Frederick Schaefer facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Frederick Schaefer
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|---|---|
| Born | Baden |
| Died | 1862 Murfreesboro, Tennessee |
| Allegiance |  United States of AmericaUnion |
| Service/ |
 United States ArmyUnion Army |
| Years of service | 1861 – 1862 |
| Rank |  Colonel, U.S.V. |
| Commands held |  2nd Missouri Infantry |
| Battles/wars | American Civil War |
Frederick Schaefer was a brave soldier from Germany. He became a high-ranking officer, a colonel, in the Union Army during the American Civil War. He led groups of soldiers called brigades in important battles like Pea Ridge and Stones River. Sadly, he was killed in action during the Battle of Stones River.
Contents
Schaefer's Early Life and Military Start
Frederick Schaefer was born in a place called Baden, which is in Germany. He served in the army there when he was younger. In 1848, there were many revolutions (big protests and fights for change) happening across Europe. Schaefer was part of these movements. Because of his involvement, he later moved to the United States. He settled in the state of Missouri.
Joining the Union Army
When the American Civil War began, Schaefer joined the Union Army. He was quickly made a colonel, which is a very senior officer rank. He was put in charge of the 2nd Missouri Infantry regiment. His regiment became part of a larger group of soldiers called the Army of the Southwest.
Leading Soldiers in the Southwest
Schaefer's regiment was part of the 2nd Division, led by Brigadier General Alexander Asboth. Because Schaefer was a senior colonel, he was given command of the 1st Brigade within this division. A brigade is a large group of soldiers, usually made up of several regiments.
Key Battles and Commands
Frederick Schaefer played important roles in several major battles during the Civil War. He showed leadership and courage on the battlefield.
The Battle of Pea Ridge
One of the first big battles Schaefer was involved in was the Battle of Pea Ridge. This battle took place in Arkansas. During the first day of the battle, Schaefer's brigade was mostly kept in reserve. This means they were held back, ready to join the fight if needed. On the second day, Schaefer's brigade joined a counterattack led by General Franz Sigel. This attack helped the Union forces win the battle.
Changes in Command and New Assignments
After the Union victory at Pea Ridge, many soldiers from the Army of the Southwest were moved to a different army group. Schaefer's division was made smaller, becoming a brigade within the Army of the Mississippi. During this time, Schaefer went back to leading just his own regiment. This happened during the Siege of Corinth, which was a long military operation to capture a key city.
Sick Leave and Return to Battle
Later, during a campaign in Kentucky, Schaefer became sick and had to take leave from the army. While he was away, another officer, Lieutenant Colonel Bernard Laiboldt, took command of his regiment. When Schaefer got better and returned, he was once again the highest-ranking officer in his brigade. He took command of the 2nd Brigade, which was part of General Philip H. Sheridan's 3rd Division. This division belonged to the XIV Corps, a very large unit of the Union Army.
The Battle of Stones River
Schaefer's last battle was the Battle of Stones River, fought in Tennessee. His brigade was initially held in reserve, similar to Pea Ridge. However, they were soon sent to the front lines where the fighting was very intense. His soldiers began to run low on ammunition. General Sheridan, seeing their difficult situation, ordered his brigade commanders to have their men fix bayonets and keep fighting. A bayonet is a knife attached to the end of a rifle.
The fighting was very hard for Sheridan's division throughout the first day. Sadly, Colonel Frederick Schaefer was killed during this battle. He was the fourth brigade commander in Sheridan's division to fall that day, showing how fierce the fighting was.
