Touch the Elbow - Blogging the Civil War

Well, the blog where I found the sketch doesn’t have a way to contact the blogger, so for now, I won’t have any other info on the sketch book but will continue looking elsewhere.

As promised, here is more information on Christian based on our research of the unit.

Christian Rheinlander: born Dec. 24, 1836 at Hadester, Denmark, the son of Emanuel and Mary Rheinlander. He was a 26 year old Machinist from Denmark, who arrived in the United States three days before he was drafted into military service at Boston, MA on August 25, 1863, and was mustered into the 18th Mass. Infantry on that same day as a Private in Co. K. Per regimental records he was 5 ft. 8-1/2 in. tall with a fair complexion, blue eyes, and dark brown hair. He was engaged with the regiment at Rappahannock Station in Nov. 1863 and was further engaged in the Campaign against Richmond from May 1, 1864. He was captured and taken prisoner near Poplar Spring, VA on Oct. 1, 1864. He was held as a Prisoner of War at an unidentified Confederate prison until he escaped on April 11, 1865 and was forwarded to Camp Chase, Columbus, Ohio.on June 5, 1865. He was mustered out of military service at Camp Chase on June 13, 1865. Following his military service, Rheinlander resided at Buffalo and Lockport, NY. He married Harriet (Playford) Kramer, the widow of Noah, at Buffalo, NY on Sept. 26, 1865. Noah Kramer, who served with Co. K, 113th Illinois Infantry, died of wounds received at the assault on Vicksburg on May 22, 1863. Rheinlander applied for an Invalid pension on July 19, 1890 and received initial benefits of $12 per month under Certificate #: 598958, due to disabilities from heart and liver disease. Rheinlander, age 70, died of Brights Disease at his home, 47 Waterman St., Lockport, NY on July 27, 1907 and was interred at Glenwood Cemetery. His wife Harriet applied for a Widow's pension Sept. 27, 1907, Application #: 877021, but was not issued benefits under this claim, but was instead restored to the pension rolls as the widow of her first husband Noah Kramer. Harriet Rheinlander died at Lockport, NY on June 23, 1918.

Excerpt from Declaration for Invalid Pension filed by Christian Rhinelander; dated Lockport, NY, July 14, 1890 (Pension Record, National Archives, Washington, DC):
Christian Rheinlander aged 54 years, a resident of the City of Longport, County of Niagara, State of New York, who being duly sworn according to law, declares that he is the identical Christian Rheinlander who was enrolled on the 24th day of August 1863, Private, Co. K, 18th Mass. Infty Vols (War 1861) was captured Oct. 1st 1864 in front or near Petersburg, on release was placed in Camp Chase, Columbus, Ohio and was discharged from there as an escaped prisoner and got three months extra pay in the war of rebellions and served at least ninety days and was honorably discharged at Camp Chase, Columbus, O., on the 13th day of June 1865. That he is partially unable to earn a support by reason of Neuralgia, weak stomach, kidney complaint, loss of teeth, chronic diarrhea, incurred in service and rebel prison. I was only three days in the United States when I enlisted I just arrived from the old Country.

General Affidavit of Christine Rheinlander; dated Feb. 19, 1891 (Pension Record, National Archives, Washington, DC):
Claimant says: that in response to Circular Call No. 3, Departmental requisition 3-077 dated Feb. 16, 1891, that he was born in Denmark, and arrived in this country in August, 1863. Within a week after his arrival in this country he enlisted in the city of Boston, on the 25th day of August, 1863 and was paced in Co. K 18th Regt. Mass. Vols. Infty. Col. White commanding. He was discharged on the 13th day of June, 1865. He never served in any other company or regiment, vessel or branch of the U.S. Service, before or after the dates hereinbefore mention. As I was a recruit when the old veterans term expired the rest of the regt. were put into Cos under Capt. Reed 18th Mass. Oct. 1st 1864. I was taken prison, escaped Aprl. 11th 1865 forward to Camp Chase, Columbus, Ohio & discharged from there on partial description list as an escaped prisoner by Genl. Order No. 1 from War Dept. June 13th 1865. I was told while I was in rebel prison I was transferred into Co. I, 32 Mass. Vols.

Excerpt from letter to Prudential Insurance Company by Bureau of Pensions; dated Nov. 10, 1936 (Pension Record, National Archives, Washington, DC):
Examination of the record in this case reveals that the veteran Noah Kramer was married on January 25, 1856 to Harriet Ann Playford; that he died on May 23, 1863 in the service; that he was survived by three minors, Mary C. Kramar, born October 18, 1856, Rosa C. Kramar, born February 19, 1858, and Delilah C. Kramar, born December 7, 1861. The present addresses of these children, if living, is not know to this office.

It is further shown that the widow remarried on September 26, 1865 to Christian Rheinlander, and that he died on July 27, 1907. It was indicated that he was not survived by any children and that he was born in Denmark.

Upon the death of Christian Rheinlander, the widow’s name was restored to the pension rolls as the former widow of Noah Kramar, and her name was finally dropped from the pension rolls because of her reported death on June 23, 1918.

Father’s day is coming and my wife has been looking for things relating to the 18th Massachusetts for me. At one point I even found her looking at a shako that may have (but thanks to a warehouse fire during the war – probably did not) to the 18th. I talked her out due to the price and honestly if she is going to spend that much, I’d rather pull in some more of Edmund’s stuff.

As she was searching the web she found the following post originally on the blog Past Voices: Letters Home, dealing with one of the soldiers – Christian Rheinlander. Surprisingly this post is from two years ago and the first time I or anyone dealing with the 18th has come across it. From the way the post is set up, it looks like there may be more and have emailed the blogger to see if there is.

This is the first time we have come across a sketch dealing with the 18th but it’s been a long time since we have seen a new one. To get one from New York makes it that much better. Sketches that I have seen in the past seemed to have been made by the post to help pass the soldiers memories to the next generation. Unfortunately, most have not survived to today.

Today, I’ll share the sketch, while tomorrow; I’ll have a bit more information on Christian.
Enjoy

Civil War Memoir: Christian Rheinlander, 18th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry
The following is from Grand Army of the Republic ~ Department of New York ~ Personal War Sketches of the Members of Charles P. Sprout Post No. 76, of Lockport

Sprout who was with the New York 28th Infantry was killed in Action at Cedar Mountain, Virginia on August 9, 1862

Christian Rheinlander
Born, Denmark
Company “K”, 18th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry

…The first battle in which I was engaged was at Rappahannock Station, Va.… Was taken prisoner by Rebel Infantry, October 1st 1864 between Weldon and South side Railroads. Was confined in Salisbury Prison, N.C., April 12, 1865. A few of my most intimate comrades were Capt. Murray, Sergeant (now) Capt. Beck.

The most important event connected with my service was my escape from Rebel Prison. On the 12th of December, 1864, the prisoners in Salisbury Prison made a break for liberty, but failed. Got a good thrashing. Killed and wounded about sixty-five of us, but on April 12, 1865, together with thirty-nine others,

I succeeded in making my escape by jumping form a train of cars on which we were being removed from one Prison to another. Just as it was starting out from Salisbury on account of United States Cavalry making a Raid on the City on their way from West Virginia into North Carolina. Will add that when I was discharged, I received form the U.S. Gov’t, 3 months’ pay as an escaped prisoner. In making our escape, five of us were killed.