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I have this book called "Soldier Life" and it's full of first hand accounts of soldiers from the civil war. On page 19 I read an interesting account which I thought would be good to share. It's the experience of Pvt. Anton Schmidt of the 68th Penn. Inf/ 14th Conn. Inf. The book gives the following introduction, and then his story-
(Intro)
Schmidt had the misfortune to arrive in the United States from his native Germany in the spring of 1863, a time when war weariness had brought volunteering nearly to a halt and untutored young immigrants like himself were looked upon as potential cannon fodder. In this testimoney written in 1909 to support his claim to a veteran's pension, Schmidt, who anglicized his name to Smith, describes how he was shanghaied into the army and wrongly accused of desertion.
"I came to this country on May 10th, 1863, and proceeding from New York to New Haven, Conn., where I worked in a tin factory along with an old man, with whom I boarded. One day, about July 14th, 1863, this old man telling me to follow him, led me into a large building, (which I have since learned was an enlisting barracks) and talking to the man behind the iron grating, left me there saying he would return. I cannot say what he talked about, as I could not understand the English language. Directly two men came in and led me to another room, where my citizen's clothes were taken away and a soldier's uniform given me.
I was then told that I was enlisted under the name of Chas. Roehmer, and was at once forwarded to the front to Co. H, 14th Conn. Vol. Inftry. and was much surprised to hear them call me Roehmer, and of course did not answer at first until I was told that I must answer to that name. Well, I served in line of duty till I was wounded in the Battle of the Wilderness on May 6th, 1864, whereupon I was furloughed to Lincoln Hospital, Washington D.C. for 30 days. A little later, while in New York City, I was again picked up and sent to a soldier's barracks at Jersey City, N.J. and notwithstanding the fact that the wounds in my right knee and left shoulder were still open, I was forwarded to the front, this time under my correct name of Anton Smith. When I arrived as far as City Point, VA., I was sent by a Dr. to Washington with a pass and being tired out fell asleep. Upon awakening I found myself 25 miles from New York City, and without a dollar in my pocket. I walked over to Hoboken, Union Hill, N.J., to a friend of my father's and asked for a loan of $50.00. He left through the back door telling his barkeeper to give me all I washed to drink, and soon reappeared with another man who arrested me and sent me to Trenton, N.J., from thence going to Alexandria, VA., where I was court-martialed and sentenced to forfeit $10.00 per month out of my monthly pay for 18 months for desertion from the service as Charles Roehmer. This was in October, 1864. In November 5th of the same year, I was forwarded to the Bull Pen near City Point, Va., when on Jan. 3rd, 1865, I was forwarded to Co. G, 68th Pa. Vol. Inftry. where I served in line of duty until June 9th, 1865, when I was honorably discharged as Anton Smith from this Regiment at Hart's Island, N.Y.
Coming from Germany as stated at the opening of this letter I was not acquainted either with the custom laws or languages of this country. I did not intend to desert and was in fact in the service continually, though knowing nothing of jumping bounties, I served with two companies. I have been wronged and taken advantage of, at every turn whilst in this country."
(Intro)
Schmidt had the misfortune to arrive in the United States from his native Germany in the spring of 1863, a time when war weariness had brought volunteering nearly to a halt and untutored young immigrants like himself were looked upon as potential cannon fodder. In this testimoney written in 1909 to support his claim to a veteran's pension, Schmidt, who anglicized his name to Smith, describes how he was shanghaied into the army and wrongly accused of desertion.
"I came to this country on May 10th, 1863, and proceeding from New York to New Haven, Conn., where I worked in a tin factory along with an old man, with whom I boarded. One day, about July 14th, 1863, this old man telling me to follow him, led me into a large building, (which I have since learned was an enlisting barracks) and talking to the man behind the iron grating, left me there saying he would return. I cannot say what he talked about, as I could not understand the English language. Directly two men came in and led me to another room, where my citizen's clothes were taken away and a soldier's uniform given me.
I was then told that I was enlisted under the name of Chas. Roehmer, and was at once forwarded to the front to Co. H, 14th Conn. Vol. Inftry. and was much surprised to hear them call me Roehmer, and of course did not answer at first until I was told that I must answer to that name. Well, I served in line of duty till I was wounded in the Battle of the Wilderness on May 6th, 1864, whereupon I was furloughed to Lincoln Hospital, Washington D.C. for 30 days. A little later, while in New York City, I was again picked up and sent to a soldier's barracks at Jersey City, N.J. and notwithstanding the fact that the wounds in my right knee and left shoulder were still open, I was forwarded to the front, this time under my correct name of Anton Smith. When I arrived as far as City Point, VA., I was sent by a Dr. to Washington with a pass and being tired out fell asleep. Upon awakening I found myself 25 miles from New York City, and without a dollar in my pocket. I walked over to Hoboken, Union Hill, N.J., to a friend of my father's and asked for a loan of $50.00. He left through the back door telling his barkeeper to give me all I washed to drink, and soon reappeared with another man who arrested me and sent me to Trenton, N.J., from thence going to Alexandria, VA., where I was court-martialed and sentenced to forfeit $10.00 per month out of my monthly pay for 18 months for desertion from the service as Charles Roehmer. This was in October, 1864. In November 5th of the same year, I was forwarded to the Bull Pen near City Point, Va., when on Jan. 3rd, 1865, I was forwarded to Co. G, 68th Pa. Vol. Inftry. where I served in line of duty until June 9th, 1865, when I was honorably discharged as Anton Smith from this Regiment at Hart's Island, N.Y.
Coming from Germany as stated at the opening of this letter I was not acquainted either with the custom laws or languages of this country. I did not intend to desert and was in fact in the service continually, though knowing nothing of jumping bounties, I served with two companies. I have been wronged and taken advantage of, at every turn whilst in this country."
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