Julius Stahel facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Julius H. Stahel-Számwald
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| Born | November 5, 1825 Szeged, Kingdom of Hungary |
| Died | December 4, 1912 (aged 87) New York City, New York |
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| Allegiance | Austrian Empire Hungary United States of America Union |
| Service/ |
Austrian Army Hungarian Revolutionary ArmyUnited States Army Union Army |
| Years of service | Hungarian Revolutionary Army 1848-1849 United States Army 1861–1865 |
| Rank | First Lieutenant (Austria) First Lieutenant (Hungary)  Major General (USV) |
| Commands held | 8th New York Infantry Regiment 1st Bde, 1st Div, I Corps 1st Div, XI Corps Stahel's Cavalry Division |
| Battles/wars | Hungarian Revolution of 1848 American Civil War |
| Awards | Medal of Honor |
Julius H. Stahel-Számwald (born November 5, 1825 – died December 4, 1912) was a brave soldier from Hungary. He later moved to the United States and became a Union general during the American Civil War. After the war, he worked as a U.S. diplomat, a mining engineer, and a leader in a life insurance company. He earned the Medal of Honor for his courage during the Battle of Piedmont in 1864.
Contents
Early Life and Hungarian Fight for Freedom
Julius Stahel was born in Szeged, Kingdom of Hungary, a city about 200 kilometers (124 miles) southeast of Budapest. He went to school in Szeged and Budapest. After finishing his studies, he joined the Austrian Army. He quickly rose through the ranks to become a lieutenant.
Stahel strongly believed in Hungarian independence. He joined the movement led by Lajos Kossuth during the Hungarian Revolution of 1848. This was a time when Hungarians fought for their freedom from the Habsburg rulers. Stahel served on the teams of important generals like Artúr Görgey and Richard Debaufre Guyon.
When the Hungarian fight for freedom ended in 1849, Stahel had to leave his home country. He first went to Prussia and then to England. In 1859, he finally moved to the United States. Before the American Civil War began, he worked for a German-language newspaper in New York City.
Serving in the American Civil War
When the American Civil War started in 1861, Julius Stahel stepped up to help. He and Louis Blenker worked together to create a new army unit. This unit was called the 8th New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment. It was also known as the 1st German Rifles or Blenker's Rifles.
Stahel, who had shortened his name by dropping "Számwald," became the unit's lieutenant colonel. Blenker served as the colonel. Stahel saw his first battle at the First Battle of Bull Run. His regiment helped cover the retreat of the Union Army. This allowed many soldiers to get away safely.
Stahel quickly showed his leadership skills. He became a colonel on August 11, 1861. Just three months later, he was promoted to brigadier general.
Key Battles and Promotions
Stahel led a brigade under Maj. Gen. John C. Frémont in Virginia. His brigade fought at the Battle of Cross Keys. Here, Stonewall Jackson stopped the Union Army's advance. Stahel's position was on the left side of the Union line. This made his command open to an attack from the side by Confederate forces.
By July 1862, Stahel was in charge of a brigade in the Army of Virginia. At the Second Battle of Bull Run, his commander was wounded. Stahel then took over the division. His brigade was one of two that protected the Union Army's retreat after they were defeated.
Stahel continued to rise in rank. By late 1862, he was leading an entire division. He was promoted to major general on March 14, 1863. For a short time in the fall of 1862, he even commanded the XI Corps.
In March 1863, Stahel was given command of a Union cavalry division. This division was part of the defenses around Washington, D.C.. Later, he served as a cavalry commander during the Gettysburg Campaign.
Medal of Honor
In the spring of 1864, Stahel was leading the 1st Cavalry Division. This division was fighting in the Shenandoah Valley. At the Battle of New Market on May 15, 1864, his division attacked the Confederate line. However, they were pushed back by heavy artillery fire.
At the Battle of Piedmont on June 5, 1864, Stahel showed incredible bravery. He was serving as the cavalry commander under Maj. Gen. David Hunter. Stahel led his division with great courage even while under fire. He was seriously wounded in the shoulder during the battle.
For his outstanding leadership and bravery at Piedmont, Stahel received the Medal of Honor. This high honor was given to him on November 4, 1893. After recovering from his injury, Stahel served on court-martial duty. He then left the army on February 8, 1865.
Life After the War
After the Civil War, Julius Stahel continued to serve his country in different ways. He worked as a U.S. diplomat. He was a consul in Yokohama, Japan, from 1866 to 1869. Later, he served as consul in Osaka, Japan, from 1877 to 1884. He then became the United States Consul General in Shanghai, China, from 1884 to 1885.
Between his diplomatic jobs, Stahel also worked as a mining engineer. He helped design and build mines. When he returned to the United States due to health reasons, he worked for the Equitable Life Insurance Company in New York City.
Julius Stahel passed away in New York City at the age of 87. After a funeral in Washington, D.C., he was buried with honors in the Arlington National Cemetery.
