This small group of items is identified to August Westhoff who was born in Germany in July of 1838. In 1857 he was living in Brooklyn, New York and when the Civil War began, he enlisted as a private in Company D, 20^th New York Infantry, also known as the Turner Rifles, on May 3, 1861.

The regiment participated in the capture of Fort Hatteras, North Carolina and in September 1861 they were sent to Virginia and stationed in Newport News. While there, they witnessed the battle between the USS MONITOR and the CSS VIRGINIA in nearby Hampton Roads.

In early May the 20^th New York was assigned to the 3^rd Brigade, 2^nd Division, 6^th Corps, Army of the Potomac and lost 64 men killed, wounded and missing during the Peninsula Campaign. Next the regiment fought at Antietam where they lost heavily 26 killed, 95 wounded and 1 man missing. They were present for Fredericksburg but not heavily engaged. At Chancellorsville, their last campaign, they lost 2 killed, 42 wounded and 53 men captured.

Private Westhoff was present for all of these engagements. He was promoted to corporal on December 12, 1862 and discharged on June 1, 1863.

After the war he returned to Brooklyn where he married and had two children. He was a member of the Dupont Post of the GAR, The Brooklyn Veteran Verein, the 20^th Regiment Veterans Association and Possamenher K.U.V. Mutual Aid Association No. 7.

August Westhoff died in Brooklyn on December 7, 1910 and is buried in Brooklyn’s Evergreen Cemetery.

This lot consists of a cabinet card photograph of Westhoff as an older gentleman. The photo was taken by Stevenson of Brooklyn, New York. Westhoff is seen in a dark suit and sporting a fancy mustache.

Next is a Department of the Interior Pension Office postcard filled out in period ink with Westhoff’s name, regiment, date of enlistment, date of discharge and home address. Card is in good condition and all is legible.

A 1909 envelope addressed to Westhoff from the Veterans Society of the 20^th N. Y. Vols. Envelope is empty.

A newspaper clipping of the history of the 20^th New York Infantry.

Next is a very nice citizenship document filled out and stamped with the seal of the City Court of Brooklyn in 1894 making August Westhoff an official citizen of the United States. Document meas. approx. 8.50 x 14.00 inches and is in very nice condition with only two horizontal fold lines.

The lot also contains a small bound booklet titled “BY-LAWS, RULES & REGULATIONS OF THE DU PONT POST NO. 187, G.A.R.” Item is in excellent condition.

Next is a printed flyer meas. approx. 5.50 x 9.50 inches. At top is a GAR membership badge in blue. The flyer is printed in German and announces “Gedarhtnissfeier des Germain Metternich Post No. 122 GAR” or “Remembrance ceremony of Germain Metternich Post No. 122 GAR” for Sunday the 27^th of May 1906.

There is another flyer, also done in German announcing “GROSSES SACRED CONCERT ARRANGIRT VON FRAN, ELISE, WESTHOFF” or “LARGE SACRED CONCERT ARRANGED BY FRAN, ELISE, WESTHOFF.” Item is dated January 13 1889. The flyer also announces a ballet to be put on by three families. Flyer meas. approx. 5.50 x 8.75 with minor edge wear and one vertical fold line.

Next is a printed poem in German titled “Srinnerung an die Schlacht am Antietam zur Feier des 17 September 1897 den Kameraden des 20 Regt” or “Remembrance of the Battle of Antietam in Celebration of September 17, 1897 the Comrades of the 20^th Regt.” Item meas. approx. 5.00 x 7.75 inches with two horizontal fold lines but in good condition.

The last document in the group is a large passport in German titled “Royal Prussian Maturity Passport for Foreign Countries” dated 1857 and filled out for August Westhoff. The back of the document bears a US Pension office stamp of 1904. Document is four pages and meas. approx. 15.00 x 9.50 inches with three horizontal fold lines.

The last two items in the group are cabinet card photographs. The first is of the large soldier’s monument that stands in the Antietam National Cemetery and the other is a larger view, approx. 5.25 x 8.50 inches, of the 20^th New York Infantry monument that also stands in the Antietam National Cemetery.

This is a nice little group documenting the life and service of an immigrant soldier.  [AD] [ph:L]

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

THIS ITEM, AS WITH ALL OTHER ITEMS AVAILABLE ON OUR WEB SITE,

MAY BE PURCHASED THROUGH OUR LAYAWAY PROGRAM.

CLICK HERE FOR OUR POLICIES AND TERMS.

THANK YOU!