Ernst Kunze

Name: Ernst Kunze Company: D Died August 26, 1863, at Odin, Illinois
Birth Date: September 29, 1813 Place: Gobitz, West Prussia (present day Sachsen-Anhalt)	Mustered In Date: March 5, 1862 Rank: Private Age: 48 (military records say 35) Residence prior to military service: Gobitz, West Prussia (Germany); Oak Creek, Wisconsin; Laketown, Carver County, Minnesota Vocation prior to military service: Farmer
Death Date: August 26, 1863 Place: Odin, Illinois Burial: Odin, Illinois

Ernst Kunze Biography and Civil War Narrative

By James Kustelski, great great grandson of Ernst Kunze. Information about James' ancestry, including the Kunze line, is online at http://james.kustelski.googlepages.com/home.

(Christian) Ernst Kunze was born September 29, 1813 in Gobitz, West Prussia (which is now in Sachsen-Anhalt) to Johann Kunze and Johanna Potzeldt. This family was Lutheran. Ernst Kunze married Wilhelmine Meineke about 1843 and had 6 children in

Germany

of which only one survived. They immigrated in 1853 from the port of Bremen on the vessel Henrietta arriving in the Port of New York in July of that year. Wilhelmina's Father, Gottfried Meineke, accompanied them on their journey to

America

as well as the one surviving son, Albert. The Kunze family spent a little time in Oak Creek, Wisconsin, where the second son August was born in August of 1853. The family then moved to Laketown, Minnesota, which is east of Waconia in Carver County and settled on 120 acres near Reitz Lake. They had 2 more children in Minnesota, Ernst born in December 1856 and my Great Grandfather, John, in November 1857.

Private Ernst Kunze mustered in the Minnesota 5th Infantry Volunteers on March 15, 1862 at Fort Snelling claiming his age was 35 when he was actually closer to 50. He was 5'4" tall, light complexion, blue eyes, and light brown hair. The Company was then stationed at Fort Abercrombie but was then activated and sent to Grant's Army of the West. According to Ernst's records he served as a Carpenter, Cook, Hospital Attendant, and of course, Soldier. He was engaged in action at Abercrombie, Dakota Territory September 3 & 6, 1862; at Jackson, Mississippi May 14, 1863; in the Siege of Vicksburg (1863); and at Richmond, Louisiana on June 14, 1863. Ernst then got ill and was given 30 day sick furlough beginning August 13, 1863, and proceeded on his way home. He only made it as far as Odin, Illinois, and was found at a train station by a Mr. John Reichert who took him to his home to care for him as he could hardly stand by that time. Several days later on August 26th, Ernst passed away, and Mr. Reichert took care of his burial and wrote letters to his wife and Commander explaining what happened. Private Ernst Kunze's burial has never been found.

Wilhelmine Kunze moved to Waconia in 1870, and died in 1878 [on June 20]. She is buried in Trinity Lutheran Cemetery, Waconia, Minnesota.

Transcribed letter from Mr. John Reichert to Wilhelmina Kunze:

Odin Marion Co. Ill. Aug 28th, 1863

Mrs. Kunze, Madam,

It becomes my painful duty to break to you the sad news of your husbands death, he died the 26th. But to be more particular last Sabbath, we found him at Odin Station I believe on his way home but to feeble to go any further. He had been sick sometime but had not given up until when we brought him to our home in hopes that with careful nursing and attention he might get strength to reach his home. On Monday he appeared much better and walked out a little, appeared to relish his nourishment and remained so until Tuesday noon when I saw he was not so well but at night he seemed quite cheerful and sat up on his bed and talked freely. On Wednesday morning there was a great change in him, he could hardly speak and his mind was wandering. He drank a cup of coffee but ate nothing. He died about August 26th, he had the diarrhea but not bad but we succeeded in checking it almost entirely but he was entirely worn out. He was the poorest person I ever saw, he had no flesh on him. I think he was not sensible that he was going to die but he several times said he should never return to his Regiment. Your husband left with us 22 dollars. After paying his burial expenses and Doctors bill the balance will be sent to you when you tell us where and how to send it to you together with what clothes he left. He had only 1 good suit of clothes those he was buried in. The balance are not worth much but you can tell us what to do with them. Write and direct your letter to:

John D Reichert

Odin Marion County Illinois

P.S. if it would be more convenient to write in German do so.

And to Ernst's Commander he wrote:

Odin Ills. August 28th 1863

Capt. Vander Horck

Sir,

on the 25th I found Ernst Kunze a member of your Company a furloughed Soldier sick, and took him home, had Dr. to see him, and done all for him that could be done but he died on the 26th, I had buried him decently and have written to his Wife about his effects.

Yours Respectfully,
J D Reichert

A note at the bottom says:

P.S. Sir, I am well acquainted with Mr. Reichert and I do assure you that your Man died with fever.

J L Garston Capt.

Co "G" 62th Ills.

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This page is maintained by Tim Bode (timbode@juno.com ). Page created on 10/21/2009. Last modified on 10/24/2009.