Schmidt Family Papers, 1858-1895

Held by The Filson Historical Society

Creator: Schmidt family

Title: Papers, 1858-1895

Rights: For information regarding literary and copyright interest for this collection, contact the Curator of Special Collections.

Size of Collection: 2 cubic feet

Locator Number: Mss. A S349

Scope and Content Note

The collection contains 209 letters written between 1858 and 1895 by or to members of the Henry Schmidt family and their relatives living in Ohio and Kansas. The majority was written by Henry to his fiancee and wife, Kate, while he served with the 15th and 37th Ohio Infantry regiments in the Civil War. The letters reflect the deep affection that Henry had for Kate and his concern for her financial well being, her living conditions during his long absences and that she become a faithful member of the Catholic church. Some letters reveal his feelings about the Copperhead movement in Ohio and his ambivalence regarding slavery. They also provide many details of military engagements involving the 37th Ohio Infantry Regt., particularly the siege of Vicksburg and the Atlanta Campaign. He also provides a description of his experiences while a paroled prisoner in camps near Columbus, Ohio in 1862. Additional letters were written by Kate while she waited for his return after the war and by fellow soldiers in the 37th regiment.

Biographical Note

Joseph Henry Schmidt was born in Wapakoneta, Auglaize County, Ohio, on 18 December 1839, the son of Caspar Schmidt, a German immigrant. In April 1861, he enlisted for three months service with Company K of the 15 th Ohio Volunteer Infantry (O.V.I.) and served as a sergeant. On 22 August 1861, following the mustering out of the 15 th Ohio, he re-enlisted with Company C of the 37th Ohio Volunteer Infantry, a primarily German regiment. He was appointed 2nd Lieutenant of Company C on 7 September 1861 and promoted to 1st Lieutenant of Company A on 31 March 1862 and to Captain of that company on 4 March 1863. He saw action in West Virginia, Mississippi, Tennessee, Georgia and the Carolinas before being mustered out in August 1865, in Little Rock, Arkansas. After the birth of their first child in November 1861, Henry married Mary Katherine (‘Kate’) Nye in May 1862. After the war, Henry returned to Wapakoneta where he and Kate eventually had 9 children, 3 of whom survived infancy. He died 23 December 1925 at the age of 86 and Kate died 16 May 1926 at the age of 82. Both are buried in St. Joseph Cemetery, Wapakoneta, Ohio.

Folder List

Folder 1: Correspondence 1858 – 1861

Folder 2: Correspondence January – June 1862

Folder 3: Correspondence July – September 1862

Folder 4: Correspondence October – December 1862

Folder 5: Correspondence January – April 1863

Folder 6: Correspondence May – December 1863

Folder 7: Correspondence January – May 1864

Folder 8: Correspondence June – August 1864

Folder 9: Correspondence September – December 1864

Folder 10: Correspondence January – April 1865

Folder 11: Correspondence May – June 1865

Folder 12: Correspondence July 1865

Folder 13: Correspondence August 1865 – 1895

Folder 14: Military papers

Folder 15: Miscellaneous, undated papers

Folder 16: Transcriptions for correspondence in Folders 1-3 [click to access PDF]

Folder 17: Transcriptions for correspondence in Folders 4-6 [click to access PDF]

Folder 18: Transcriptions for correspondence in Folders 7-9 [click to access PDF]

Folder 19: Transcriptions for correspondence in Folders 10-13 [click to access PDF]

Subject Headings

Atlanta Campaign, 1864

Catholic Church – Ohio

Georgia – History – Civil War, 1861-1865

Kansas – Description and travel

Lookout Mountain (Tenn.), Battle of, 1863

Love poetry, American

Marriage – Ohio

Ohio – History – Civil War, 1861-1865

Schmidt family

Sherman, William T. (William Tecumseh), 1820-1891

Sherman’s March to the Sea

Tennessee – History – Civil War, 1861-1865

United States – History – Civil War, 1861-1865 – Participation, German American

United States – History – Civil War, 1861-1865 – Prisoners and prisons

United States – History – Civil War, 1861-1865 – Public opinion

United States – History – Civil War, 1861-1865 – Transportation

United States. Army – Military life – History – 19th century

United States. Army. Ohio Infantry Regiment, 15th (1861-1865)

United States. Army. Ohio Infantry Regiment, 37th (1861-1865)

Vicksburg (Miss.) – History – Civil War, 1861-1865

War poetry, American

West Virginia – History – Civil War, 1861-1865