"Immigrants in the Civil War" Topic

Approximately one in four soldiers who enlisted in the Union Army during the Civil War were immigrants to the United States. They came to America looking for a better life, with many escaping political strife, famine, and persecution. America was viewed as a land of opportunity, offering freedom and a place to begin a new life…

Fold3: link

There were a number of regiments that spoke German. Ohio raised 11 German regiments. My relative was a Scottish immigrant.

MY great grandfather John Drüsh from Helvetia Switzerland served with an Illinois Infantry Regiment during the war.

There were also a lot of 2nd generation Germans, Irish, etc.

I always figured Ashley Wilkes was complaining about Great-Grandfather Earnest 73rd(?) Indiana Volunteers. Even decades after the war he left his will in German. (Mom's side--Dietrichs, Kunkels and such would have spoken German under Washington, but their English would have been passable by Lincoln's time.)

The Confederate percentage of immigrants would have been lower, but by no means negligible, Think Patrick Cleburne.

That generation had something we seem to have lost sight of- appreciation of what the US has to offer. Compared to the experiences from where they came from, they realized what they had here was worth fighting for. Very few Americans have lived for any time outside the States and at best took a vacation outside our borders. Every time I have and returned home I am thankful for what I have here in this country. Simple things like flushing toilets, being able to drink the tap water, sleeping knowing that (where I live) I do not have to worry about someone breaking in and ransacking my home and the availability of finding foodstuffs I want in many places.

We should try to understand and have empathy with their society and conditions of the time with realizing what their contemporary modern conveniences were some 160 years ago. We have the tendency to take "simple things" for granted where they are privileges (at best) in other countries.

🤔 weren't all US soldiers on both sides immigrants? Even the American Indians who fought in the war. I mean no one was actually native to this land. We all migrated at some point in time. 😉

Yes I realize the author means first generation migrants, but I don't think he says that. Just couldn't resist. 🙂

It was an advantage the Union had and they took advantage of it. They would sometimes enlist them right off the boat. Not so the Confederacy. Immigration to the Confederate States lagged far behind. I attribute it to.

1. The naval blockade.
2. Why would emigrants exchange one aristocracy for another?
3. In the Confederacy emigrants would have to compete with slave labor for work.
4. Homestead Act of 1862.
5. The United States economy was booming during the war. Creating more opportunities. The Confederate States economy was on life support.

Also, and the main reason, a lot less industrial base for labor and little urbanization for workers.

Technically they were all immigrants…

Maybe I misunderstand D4M's point, but I think that most people in Ireland, Germany, Switzerland etc today do enjoy easy access to clean water, flushing lavatories, and (on the whole) domestic security. (Armed robbery, homicides etc are serious in Europe, but on a different scale from in the US).

Just saying. But I agree that we in the developed world take too much for granted, and those of us in liberal democracies need to be reminded that are freedoms need active defending.

Don't let this derail the OP's thread.