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