Union Gen. Godfrey Weitzel Subject of Brownville Old Time Autumn Presentation

Gen. Godfrey Weitzel achieved multiple promotions in the Union Army before age 30, a Brownville Fine Arts Association audience was informed Saturday afternoon, Oct. 10.
Bill Quatman of Kansas City, Mo. discussed his 2015 Weitzel biography during the Brownville Historical Society’s Old Time Autumn. Weitzel is featured in a photo displayed at the Wheel Museum on Brownville’s Main Street. Quatman recalled spending 10 years writing the book.
Born in 1835 in Germany, Weitzel and his family emigrated to the United States in 1837. They arrived in Baltimore before settling in the German Over the Rhine neighborhood in Cincinnati. Weitzel was admitted to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y. at the recommendation of Cincinnati school board members. Leading the academy while Weitzel attended were Jefferson Davis and Superintendent Robert E. Lee, Confederate leaders during the Civil War, Quatman related.
The author noted Weitzel was among the top students during his four years at West Point graduating second in his class in 1855. Weitzel’s first assignment after graduation was at New Orleans under Pierre Gustave Toutant-Beauregard, later a Confederate general who started the Civil War by ordering the first shots on Fort Sumter. Weitzel worked down the Mississippi River reinforcing Forts St. Philip and Jackson, Quatman noted. The author stated following Weitzel’s time in New Orleans he was assigned an assistant professorship at West Point.
Quatman said Weitzel was sent to Washington, D.C. to be part of the bodyguards watching over President Lincoln’s first inauguration. April 13, 1861, the day following the start of the Civil War, Weitzel was shipped to Fort Pickens, Fla. later returning to Washington to recruit a company.  The capture of New Orleans and the the forts guarding the approach to Louisiana’s largest city have been termed the most important Civil War event except the fall of Richmond, Va., the Confederate capital. From 1862 through 1864, Weitzel earned promotions to brigadier general, division commander, brevet major general and finally full major general.
The author indicated when Weitzel was promoted to brigadier general he was the youngest Union general. Weitzel later commanded the only all-African American and final corps formed during the Civil War. In late March 1865 Weitzel commanded all Union troops outside Richmond, Va., Quatman chronicled.
The April 3, 1865 fall of Richmond prompted big celebrations in Washington, D.C. and New York City, the author noted. Jefferson Davis, president of the Confederacy, left his Richmond mansion which was occupied by Weitzel. The following day, Lincoln and his son, Tad, age 12 years, arrived in Richmond and met with Weitzel. Quatman said Lincoln’s arrival has been depicted in many drawings. The Civil War ended April 9, 1865 when Lee surrendered to Gen. Ulysses S. Grant. Quatman noted Grant never set foot in Richmond until after the Civil War.
Quatman is a member of the Civil War Round Table of Kansas City, Mo., which promotes educational, literary and preservation activities related to the conflict. The meetings feature expert speakers on Civil War topics.
The author remembered giving his presentation more than 100 times and it was his first time in Nebraska. After the book was published, Quatman recalled going on a two-week tour to Louisiana; New York; Washington, D.C.; Virginia and Ohio, including The Museum of the Confederacy at Richmond, Va. He was also featured on C-SPAN.
“It’s fun to go around the United States and give the story,” the author said.
A separate article will feature Dale Gilbert with Thunder on Bays Mountain.