Most people don't realize that Jews served in the Civil War. In that time and even still today, there are people who believe that Jews will not fight for this country of ours. This is erroneous. Jews have served in many of our country's wars and conflicts, including the civil war.
Col. Spiegel arrived in America from Germany just 12 years before his experience in the Civil War. During his years in America, he became very proud of being an American, and was a patriot. Col. Spiegel served for two years in the Union's 120 Ohio Volunteer Infantry. He was one of a few Jewish colonels in our civil war. During his two years in service, he was able to write over 150 letters to his wife Caoline Spiegel. In his writings, he was able to eloquently depict the daily life of a Union soldier, and he chose to tell about the victories and defeats in battle; good things and bad that he saw; his ideas and thoughts, including those on the abolition of slavery, and of his patriotism. Even during wartime, he remained true to his belief in God and his religion.
His wife took these letters and carefully preserved them for future generations by mounting them and binding them in a black leather album. In fact, it was his great-great-granddaughter Jean Soman who found this album as a child in her home in Florida, and as a Junior at the University of Wisconsin, wrote a paper about his accounts. We owe these women a debt of gratitude for preserving and sharing history.
Jews in the Civil War Database - Search for your Ancestors!
A lot of people don't know and perhaps don't care about the Civil War. It happened in the 1800's, far removed from today's historical happenings; from today's troubled times and conflicts around the world. Did you know that during the Civil War, the weapons used were muskets, guns, cannons? They did not have the super weapons used today; yet, more people died during the Civil War than all our wars put together. The Civil War changed America forever.
Col. Marcus M. Spiegel
During the civil war, Jews served on both the Confederate and the Union armies. We know of them through written accounts. One particular person who served was Col. Marcus M. Spiegel.
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CIVIL WAR WEBSITES:
Jews in the Civil War
American Civil War Information Archive
