The Free Press, Mankato, MN

Local News

Related Photos

  • Brown County Historical Society research librarian Darla Gebhard peruses a document pertaining to the eight Civil War-era letters donated to the organization. The letters were written from Southern encampments by Union-soldier brothers from New Ulm. John Cross

    new ulm letters 1.jpg

January 10, 2011

Civil War letters come to New Ulm museum

By Brian Ojanpa Free Press Staff Writer

NEW ULM — The Schilling brothers’ eight letters penned in 1862 evince an extraordinary time in American history as well as a painful part of New Ulm’s past.

The Brown County Historical Society Museum has acquired the documents from descendants of Louis and August Schilling, Union soldiers from New Ulm who sent letters from Civil War battlefields to family members back home who were caught in their own battles with Indians.

The letters, written in archaic German script by the immigrant brothers and yet to be fully translated, show that their concern for the welfare of New Ulm kin appeared to override the peril of having to fight in some of the war’s bloodiest battles.

“I think they might not have wanted to write about the bad things down there because they didn’t want people back home to worry,” said Historical Society research librarian Darla Gebhard.

When the brothers wrote about their day-to-day lives as soldiers, they stuck to minutia.

From Camp Corinth (Mississippi) May 22, 1862: “They have 160,000 troops and approximately 700 cannons. The weather is great, the nights are cool. The peach trees are brimming with fruit.”

June 26: “The camp site is nice, the water quite good ... there are no mosquitoes yet ... Uncle Sam won’t provide beer, which is a shame, because it’s currently warm enough to drink a good portion.”

Later in the letter they express hope that they might be able to return home soon and state that camp conditions were less than ideal:

“The situation is miserable currently but patience overcomes anything.”

Of more concern to the brothers was news that reached them of the Dakota attack on New Ulm, and on Aug. 26 they dashed off a frantic letter to their family.

“The last mail has brought us sad and terrible news,” they wrote. “Our only hope now is that this, like all previous Indian reports, is greatly exaggerated.”

Their optimism wasn’t rewarded. Their mother was wounded and their father and brother died from injuries inflicted by Indians going from cabin to cabin in Milford Township near New Ulm.  

“What’s so haunting to me when you read their first two letters is that they don’t know their father is dead,” Gebhard said.   

The brothers were with the 1st Minnesota Battery and took part in the battles of Shiloh, Vicksburg, Atlanta, Savannah and many smaller engagements.

After the war August Schilling and his mother moved to Chicago and Louis became the New Ulm city clerk, a post he held until the day he died — on his 71st birthday in 1906.

The letters were given to the Historical Society by former New Ulm resident and Louis Schilling’s great-grandson Craig Duehring, who lives in the state of Virginia. Duehring acquired the letters from a deceased cousin.

Gebhard said the letters will become part of a museum exhibit in 2012 that will commemorate the 150th anniversary of the U.S./Dakota Conflict.

Text Only | Photo Reprints
Local News
  • Feelings mixed on anti-bullying bill delay

    A bill that would have strengthened efforts to combat bullying in Minnesota's schools will not become law this year, which surprised and disheartened Minnesota State University professor Walter Roberts.

    May 20, 2013

  • mfp Thrift shop1 Hopp's hope

     Hopp's Thrift Store isn't run by a nonprofit. And it isn't filled with racks of used clothing or furniture. Instead, it's geared toward a different clientele -- guys

    May 20, 2013 2 Photos

  • Police seek information on burglary at Northtown Auto

    Two vehicles, keys to more vehicles and other items were taken after Northtown Auto on North Riverfront Drive was broken into.

    May 19, 2013

  • Morel hunt2.jpg Mushroom, nature lovers on the hunt

    Morel season just two or three weeks long

    May 19, 2013 3 Photos

  • Deadline moving up for first-class mail

    Postal Service holding meeting with businesses over shutdown

    May 19, 2013

  • What's Read on the Web 1. Gay marriage hits home for minister This summer, Lisa Coons hopes to be on both sides of a same-sex marriage -- officiating and participating. The Mankatoan plans to wed her partner of 25 years and, as an ordained non-denominational minister, is e

    May 19, 2013

  • mfp-cadets pic 51913 Two Mankato area Civil Air Patrol cadets receive Mitchell award MANKATO -- Lt. Col. Mathew Wiskow, Minnesota Wing's Group 4 commander, presented certificates and ribbons to two cadets during a ceremony May 9 at the Mankato Regional Airport. Cadets Hunter Brindley and Tanner Johnson of the Minnesota Wing's Mankato

    May 19, 2013 1 Photo

  • AgStar awards county fair grants MANKATO -- The AgStar Fund for Rural America, the corporate giving program of AgStar Financial Services, recently awarded $69,000 in grants through its county fair facility upgrade grant program, $24,000 more than last year. Area organizations recei

    May 19, 2013

  • Frac sand movie to be shown Monday MANKATO -- A screening of a documentary about the frac sand mining boom in Minnesota and Wisconsin will be held Monday afternoon in the Blue Earth County Library auditorium. The Mankato Area Environmentalists and the Center for Earth Spirituality are

    May 19, 2013

  • mfp storm chasers Storm chasers go looking for trouble Call them crazy. They won't mind. They understand that running into a storm might not be everyone's idea of a good time. And when tornado sirens sound -- and authorities are advising people to take cover -- they accept that it wouldn't be inappropria

    May 19, 2013 1 Photo