Marcus M. Spiegel facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Marcus M. Spiegel
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| Born | December 8, 1829 Abenheim, Germany
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| Died | May 4, 1864 (aged 34) Louisiana, U.S.
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| Nationality | American |
| Occupation | U.S. Army officer |
| Title | Colonel |
| Relatives | Joseph Spiegel (brother) |
Marcus M. Spiegel (born December 8, 1829 – died May 4, 1864) was an important officer in the Union Army during the American Civil War. He was one of the highest-ranking Jewish officers. Spiegel fought for the Union, serving in the 67th and 120th Ohio Volunteer Infantry. He became a strong supporter of ending slavery. He was part of the Siege of Vicksburg and was badly hurt during the Red River Campaign in May 1864, which led to his death.
Early Life and Family
Marcus M. Spiegel was born on December 8, 1829. His hometown was Abenheim, a small village in Germany, near the city of Worms. His family was Jewish and had lived in Germany for many centuries.
Later, Marcus moved to America. While working as a traveling salesman in Ohio, he met Caroline Hamlin. She was the daughter of a well-known Quaker family. Marcus and Caroline got married and then moved to Chicago, Illinois. There, Caroline learned about Judaism and German-Jewish cooking. She officially converted to Judaism in Chicago in 1853.
Marcus was also the older brother of Joseph Spiegel. Joseph later became famous for starting the Spiegel Catalog, a big mail-order company.
Military Career and Beliefs
When the American Civil War began, Marcus Spiegel joined the Union Army. He quickly moved up in rank because he was a good leader. During the war, he wrote over 150 letters to his wife, Caroline. Most of these letters are still around today.
In one of his letters, Marcus shared his strong feelings about slavery. He wrote:
I am [in] favor of doing away with the institution of Slavery...never hereafter will I either speak or vote in favor of Slavery; this is no hasty conclusion but a deep conviction.
This shows that he strongly believed slavery should be ended. He became a firm abolitionist, someone who wanted to stop slavery completely.
In late 1862, Spiegel was moved to a new group of soldiers, the 120th Ohio Volunteer Infantry. He was promoted to lieutenant colonel. Then, on March 20, 1863, he officially became a colonel and took charge of the entire regiment.
Key Battles and Final Days
Colonel Spiegel and his regiment fought in the important Siege of Vicksburg. This battle took place from May 18 to July 4, 1863. The Union Army won this battle, which was a major victory. Soon after Vicksburg fell, Spiegel was seriously injured by an exploding shell.
He survived his injury and was sent home to get better. In March 1864, he returned to duty on the front lines. Just a few weeks later, his unit was part of the Red River Campaign in Louisiana. During this campaign, Confederate soldiers attacked a Union transport ship called the City Belle. This happened near Snaggy Point on the Red River.
The attack was a disaster for the Ohio soldiers. Most of the 120th Infantry were captured by the Confederates. Marcus Spiegel was hit again by an exploding shell. This time, his wounds were too severe. He died from his injuries on May 4, 1864.
