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by Dan Wright, The Daily News-Record
He was criticized for delays in bringing his men to Second Manassas. Sigel was ineffective in the Shenandoah Valley in 1864, by which time he had earned the reputation of being “hell on retreat.” Born in Germany on Nov. 18, 1824, Sigel received a military education at Karlsruhe Academy in northern Germany. Sigel had a rigid character that invited criticism, according to Stephen D. Engle in his book “Yankee Dutchman: the Life of Franz Sigel.” Yet Engle calls Sigel's obsession with discipline his most significant attribute as a military commander. Sigel was very popular with German-Americans, attracting thousands into the Union Army. The phrase “I fights mit Sigel” was their trademark.
Sigel was partial to friends and fellow Germans, placing them above others more qualified. Engle writes that this “unfortunate judgement of character,” was one of his major weaknesses as a commander and created conflict between him and other Union officers. Sigel had other flaws of leadership, according to Keith E. Gibson, director of museum operations at Virginia Military Institute. He considered retreat an acceptable military tactic – it was taught at the Prussian schools he attended. “In America, tactical retreat was not held in the same esteem and was considered cowardly,” Gibson said. But Sigel did not lack personal bravery. Union Col. George Wells wrote in his official report of the battle of New Market that Sigel never wavered “in the hottest of fire.” However, in the heat of battle, Sigel tended to lapse into his native tongue. According to Gibson, Sigel's mix of English and German contributed to the confusion and mishandling of his infantry at the battle of New Market. After his retreat from New Market, Sigel was removed from command.
In spite of his shortcomings as a commander, Sigel kept his job through political usefulness, according to Scott H. Harris, director of the New Market Battlefield State Historical Park. His popularity with German-Americans made him an effective recruiter for the Union army. In 1864, Sigel was called on to deliver votes in the re-election of President Lincoln. “One of the Republican Party's goals was to secure the membership and votes of the large numbers of German immigrants,” Harris said. “Franz Sigel was immensely popular with these folks.” When Franz Sigel arrived in New York in 1852, German-Americans considered him a hero. Sigel had commanded an army during the German insurrection of 1848. Although the revolution failed, Sigel earned great prestige for his military leadership and the German press in America wrote about his exploits. When the revolution failed, Sigel went into exile in Switzerland, England and finally to America. Engle writes that Sigel “passionately cherished the freedoms Americans possessed.” America was a final refuge for everything he had fought for – and lost – in the German revolution. When the Civil War began, Sigel, a school administrator in St. Louis, organized one of the first volunteer units in Missouri. Sigel was promoted to major general in March 1862. Engle writes that Sigel's rigid discipline, overbearing manner and use of political connections to gain military positions alienated him from Union officers. In March 1863, Sigel resigned from the Army when he would have been leading his largest command at Chancellorsville. He withdrew the resignation within weeks, but the incident left his superior officers bitter. At times, Sigel was the victim of political maneuvering and anti-immigrant prejudice. At other times, he was scheming and ambitious and his authority exceeded his ability. Engle concludes that Sigel might have been a better artillery commander than a commander of infantry. Artillery is the one function of the army where he could apply his rigid discipline and exacting German standards. |
Considered a hero by his German countrymen and a coward by many Americans, Franz Sigel is remembered as much for his military shortcomings as for his accomplishments.