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Franz Sigel
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==American Civil War== Shortly after the start of the war, Sigel was commissioned [[Colonel (United States)|colonel]] of the 3rd Missouri Infantry, a commission dating from 4 May 1861. He took part in [[Camp Jackson affair|the capture of Camp Jackson]] in St. Louis by Brig. Gen [[Nathaniel Lyon]] on 10 May. In the summer of 1861, President Lincoln actively sought the support of antislavery, pro-Unionist immigrants. Sigel, always popular with the German immigrants, was a good candidate to advance this plan. He was promoted to [[Brigadier general (United States)|brigadier general]] on 7 August, to rank from 17 May, one of a number of early politician-generals elevated by Lincoln. In June, Sigel led a Federal column to [[Springfield, Missouri|Springfield]] in southwest Missouri. He then moved to [[Carthage, Missouri|Carthage]], to cut off the retreat of pro-[[Confederate States of America|Confederate]] [[Missouri State Guard]] troops previously [[Battle of Boonville|defeated by Lyon at Boonville]]. In the subsequent [[Engagement near Carthage|Battle of Carthage]] on 5 July, Sigel's outnumbered force was driven back by the State Guard. The action was strategically insignificant, but did encourage pro-Confederate recruitment.<ref name="NIE"/> Sigel then joined his troops with the army under Lyon, which marched to Springfield in pursuit of the State Guard. In the [[Battle of Wilson's Creek]], on 10 August, he led a flanking column which attacked the rear of the rebel force, but was routed. After General Lyon was killed, Sigel assumed command of the army, and conducted the retreat to [[Rolla, Missouri|Rolla]].<ref name="NIE"/> [[File:Franz Sigel 106 RSD jeh.JPG|thumb|left|Riverside Drive, New York City]] In early 1862, Sigel was given command of two [[division (military)|divisions]] of the Army of the Southwest under [[Samuel R. Curtis]]. The army moved through Springfield into [[Arkansas]], and met Confederate troops under [[Major General (CSA)|Maj. Gen.]] [[Earl Van Dorn]] in the [[Battle of Pea Ridge]] on 8-9 March. Sigel's finest performance was in this battle. His troops fought well, and on 9 March he personally directed the Union artillery in the attack which routed the Confederates.{{sfn|Chisholm|1911}} Sigel was promoted to major general on 21 March 1862. He served as a division commander in the [[Shenandoah Valley]] and fought unsuccessfully against Maj. Gen. [[Stonewall Jackson|Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson]], who outwitted and defeated the larger Union force in a number of small engagements. He commanded the [[I Corps (Union Army)|I Corps]] in Maj. Gen. [[John Pope (general)|John Pope]]'s [[Army of Virginia]] at the [[Second Battle of Bull Run]], another Union defeat, where he was wounded in the hand. Over the winter of 1862–63, Sigel commanded the [[XI Corps (Union Army)|XI Corps]], consisting primarily of German immigrant soldiers, in the [[Army of the Potomac]]. When [[Ambrose Burnside]] assumed command of the Army of the Potomac, he instituted 'grand divisions', consisting of two corps each; Sigel assumed command of the Reserve Grand Division, consisting of the XI and XII Corps. The Reserve Grand Division saw no action; it stayed in reserve during the [[Battle of Fredericksburg]]. After the battle, and the dissolution of the grand divisions, Sigel returned to command of the XI Corps. He had developed a reputation as an inept general, but his ability to recruit and motivate German immigrants kept him employed in a politically sensitive position. Many of these soldiers could speak little English beyond "I'm going to fight mit Sigel",{{sfn|Poole|2014}} which was their proud slogan and which became one of the favorite songs of the war. [[File:General Sigels grand march (IA b10005043).pdf|thumb|General Sigels Grand March [[sheet music]] cover in 1861]] They were quite disgruntled when Sigel left the XI Corps in February 1863, and was replaced by Major-General [[Oliver O. Howard]], who had no immigrant affinities. Fortunately for Sigel, the two black marks in the XI Corps' reputation—[[Battle of Chancellorsville|Chancellorsville]] and [[Battle of Gettysburg|Gettysburg]]—occurred after he was relieved. The reason for Sigel's relief is unclear. Some accounts cite failing health<!-- What "accounts"? -->; others that he expressed his displeasure at the small size of his corps and asked to be relieved. Many historians also cite the lack of military prowess and skill {{Citation needed|date=December 2021}}. On multiple occasions, he made terrible military decisions{{Citation needed|date=December 2021}}, resulting in deaths of his soldiers. General-in-chief [[Henry W. Halleck]] detested Sigel, and managed to keep him relegated to light duty in eastern [[Pennsylvania]] until March 1864. President Lincoln, for political reasons, directed [[United States Secretary of War|Secretary of War]] [[Edwin M. Stanton]] to place Sigel in command of the new Department of [[West Virginia]]. In his new command, Sigel opened the [[Valley Campaigns of 1864]], launching an invasion of the [[Shenandoah Valley]]. He was soundly defeated by Maj. Gen. [[John C. Breckinridge]] at the [[Battle of New Market]], on May 15, 1864, which was particularly embarrassing due to the prominent role played by young cadets from the [[Virginia Military Institute]].{{sfn|Chisholm|1911}} After the battle, Sigel was replaced by Maj. Gen. [[David Hunter]]. In July, Sigel fought [[Lieutenant General (CSA)|Lt. Gen.]] [[Jubal A. Early]] at [[Harpers Ferry, West Virginia|Harpers Ferry]],{{sfn|Chisholm|1911}} but soon afterward was replaced by [[Albion P. Howe]]. Sigel spent the rest of the war without an active command.
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