How did Lake Co. react to Civil War?

Of the 2 million men who fought for the Union Army in the Civil War (1861-1865), 175,000 were foreign-born soldiers of German descent. Among them was Henry Fiddler.

Henry was born in 1844 in Darmstadt, Germany to John and Flora Fiddler. The family immigrated to the United States in 1854. They settled in Avon Township, and rented a house along Grand Avenue on the north side of Sand Lake. John worked as a farmer, and when Henry was old enough he also became a farmer.

When news of the fall of Fort Sumter reached Lake County in April 1861, a war meeting was held in Waukegan and men enlisted on the courthouse steps. The age of enlistment was 18; Henry was only 17, and did not enlist although younger men signed up. Orson Young of Russell was 16 when he joined the 96th Illinois Infantry, and Orion Howe of Waukegan signed up as a drummer boy at the age of 13.

As the war raged, Henry saw friends go off to fight and neighbor women make quilts and bandages to send to the troops. By 1863, the war had taken a toll on the North and South. A desperate call for new recruits rang out, and on Jan. 25, 1864, Henry went to Waukegan and enlisted with the 39th Illinois Volunteer Infantry. The 39th was called "Yates' Phalanx" in honor of Governor Yates of Illinois.

Henry probably returned to his home in Avon Township for a few days, before heading to Chicago where the regiment was in the process of recruiting 300 men. Members of the regiment appeared at Bryan Hall, a public auditorium on Clark Street in Chicago, where citizens enthusiastically applauded them. Henry officially mustered into the ranks of the 39th on Jan. 31.

On leaving Chicago, Henry marched with the regiment to Washington, D.C. From there, they sailed to Georgetown, Va., and were assigned to General Butler.

On Aug. 16, the 39th charged the enemy at Deep Run, Va., fighting hand to hand. The regiment broke the enemy's lines, capturing many. In this battle, the 39th suffered 104 casualties. Henry Fiddle was among them. He died of his wounds, and was buried there.

In 1869, another boy was born to the Fiddler family. His parents named him Henry.

To glimpse what Henry Fiddler and young soldiers like him experienced during the Civil War, check out Illinois' largest Civil War re-enactment July 11 and 12 at Lakewood Forest Preserve. For information call (847) 968-3381.