Henry Bertram
Encyclopedia
Henry Bertram (October 5, 1825 – September 25, 1878) was a Prussian immigrant to the United States who was a general in the Union Army
during the American Civil War
. He served in the Trans-Mississippi and Western Theaters
.
Betram was born in Prussia as Emil Gustav Victor Beeger. Sometime before 1846 he immigrated to the United States. He joined the U.S. Army under the Americanized named Henry Beeger in 1846 and served in the Mexican War
. He rose to the rank of sergeant
on August 21, 1846 but deserted the army on January 20, 1851.
Sometime before 1861 he changed his name to Henry Bertram, presumably to escape any connections to his earlier army desertion. On June 29, 1861, under his new name, Bertram enlisted in the 3rd Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry as a first lieutenant
. By July 31, 1861 he had risen to lieutenant colonel
of the 20th Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry. Betram and the 20th Wisconsin first saw action at the battle of Newtonia
.
In early December 1862, Bertram found himself as the senior ranking officer in his brigade, though only a lieutenant colonel. He assumed command of the 1st Brigade in Francis Herron's 3rd Division of the Army of the Frontier
. Bertram led the brigade at the battle of Prairie Grove
.
On December 10, 1862 Bertram was promoted to colonel. Despite his promotion he returned to regimental command during the siege of Vicksburg. He commanded brigades in the Department of the Gulf after the fall of Vicksburg. In August 1864 his brigade was transferred to the Mobile Bay Land Forces under the command of Gordon Granger
. There Bertram participated in the land operations during the battle of Mobile Bay
against Fort Morgan
.
He briefly commanded the District of Southern Alabama before returning to brigade command. His brigade, now part of the XIII Corps
, fought in the battle of Fort Blakely
.
He received a brevet
promotion to Brig. Gen. of U.S. Volunteers
, backdated to March 13, 1865. He was mustered out of the volunteer service on July 14, 1865.
After the war he was a hotel proprietor and sheriff. He died in Wisconsin in 1878.
Union Army
The Union Army was the land force that fought for the Union during the American Civil War. It was also known as the Federal Army, the U.S. Army, the Northern Army and the National Army...
during the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
. He served in the Trans-Mississippi and Western Theaters
Western Theater of the American Civil War
This article presents an overview of major military and naval operations in the Western Theater of the American Civil War.-Theater of operations:...
.
Betram was born in Prussia as Emil Gustav Victor Beeger. Sometime before 1846 he immigrated to the United States. He joined the U.S. Army under the Americanized named Henry Beeger in 1846 and served in the Mexican War
Mexican–American War
The Mexican–American War, also known as the First American Intervention, the Mexican War, or the U.S.–Mexican War, was an armed conflict between the United States and Mexico from 1846 to 1848 in the wake of the 1845 U.S...
. He rose to the rank of sergeant
Sergeant
Sergeant is a rank used in some form by most militaries, police forces, and other uniformed organizations around the world. Its origins are the Latin serviens, "one who serves", through the French term Sergent....
on August 21, 1846 but deserted the army on January 20, 1851.
Sometime before 1861 he changed his name to Henry Bertram, presumably to escape any connections to his earlier army desertion. On June 29, 1861, under his new name, Bertram enlisted in the 3rd Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry as a first lieutenant
First Lieutenant
First lieutenant is a military rank and, in some forces, an appointment.The rank of lieutenant has different meanings in different military formations , but the majority of cases it is common for it to be sub-divided into a senior and junior rank...
. By July 31, 1861 he had risen to lieutenant colonel
Lieutenant colonel
Lieutenant colonel is a rank of commissioned officer in the armies and most marine forces and some air forces of the world, typically ranking above a major and below a colonel. The rank of lieutenant colonel is often shortened to simply "colonel" in conversation and in unofficial correspondence...
of the 20th Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry. Betram and the 20th Wisconsin first saw action at the battle of Newtonia
First Battle of Newtonia
The First Battle of Newtonia was a battle of the American Civil War, occurring on September 30, 1862 in Newton County, Missouri.Following the Battle of Pea Ridge in March, most Confederate and Union troops left northwestern Arkansas and southwestern Missouri...
.
In early December 1862, Bertram found himself as the senior ranking officer in his brigade, though only a lieutenant colonel. He assumed command of the 1st Brigade in Francis Herron's 3rd Division of the Army of the Frontier
Army of the Frontier
The Army of the Frontier was a Union army that served in the Trans-Mississippi Theater during the Civil War. It fought in several minor engagements in Arkansas, Indian Territory, and Kansas...
. Bertram led the brigade at the battle of Prairie Grove
Battle of Prairie Grove
The Battle of Prairie Grove was a battle of the American Civil War fought on 7 December 1862, that resulted in a tactical stalemate but essentially secured northwest Arkansas for the Union.-Strategic situation: Union:...
.
On December 10, 1862 Bertram was promoted to colonel. Despite his promotion he returned to regimental command during the siege of Vicksburg. He commanded brigades in the Department of the Gulf after the fall of Vicksburg. In August 1864 his brigade was transferred to the Mobile Bay Land Forces under the command of Gordon Granger
Gordon Granger
Gordon Granger was a career U.S. army officer and a Union general during the American Civil War. He distinguished himself at the Battle of Chickamauga.-Early life & Mexico:...
. There Bertram participated in the land operations during the battle of Mobile Bay
Battle of Mobile Bay
The Battle of Mobile Bay of August 5, 1864, was an engagement of the American Civil War in which a Federal fleet commanded by Rear Adm. David G. Farragut, assisted by a contingent of soldiers, attacked a smaller Confederate fleet led by Adm...
against Fort Morgan
Siege of Fort Morgan
The Siege of Fort Morgan occurred during the American Civil War as part of the battle for Mobile Bay in 1864. Union ground forces led by General Gordon Granger conducted a short siege of the Confederate garrison at the mouth of Mobile Bay under the command of General Richard L. Page...
.
He briefly commanded the District of Southern Alabama before returning to brigade command. His brigade, now part of the XIII Corps
XIII Corps (ACW)
XIII Corps was a corps of the Union Army during the American Civil War. It was first led by Ulysses S. Grant and later by John A. McClernand and Edward O.C. Ord...
, fought in the battle of Fort Blakely
Battle of Fort Blakely
-Sources:**-External links:*...
.
He received a brevet
Brevet (military)
In many of the world's military establishments, brevet referred to a warrant authorizing a commissioned officer to hold a higher rank temporarily, but usually without receiving the pay of that higher rank except when actually serving in that role. An officer so promoted may be referred to as being...
promotion to Brig. Gen. of U.S. Volunteers
Brigadier general (United States)
A brigadier general in the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, is a one-star general officer, with the pay grade of O-7. Brigadier general ranks above a colonel and below major general. Brigadier general is equivalent to the rank of rear admiral in the other uniformed...
, backdated to March 13, 1865. He was mustered out of the volunteer service on July 14, 1865.
After the war he was a hotel proprietor and sheriff. He died in Wisconsin in 1878.