Heinrich Jacob Ohlhues

On May 16, 1859, Heinrich Jacob Ohlhues arrived in New York at the age of 12, immigrating from the Schleswig-Holstein, Germany area, along with his parents, Hans Jacob Gottfried Ohlhues and Margarethe Graf Ohlhues, brothers Johann and Peter, and sister Weibke Catherine Ohlhues and her husband Johann Reils. The family traveled to Will County, Illinois, where they settled in Florence Township, purchasing 2 parcels of farmland.

On February 23, 1864, young Heinrich volunteered for the Florence Rifles, stating his age as 20 years, and was mustered into Company E of the 39th Illinois Volunteer Infantry, known as Yates Phalanx, in Chicago on February 29, 1864. They left Illinois on March 15, 1864. As they camped at Camp Grant, Virginia, the war was all around these new recruits. In May 1864, they were sent to Weir Bottoms, about 15 miles from Richmond, Virginia.

From the pages of the Wilmington Illinois weekly newspaper, the Wilmington Advocate, June 1864, Ed Conley wrote: “Monday, the 16th [May], the bloody work began in earnest. At daylight, the enemy opened with heavy cannonading. A heavy fog shut them from sight until after sunrise. Our right wing was pressed hard by the rebel cavalry that had advanced under cover of the fog, and after repeated charges, broke the Union line.

“At this moment the 81st New York was ordered away from our left, leaving the 39th to stretch out and occupy the vacated rifle pits. At this moment, on came the enemy in heavy columns, but the 39th was ready to receive them. The boys held their fire until the enemy was within 300 yards, when we delivered a fire that mowed them down, and threw their ranks into confusion. They rallied and advanced a second time, and were treated to the same reception.

“At one time the enemy got in our rear, and we were called upon to surrender. The demand was answered by a volley of fire, and a cheer. The army fell back to its fortification, the 39th being the last to leave the field, and was thought to be captured. The entire loss to the regiment was nearly 200.”

In August 1864, Heinrich was wounded while assigned to the Army of the James, near Richmond, spending considerable time in US General Hospital in Hampton, Virginia. He furloughed and returned home to marry his sweetheart, Ellen Neiman, on November 17, 1864. In just a few weeks time, he returned to duty. Heinrich and the 39th were involved in minor skirmishes in the winter of 1865, until March. Crossing to the left flank of the Army of the Potomac, the 39th began toward Petersburg and Richmond, intending to march on Fort Gregg.

In the charge of Fort Gregg, Virginia, on April 2, 1865, Heinrich lost his life. The 39th was the first to gain the ditch and plant the flag there. 16 members of the 39th fell in that effort and were buried where they lay. 45 were severely wounded and later some died of their injuries. Battles and skirmishes continued all the way up to Lee's surrender on April 9 at Appomattox Court House, with several 39th Illinois wounded on that day.

Heinrich Jacob Ohlhues is now buried at Poplar Grove National Cemetery in Petersburg, Virginia, grave number 2840. His widowed bride remarried, a Civil War veteran, and they had 3 children, and Ellen and her 2nd husband are buried at a little country cemetery inside the Midewin Tall Grass Prairie at Wilmington, Illinois.