Johann and Caroline Tiedt

Johann and Caroline Tiedt

Johann Heinrich Tiedt was born in Penzin Sternburg Mecklenburg Schwerin, Germany on 3 May 1838 to Johann Christian and Catharina Margarethe Maria Auguste "Lena" (Zierjack) Tiedt, the daughter of Heinrich Georg and Catharina Margaretha Elizabeth (Bössow) Zierjack.

According to the Civil War Pension Index, Johann served in Battery 'H', 1st Illinois Light Artillary. In his letter to Gertrude Meyer in December 1998, researcher Don Leistikow mentions that Johann's service in the Artillery was brief. According to a newspaper article received by Carl Tiedt, Johann was "gassed, disabled, and discharged" in August, 1862. (I was not able to locate any information on the use of poisonous gas in the Civil War, though apparently it had been proposed for use.)

According to a story related by one of Leopold Leistikow's grandchildren, Leopold was friends with Johann. They were from the same geopraphic area, both of German descent, and both were serving in the Civil War. When Leopold was mustered out of the army in 1864, he had nowhere to live. Johann suggested he stay with his family, and told Leopold he had many sisters, one of whom might interest Leopold. Whether or not this story is true, Leopold Leistikow ended up marrying one of Johann's sisters, Dorothea. If you follow the link to the webpage of Leopold Leistikow, you'll see (at the bottom) a 1917 map showing the property owned by Johann's son, Johann Tiedt, Jr., his only son that survived to adulthood. This was likely the land that Johann farmed. It is about a mile north of the farm of Leopold Leistiko and Johann's sister Dorothea.

Johann died March 30, 1893, and Caroline applied for, and received, a Civil War veterans pension. The follow translation of his obituary from "The Phoenix" the German language newspaper, published in Bremer County, Iowa March 30,1895, reads, "Once again, one of the old German Farmers of Maxfield has died. Johann Tiedt, who was not yet 55, died last Thursday afternoon of consumption. The departed was born on May 3,1838, in Bueschow, Mecklenburg-Schwerin. He left his old fatherland in May 1855 and immigrated to America. He lived with his parents for 5 years in Manitowoc, Wisconsin. From there he moved to Addison, Du Page County, Illinois. When the bloody Civil War broke out, he enlisted on February 27,1862, and became a member of Company H of the First Regiment of the Illinois Light Artillery. He remained in active service until August 4,1862, when he was honorably discharged on account of lung and stomach trouble. As a result of the depravation and strain of his service, his lungs were damaged. This ultimately led to the consumption that brought on his death. He was treated for a long time in Paducah, Kentucky, and in the Marine Hospital in Chicago. ... He was one of the best members of the St. Matthews Church and one of the best citizens of Bremer County."

Caroline died March 1, 1925.

Picture of Degree's Battery. During the Battle of Atlanta on July 22, 1864 the 66th Illinois Infantry Regiment, armed with Henry repeaters, retakes the guns of Battery H, 1st Illinois Light Artillery at 4:30 PM. Battery H was commanded by 24 year old Captain Francis DeGress and was made up of four 20-pound Parrot rifles. It was overrun by Brig. Gen. Arthur M. Manigault's Brigade of Brig. Gen. John C. Brown's Division, Cheatham's Corps.

According to the 1st Illinois Light Artillery Regiment History compiled the The Illinois USGenWeb Project, "Battery H was recruited in and about Chicago, by Captain Axel Silversparre, during January and February 1862. In March it was ordered to St. Louis, where it was equipped as a four 20-pounder Parrott gun Battery, and was immediately sent down the river to join General Grant's command. The Battery arrived at Pittsburg Landing, April 5, and participated in the battle of Shiloh the next day, April 6, it formed the centre of that line of artillery which, with the gun-boats on the Tennessee, repulsed the last charges of the confederates on the first day of Shiloh. Soon after the Battery became part of General Sherman's command, and was always thereafter attached to the Second Division of the Fifteenth Army Corps.

At Memphis, during the summer of 1862, Captain Silversparre was made Chief of Artillery at Fort Pickering, and in pursuance of his duties was captured by the enemy, and never again rejoined the Battery.

The command then devolved upon Frank DeGress, who some time afterwards was commissioned Captain, and who made the Battery (known at DeGress' Battery) a very famous one in General Sherman's command. The Battery participated in all of the battles in which the Fifteenth Corps was engaged, and was one of the working Companies of that famous Corps at Vicksburg, Mission Ridge, Atlanta campaign, March to the Sea, and finally marched in review before the President at Washington, and was mustered out with the rest of the Fifteenth Corps. The guns were captured on the 22d of July 1864, in front of Atlanta, but were soon recaptured and turned with good effect upon the retreating enemy.

First published January 22, 2016. If you have comments, corrections or additional information or pictures you would like to contribute, feel free to contact Dave Nims.