Appletons' Cyclopædia of American Biography/Schimmelpfennig, Alexander

SCHIMMELPFENNIG, Alexander, soldier, b. in Prussia in 1824; d. in Minersville, Pa., 7 Sept., 1865. He served as an officer of the Prussian army in Schleswig-Holstein in 1848, and soon afterward came to the United States. At the beginning of the civil war he was elected colonel of a Pennsylvania regiment, which he commanded during Gen. John Pope's campaign in Virginia. For his services at Bull Run he was nominated brigadier-general. The appointment was at first rejected, but, on being presented again, was confirmed in March, 1863, the commission dating from 29 Nov., 1862. At Chancellorsville he commanded a brigade in Gen. Carl Schurz's corps, and served with credit at Gettysburg. In February, 1864, he was sent to St. John's inland, near Charleston, and thence crossed to James island. When Charleston was evacuated on the approach of Gen. William T. Sherman's army, Gen. Schimmelpfennig entered and took possession, 18 Feb., 1865. He remained in command of the city for some time, but was finally relieved on account of sickness, the result of exposure, which in a short time terminated in his death. He was the author of “The War between Russia and Turkey” (Philadelphia, 1854).