Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-10-07

| Wild beast. while fertile fields now take the
place of the beautiful shrubbery, yet the
r,,agnificept scenery, with its valleys and
;ts mountains, still remains TO gladden. the
owe and cheer the heart OF all who witness
| il. -
While the early German settlers enjoyed
| tba privileges OF this great country in ITS
,,,ld and disorganized state. and while we
tba;, descendants enjoy the fruits Of their
an ferines and hardships, it must not be
snnnosed that they did not take their part
| in the Revolution which made these
United States free and independent re-
public. From the very outset OF their set,
| Element in this country they always stood
ready 10 take their place in its defence.
| ON the borders OF what was then the West,
| the early German immigrants were steady
! in tbeir snpport of the British flag against
| their hereditary enemy, the French.
| They gave freely of their men and their
means 60 the cause OF liberty IN the
| full share in the war OF 1872, and in
the Mexican War. and were represented
IN their proportionate strength in the Fed
oral and Confederate armies. They were
ever true 10 the country of their adoption.
and in the late war father was pitted
AGAINST son, and brother against
brother, each standing up Tor the sec
ton in which he had cast his lot. In
Kapp's History of the Early German SOL
d;ers who bore arms IN defence of their
homesteads against the French and their
allies the Indians. We find the names OF
the Welsers. father and son. The elder
died in Pennsylvania in l1i6, and the lat
ter died near Reading. in the same state.
in 1860. As heutenant-colonel OF fenn-
sylyania regiment he shared IN the nara,
sbips of the old French War and secured
from the allied Indians an affection ana
respect which aided his fellow-GermanS
in later years. His daughte: was the wife
of the elder Muhlenberg, the trst OF that
| name 10 come TO this country, and the
mother of General Muhlenberg, Of Revo-
! lntionary fame. OF the soldiers OF
the Revolutionary War none were more
| distinguished or did nobler ser
vice than Baron De kalb and Steuben,
who were both maior-generals, and whose
| exploits are familiar to every student OF
| the history of the revolutionary struggle.
In addition 20 these we have Brigadler-
| Generals William Frederick de Woedtke,
| Il. p. G.. Muhlenberg, George Weldon,
| and n host OF colonies and other minor OIL
| ficars. Friedrich Heinrich Won Weissen--
| fels was the friend and companion OF
| Washington, Steuben, and DE halb; he
was distinguished for his personal gal
| lantry. and was honOred by Washington
and Congress with many marks of grateful
| Acknowledgement. tie died in New Or
leans in 1906 poor liz purse but rich IN
| GLORY. He was the first yice-presldent or
| fbe German Society in New York, with
| Stenben as president, and was one OF the
original members Of the Society of the
| Cincinnati.
| General Weldon was born IN Hanover,
and served in the Austrian war OF ~.
| He served during the Revolutionary war,
and commanded the Virginia militia at the
siege of Yorktown.
A NOTED CHARACTER.
One Of the most noted characters OF the
| War of Independence was General Muh-
| lenberg-born in Montgomery county,
| Pa, in 1746-the son of the oldest clergy
man of the Lutheran church in Pennsyl-
vania. In 1772 he settled IN Virginia as
pastor of a German Lutheran congrega-
| ton in the Shenandoah Valley. He there
became a friend Of Patrick Henry and
| Washington. Earnestly supporting the
cause OF American Independence, he be-
| came Colonel Of the Eighth Virginia regl-
ment. In January, 177G, he preached his
last sermon, urging on his hearers the du-
| ties of patriotic devotion to the cause OF
the country, and then throwing
aside the clerical gown, showed MS
military uniform and Immediately over 3OO
of his listeners joined his regiment. Con
| gress soon made HIM brlgadler-generai'
and throughout the war his zeal, courage,
and energy were appreciated by Washing
| ton, Lafayette, and other officers OF the
| Revolution. He was member or the
| First. Second, and Sixth Congresses from
| Philadelphia, and l suppose 1t will not be
TO his disparagement in this assembly 10
| say that he was a member OF the Demo-
cratic party. His descendants and those
of his venerable father have served the
| State and the Church in many ways, and
ALWAYS with honor to their German blood.
| His statue now stands in the Capitol at
| Washinpton az one Of the two representa-
| tive men chosen by his native State TO
| take a place among the heroes OF tnls
country. His name and fame are part or
| the Inheritance of the German population
which his great State transmits TO future
generations to show how thoroughly the
| German element has performed its duty IN
war and in peace Time will not allow me
| 10 devote ANYTHING more to the Germans
| who took part in this struggle for indie
| pendence. Many were present at lork-
| town at its surrender and q detach-
ment Of Germans placed the flag ON the
walls of Yorktown after its capture. III
| is said that the Germans IN the Amerl-
can army fought against the Germans I'M
der the English flag, and that the COM
mands were given on both sides IN Ger
man. In the Mexican War the Germans
| bore n conspicuous part, and among the
general officers was General John A. OMIT
man. who was born in New York. lie was
a distinguished lawyer and member OF
| Congress from Mississippi, and a gallant
| soldier in time of war. In fact, the regis
ter and rolls Of the regular and volunteer
army bear the names of many distinguished
soldiers of German birth and descent.
| THE LATE WAR.
In the late war we have on the Federal
side Generals Carl Schurz, Weitzel,
Seirel. Heintzelman, Kautz, Wagner,
and many Others, who were born in Ger
many and we're distinguished soldiers
i'm that army, while in nearly every
rooiment the Germans were represented,
The gallant General George A. Custer,
whose untimely death in the Indian cam
paign was so much deplored, was a de-
scendant of German officer OF the kevo-
luton. In the register of the ConfedeIate
army we find the names of Gen.
erals Holtzclaw, Helvenstein. Waggo-
ner and ]. N. Waul, and many
colonies, staff and feld-oficers, and
among Others Gustav Schleicher, who was
colonel Of a Texas regiment. He was
the first German in Congress OF later years,
| who won reputation as representative OF
the German element. He was elected in
1874, and showing marked ability and
training he was twice reelected. and his
premature death in 1879 cut short career
which gave promise of honor to himself
| and usefulness 10 his country.
Among the most distinguished soldiers
| of the Confederate army was Colonel Heros
Won Borcke, who revisited this city since
the war, and Is personally known to many
of YOU. i recall with special pride, as had
the pleasure of voting for it, the resolu-
ton adopted on the presentation of his
sword through II. i. Lee Camp to the
State of Virginia:
Resolced by tie General Assembly That the
State of Virginia, approaching the high
| manly qualities and virtues of Lieutenant
Colonel Heros Won Borcke, accepts the
sword, and hereby directs the Secretary of
the Commonwealth to place il among the
relics preserved in the public library.
| shall never forget how that noble
hearted, manly, and patriotic son of Vir-
ginia. General Williams g. Wickham. with
talterlng voice and streaming eyes, spoke
upon that occasion, and whose remarks
were ordered to be spread IN fun on the
- 4. A.