Georg Rentschler: From German Immigrant to Civil War Soldier
A German-American's journey through the Philadelphia Turngemeinde and the Western Turner Rifles
My 2nd Great Grandfather, Georg "George" Rentschler, was born on July 7, 1839, in Legelshurst, Baden-Württemberg, Germany. He was the son of Jakob Friedrich Rentschler (1803-1856) and Elisabetha Christina Ettinger (1799-1855).
George immigrated to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania sometime before 1861. He became a member of the Philadelphia Turngemeinde, also known as the Philadelphia Turners. The club was one of the oldest German-American Turner or gymnastics clubs in the United States. Founded on May 15, 1849, it played a significant role in promoting physical education and German-American culture in Philadelphia for over a century.
Key aspects of the Philadelphia Turngemeinde include:
History and Founding: The organization was established in 1849, inspired by the physical education tradition of Friedrich Ludwig Jahn in Germany.
Civil War Involvement: The club organized a battalion that fought for the Union Army during the Civil War.
The club offered a wide range of activities, including:
Gymnastics and physical education
Fencing
Singing
Drawing
German language instruction
Ladies' needlework
At the age of 22, George enlisted to serve in the Civil War. Due to his involvement with the Philadelphia Turngemeinde, he volunteered to be sent to Missouri. The city of Philadelphia provided more than 50 infantry and cavalry regiments, either fully or partially recruited from Philadelphia. The Turngemeinde's battalion would have been part of this larger mobilization effort from the city.
The Turngemeinde's involvement in the war effort highlights the shift in Philadelphia's sentiments as the conflict progressed. While the city had significant economic ties to the South before the war, many Philadelphians' opinions shifted to support the Union once hostilities began. The Turngemeinde's action reflects this change in attitude among the German-American community in Philadelphia.
By sending a battalion to fight, the Philadelphia Turngemeinde not only contributed manpower to the Union Army but also demonstrated the loyalty and commitment of German-American organizations to their adopted country during a critical period in U.S. history.
George became a Private in the 17th Missouri Infantry, Company B, known as The Western Turner Rifles. The Western Turner Rifles were organized in St. Louis, Missouri, drawing members from Turner organizations across the United States. While primarily raised in the St. Louis area, the regiment attracted Turners from various cities, including Baltimore, Philadelphia, and other Midwestern and Western locations. The regiment was commonly referred to as the "Western Turner Rifles" due to its association with the Turner movement. Many were recent immigrants who arrived in the U.S. in the late 1840s and early 1850s. Many Turner soldiers arrived at camp with their own personal weapons, typically civilian-style percussion target rifles. These rifles often featured:
Calibers between .42 and .45
Sling swivels (uncommon on civilian rifles)
Large lugs to accept saber bayonets
The Western Turner Rifles used unique saber bayonets, often featuring:
Yataghan or semi-Yataghan blades
Lengths between 18" and 24"
Cast brass hilts, sometimes inscribed with slogans like "BAHN FREI" (meaning "look out" or "get out of the way")
The Western Turner Rifles, along with the 9th Ohio Volunteer Infantry, were among the most famous Turner regiments in the Civil War.
George served from September 12, 1861, to July 20, 1862. His military service came to an end when he was discharged at Helena, Arkansas, due to typhoid fever.
Shortly after his military service, on May 21, 1863, George married Katherine Faerber at Saint Michael's and Zion Church in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The couple went on to have eight children: Amelia (1864-1907), George (1866-1866), Louisa Christina (1868-1936), George (1870-1927), Lillie (1875-1964), Edith (1877-1882), Kate (1880-1882), and Julia Wilhelmina (1883-1958).
Tragically, George Rentschler's life was cut short. He passed away on August 19, 1885, at the age of 46, due to valvular disease of the heart. At the time of his death, he was residing at 2907 Hope Street in Philadelphia. George was laid to rest on August 23, 1885, at North Cedar Hill Cemetery, located at 5700 Frankford Avenue in Philadelphia.
Despite his relatively short life, George Rentschler experienced significant events, including immigration to the United States, service in the Civil War, marriage, and fatherhood. His legacy lived on through his surviving children and descendants.
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