Private Sebastian Guckenberger, Company C.
"Sebastian
Guckenberger, of South Milwaukee, R.F.D No. 16, is a highly-respected
and prosperous farmer. He is a native of Germany, born there on April 2,
1840, the son of Conrad and Katherine Guckenberger, both of whom had been
born and reared in the Fatherland. Like so many of the sturdy German peasants
who came to maturity about the middle of the Nineteenth century, these
parents determined to seek the advantages offered by that land of opportunity,
the United States, and sailed for this country in 1855, and immediately
after landing came to Milwaukee. They settled first in the town of Lake,
but after a few years moved to Oak Creek and took up sixty acres of land.
Sebastian was fifteen years old when his parents came to America, and had
already received the benefits of scholastic training in the excellent public
schools of Germany. He assisted his father in running the farm for several
years. When repeated calls came for volunteers after the outbreak of the
Civil War, both Sebastian and his brother, Christian, enlisted for service.
Sebastian became a private in Company C, Twenty-sixth Wisconsin infantry.
The first-named regiment was mustered in at Camp Sigel, Milwaukee, and
was immediately sent to Virginia, where it engaged in guard and picket
duty until spring. Mr. Guckenberger, with the other members of the regiment,
participated at the battle of Chancellorsville, May 2, 1863, and he was
severely wounded in the ankle at Gettysburg, on July 3rd. As soon as he
was sufficiently recovered, he was transferred to the veteran reserve corps,
with which he served the remainder of his term of enlistment. He was honorably
mustered out at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on August 25, 1865, after serving
his adopted country most gallantly and loyally through three long years
of warfare and bloodshed. In the fall after his discharge from the service,
Mr. Guckenberger was united in marriage with Miss Mary Sheilz, on October
17, 1865. She had come to the United States with her parents at about the
same time that Mr.. Guckenberger came, and their long friendship culminated
in a happy marriage. After returning home from the war , he took up land
and again went to farming, and for forty -three years has lived on the
homestead in South Milwaukee, where he took his bride in 1865. Fourteen
children have come to bless their home and have been reared to maturity
on the hospitable old farm: Clara, Katherine, Henry, Anna, Eva, Mary (deceased),
Frank, Nick (deceased), John, Joseph, jennie, Mathew, George and Charlie.
The family are all devout members of the Roman Catholic Church."
This was sent to me by
the last remaining grandchild of Sebastian, my aunt Ethyl Vanselow (daughter
of Frank). I believe she also has a copy of his "muster papers" but am
unsure of the condition. In addition to the above, family lore I have heard
fleshes out the above information. When Sebastian and his regiment came
out of the Wilderness at Chancellorsville, they ran straight into Jeb Davis
and his cavalry and were thereafter known as "The Flying Dutchmen" due
to their hasty retreat. His injury came when traveling to Gettysburg, His
regiment got the orders to proceed to Gettysburg at double time whereupon
my Great Grandfather fell and ripped a tendon in his ankle. These stories
were shared by the Oak Creek Historical Society at a dinner held about
8 years ago to honor veterans of the civil war from Oak Creek
"Memoirs of Milwaukee County" Vol. II, Page 628
Information by Dean
Thomas
