History in OurBackyard immigrant warrior

By peter kolakowski

Col Joseph Moesch: Immigrant Warrior & Wilderness Casualty almost twenty years before another school would be established in 1949.

In addition to other area battles, the Fredericksburg National Cemetery includes the monuments and graves of those killed at the Battle of the Wilderness (May 5-6, 1864). Of the 3,461 soldiers buried in the National Cemetery from the battle, only 342 are known.

Mary Washington Hospital would continue to grow due to donations many of which came from out of state. The second floor was added to include four additional rooms in 1910.

The Hospital had a printed booklet in 1917 charges: Private Room $5.00 with bath $6.00, Nursery $1.00, Ward $2.00, Operating Room Major $10.00 Minor $8.00, Delivery Room $5.00 the charges were on a daily basis (1).

In 1927 the Building Committee decided that the hospital needed a new building and if built on the current site would save money. It was decided that a new building with fifty beds be constructed at a cost of $88,000. The Masonic Lodge #4 laid the corner stone on November 4, 1927. Many item belonging to Mary Washington were placed in the corner stone. A gift from a lady in New York enabled hospital to be completed as originally designed when it opened in July 1928. The Hospital continued to use with a profit thru the depression years.

In 1942, Mary Washington Hospital appointed a new building committee, however, it would be another seven years before any building efforts would become reality. During this period of time many births would increase at the hospital from 308 in 1941 to 515 in 1945. Including Ronnie Herndon born October 18, 1942, myself Tuffy Hicks born October 18, 1943, along with many of my friends and classmates. My famous artist friend John Wayne Edwards reminded me that he was delivered by Dr. Travis in 1946, always has to remind me that he is younger.

The most prominent monument and memorial to a soldier killed at the Wilderness is that of Col Joseph A Moesch, commander of the 83rd New York Volunteer Regiment. He is the second highest ranking officer buried in the National Cemetery.

Colonel Moesch was born August 13, 1829, in Eiken, Canton Aargau, Switzerland. Along with his wife Verena (Fanny), and a daughter, Melanie, Moesch established his family in New York City upon arrival in 1854. He worked as a humble laborer. Another daughter, Josephine, was born into the family in 1856. Moesch filed for naturalized citizenship on September 26, 1856.

On May 6, 1864, Col. Moesch led the 83rd New York Regiment into action in the assault along the Orange Plank Road at the Battle of the Wilderness. George A Hussey, regimental historian for the Ninth New York Militia, later wrote: "The assault was gallantly made and the enemy driven nearly two miles; but the NINTH suffered heavily, losing, among their killed, their brave leader, Colonel Moesch. His loss was deeply felt by all in the regiment." The colonel's body was carried to the division hospital where it was placed in a rudely constructed coffin. Colonel Moesch was buried under the direction of the regiment's chaplain, Alfred C. Roe, in the Ellwood cemetery.

In 1887, Hussey, aided by Chaplain Roe, who remembered the exact location of the burial, and along with Andrew J Birdsall, then superintendent of the cemetery, recovered Moesch's remains and had them reinterred in the Fredericksburg National Cemetery. At the time of the reinterment a bullet was found in the bottom of the coffin as the remains decomposed. It was the bullet that killed Moesch at the Wilderness.

When the Civil War broke out Moesch felt he should do his part as a citizen and enlisted as a volunteer for three years with Company B, Ninth New York State Militia (later redesignated the 83rd New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment) as a first sergeant. He received a promotion to captain in October 1861, and fought at Cedar Mountain, Second Manassas, and Antietam. He endured a painful wound at the Battle of Fredericksburg and was promoted again to lieutenant colonel. Moesch then became the regimental commander and led it at the Battles of Chancellorsville and Gettysburg. He eventually received promotion to colonel in October 1863.

The regiment's veterans subsequently raised the funds for the monument to their fallen leader. A dedication ceremony for the monument to Moesch and the regiment took place on September 24, 1890 in the National Cemetery.

Col. Joseph Moesch lived the American dream, advancing through his natural talents and hard work. He gave his life for his adopted nation while fighting for its ideals. In an official report, Col. Richard Coulter, commanding the regiment's brigade at the Wilderness stated of Moesch, "It is only necessary to say that in his death he proved himself worthy of the favorable mention heretofore repeatedly made of him."

Peter Kolakowski is a Civil War Batlefield Trust Board Member. He is an active supporter of preservation

When you walk downtown, you tread the same paths that others have followed over the centuries. This is part of the amazing charm of Fredericksburg. Many locations have fascinating stories to tell about the people who once stood where you stand today. This is about one of those places.

In the Spring of 1862, the Union army occupied Fredericksburg. President Abraham Lincoln came to town on May 23rd, meeting with the Union high command, then in the process of preparing for an advance on Richmond, the capitol of the Confederacy. The meeting was not heralded and escaped much notice by the Northern press. Thanks to research by John Hennessy, we now know a fair bit about Lincoln's visit.