonets, and Beer: August Willich's Gallant Dutchmen

In May, we welcome Joe Reinhart, who makes his first trip to the Cincinnati CWRT podium. Joe is a native of Louisville, KY. He is a member of the Louisville Civil War Round Table and the Manasota (FL) Civil War Round Table. He earned his B. A. degree at Bellarmine College and a post-graduate degree from Indiana University. A retired C.P.A., Joe has devoted the past twelve years to researching and writing about the Civil War in the West. He is the translator and editor of two works: August Willich’s Gallant Dutchmen: Civil War Letters from the 32nd Indiana Infantry (2006) and Two Germans in the Civil War: The Diary of John Daeuble and the Letters of Gottfried Rentschler, 6th Kentucky Volunteer Infantry (2004). Joe is the author of A History of the 6th Kentucky Volunteer Infantry U.S.: The Boys Who Feared No Noise (2000). His forthcoming work is entitled With a Strong German Hurrah: Civil War Letters of Friedrich Bertsch and Wilhekm Stängel, 9th Ohio Infantry. (Photo from Library of Congress.)

The 32nd Indiana Infantry was the only German regiment fielded by Indiana, and one of only about 33 German regiments in the entire Union army. Organized and initially led by Colonel August Willich, a former career officer in the Prussian army and leader in the German Revolution of 1848, the 32nd proved to be one of the Union’s most successful ethnic regiments in terms of both military achievements and gaining positive recognition for German-American participation in the conflict. The sacrifice of its members in combat in the Western theater was extraordinary; 171 of its officers and men lost their lives due to combat. This is the fourth highest number of battle deaths in the Hoosier State’s 170 plus regiments.

Joe will cover the history of the 32nd and also reveal what made this regiment different from Anglo-American regiments, such as its strong sense of ethnic German identity, distinctive cultural traits and preferences, ethnic pride, group solidarity, and feelings of superiority over Anglo-Americans and other ethnics.

Visit Joe's website here.