Nicholas Greusel facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Nicholas Greusel
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| Born | July 4, 1817 Blieskastel, Kingdom of Bavaria |
| Died | April 25, 1896 (aged 78) Aurora, Illinois |
| Buried |
Aurora, Illinois
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| Allegiance |  Union Illinois |
| Service/ |
Union Army |
| Years of service | 1861–1863 |
| Rank |  Colonel |
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| Battles/wars |
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| Other work | Detroit Alderman (1844–46) |
Nicholas Greusel (born July 4, 1817, died April 25, 1896) was an important military leader during the American Civil War. He commanded the 36th Illinois Infantry Regiment and later led larger groups of soldiers called brigades. Nicholas came to the United States from the Kingdom of Bavaria when he was a teenager. He lived in Detroit and Illinois, where he also served in local government. Before the Civil War, he fought in the Mexican-American War. When the Civil War began, he quickly rose through the ranks to become a colonel. He showed great bravery and leadership in major battles like Pea Ridge, Perryville, and the Battle of Stones River. After the war, Nicholas Greusel became a strong supporter of peace.
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Nicholas Greusel's Early Life and Adventures
Growing Up and Moving to America
Nicholas Greusel was born on July 4, 1817, in Blieskastel, a town that was part of the Kingdom of Bavaria. He learned to speak both German and French language as a child. In 1833, when Nicholas was 16, his family moved to New York City in the United States. His father told Nicholas and his older siblings that they would need to find their own way in this new country.
Nicholas found work for a year with the mother of a famous politician, Hamilton Fish. In 1836, his whole family moved again, this time to Detroit, Michigan Territory. Nicholas found a job in the lumber business, which he kept for ten years. During this time, he became a captain in a local citizen army, called a militia, and later a major in the Frontier Guards. In 1839, Nicholas married Jane Doumens. They had 12 children together, with eight still living in 1888. In 1844, he was elected as an Alderman for Detroit, serving for two years. An Alderman is a local government official who helps make decisions for the city.
Serving in the Mexican-American War
When the Mexican-American War started, Nicholas Greusel gathered a group of volunteers. He was chosen as the captain of this group, which became Company D of the 1st Michigan Regiment. His company traveled a long way, by foot, train, and boat, to reach Veracruz, Mexico. They arrived shortly after a major battle there had ended.
Greusel's regiment served in the areas around Orizaba and Córdoba. They had small fights with Mexican soldiers and local fighters. When the war ended, the regiment returned home to Detroit in July 1847. Out of 105 soldiers in Company D, 85 returned, which was a good number compared to other companies. Captain Greusel was very good at managing his company's money. He saved $300, which he used to buy new shirts and shoes for his soldiers. Because his company looked so sharp, the regiment's colonel chose them to lead the homecoming parade.
Life Before the Civil War
After the Mexican-American War, Greusel continued to be involved in local defense. He was elected major and then lieutenant colonel of the city guards. He also held important civilian jobs, like superintendent of the city water works in 1849 and Inspector General of lumber for Michigan from 1850 to 1852.
Nicholas Greusel later faced a financial setback that cost him his life savings. He then worked as a conductor for the Michigan Central Railroad. He eventually moved to Aurora, Illinois, and took a job with the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad. When the American Civil War began after the Battle of Fort Sumter in April 1861, Captain Greusel quickly joined the Illinois militia. His company became part of the 7th Illinois Infantry Regiment. Greusel quickly rose to the rank of lieutenant colonel. In August, the state governor appointed him colonel of a new unit, which became the 36th Illinois Infantry.
Nicholas Greusel in the Civil War
Leading at Pea Ridge and Corinth
At the Battle of Pea Ridge in March 1862, Colonel Greusel led the 2nd Brigade. His brigade was part of a larger Union army. On March 7, the Confederate army tried to attack the Union forces from behind. When some Union cavalry soldiers panicked and ran, Greusel calmly told his infantrymen, "Officers and men, you have it in your power to make or prevent another Bull Run affair. I want every man to stand to his post." His soldiers stayed calm and held their ground.
Greusel skillfully directed his troops. He ordered cannons to fire shells over the woods, which surprised and scattered some Confederate fighters. He also sent out a small group of soldiers who bravely shot and killed a Confederate division commander who was scouting the area. Later, they also killed the second-in-command. Losing these two important leaders caused confusion for the Confederates and helped the Union side that day.
On March 8, the fighting continued. A cannonball narrowly missed Greusel's head, knocking him off his horse, but he was not seriously hurt. As the Confederate lines weakened, Greusel's regiments were at the front of the Union advance, helping to secure a victory. The 36th Illinois and 12th Missouri regiments, which were part of his command, fought bravely and suffered some losses.
From June to September 1862, Greusel commanded the 1st Brigade during the Siege of Corinth. This was a period when Union forces surrounded and tried to capture the important Confederate railway hub of Corinth, Mississippi.
Battles of Perryville and Stones River
At the Battle of Perryville in October 1862, Greusel commanded the 37th Brigade. His brigade included the 36th Illinois, 88th Illinois, 21st Michigan, and 24th Wisconsin Regiments. On the afternoon of October 7, Greusel's brigade helped Union cavalry push back Confederate horsemen.
The next day, October 8, three Confederate regiments attacked the Union division that Greusel's brigade was part of. The 36th Illinois suddenly rose up and fired a powerful volley, stopping the attack. A fierce firefight happened across a cornfield. When the 36th Illinois ran out of ammunition, another regiment took its place. Greusel's brigade, along with other Union units, successfully defended their position, causing the Confederates to retreat after suffering many casualties.
At the Battle of Stones River, which lasted from December 1862 to January 1863, Greusel commanded the 36th Illinois. His brigade faced intense Confederate attacks. On the morning of December 31, many Union brigades were forced to retreat. Greusel's brigade, however, stood firm. When a Confederate regiment came within 50 yards, the Illinois soldiers fired a powerful volley. After a half-hour of fighting, the Confederates began to pull back. Greusel ordered a counterattack with bayonets, forcing them to retreat. During this first clash, his brigade commander, Joshua W. Sill, was killed, and Greusel took command of the entire brigade.
For 90 minutes, Greusel's brigade and two others fought bravely against seven Confederate brigades. This was described as one of the most determined stands of the entire war. The 36th Illinois eventually ran out of ammunition and had to withdraw, having suffered many losses. Greusel's division continued to fight, moving to new positions as they ran out of supplies. Eventually, they were forced to retreat because their soldiers had no more ammunition.
Leaving the Army
After several days of continuous fighting and no sleep, Greusel became very ill. He resigned from the army on February 7, 1863, due to rheumatism, a condition causing pain in his joints. Some sources say he was promoted to brigadier general after Stones River, but a letter from General Philip Sheridan after the war still referred to him as a colonel. Greusel was given a special silver-plated revolver for having the best-drilled regiment in the army.
A Life of Peace After the War
Post-War Career and Family
After leaving the army, Nicholas Greusel returned to his job as a conductor with the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad. In 1866, he moved to Burlington, Iowa, and took a new job as a Roadmaster for the Burlington and Missouri River Railroad. He moved again to Mount Pleasant, Iowa, in 1867. After working for the railroad for three more years, he retired. In 1888, he was a church official at Saint Michael's Episcopal Church in Mount Pleasant.
Nicholas and Jane Greusel had 12 children. Eight of them were still living in 1888: E. Stuyvesant, Josephine, Elizabeth, Rachel, John O., Nettie, Susie, and Philip Sheridan. Sadly, another son, Joseph, joined the 27th Michigan Volunteer Infantry Regiment and lost his life in 1863 during the Civil War.
Advocating for Peace
In 1876, at a peace convention in Philadelphia, there was an idea to turn swords into useful tools. Nicholas Greusel was the first person to step forward and offer his own sword. He explained that it was the sword he carried during both the Mexican-American War and the Civil War. He had originally planned to pass it down to his children. Greusel's sword was transformed into a pruning hook, a tool used for gardening, and presented to the conference the next day. In the years after the war, Nicholas Greusel became a passionate supporter of peace and believed in reducing weapons.
Nicholas Greusel passed away in Aurora, Illinois, on April 25, 1896. He was buried in Spring Lake Cemetery in Aurora. His gravestone reads "General N. Greusel."
