Augustus Reichard was born in Munden (Hanover) on April 9, 1820. He went to New Orleans as a young man, perhaps 20. Five years later as a starting point is also possible; August Reichard, aged 25, arrived by ship in New Orleans from Bremen on January 7, 1845. By age 29, he had obtained U.S. citizenship.

He was married two or three times, finally to my great-grandmother, Blanche Catherine Baquie. He was a cotton broker and sugar broker by profession, and eventually became a leading merchant in New Orleans.

My father has a ball of grapeshot that Reichard was said to have pulled out of his horse at Shiloh. An account, published in a German language New Orleans newspaper of the time, was written by a German soldier under Col. Reichard’s command. The soldier describes the colonel emerging from the smoke filling the forest, with bullets flying around him. “Are you hurt?” asked the soldier? “Only my horse,” was Reichard’s reply.

On the same paper in which he penned the speech I posted earlier, I have, written in Col. Reichard's hand, what appears to be a battle memoir. I would be interested in hearing from anyone who knows what this is all about.

"1. The fight to commence with a cannonade, two shots from each side, from distant hills.
"2. Cavalry skirmishers to be thrown forward from both armies -- firing -- Cavalry of Breckinridge reinforced a charge in line. C's cavalry skirmishers, who retreat in disgrace, and are pursued some distance.
"3. Infantry skirmishers (at the report of firing by cavalry skirmishers) are thrown forward from both armies -- C sends forward one entire battalion as skirmishers with reserves in echellon (sic) -- The cavalry of B skirmish with the infantry skirmishers who form square on the reserve of the skirmishers -- are charged by B's cavalry -- B's cavalry repulsed -- as they retire are fired on by artillery
"The infantry skirmishers of both armies now advance, B's skirmishers beat back C's -- when hard pressed C sends forward a second line of skirmishers, and drive them in on the main body.
"Both armies now advance.
"Breckinridge advances in echellon of Battalions from the right which movement is met by C -- throwing forward two battalions from the right and forms line of battle to the left -- which causes B to retire to his original position, and Cleburne returns to his -- little firing on either side -- Both lines advance. B advances his left flanck partially refusing his right, Cleburne boldly advances to the attack, exhausts his ammunition of the first line, and brings forward his second line, by passage of lines -- Which when in position charges Breckinridge's which causes B to retire to the right of companies on his second line --passing through the interval of Battalions in great confusion -- Breckinridge brings forward his second line, which charges Cleburne in turn who retires by the right of companies -- but when near the second line, forms line of battle by facing about and check B who retires -- Cleburne also retires a short distance.
"Cleburne and Breckinridge throw out skirmishers -- Breckinridge sends his artillery with a strong escort to seize the hill on the left and forms his reserve for a charge.
"An opening is made in the centre by causing centre battalions to form in columns closed in mass on the right and left divisions.
"Breckinridge opens fire with his artillery and charges Cleburn's centre, which gives way in great disorder.
"Cleburne fights, rallying his disordered battalions, a part moving to the left, a part to the right."

One account, translated by a friend of mine from German, explains:
“A former officer from Hannover, was exporting cotton from New Orleans and a consul for Prussia.
He resigned as consul and tried to combine the German militia regiments into a single German regiment when the Civil War started. But the government didn’t wish a bigger German alliance/bond in the confederation. They didn’t trust the Germans in the South, because of incidents in Missouri. For a certain time period there were even reservations about delivering weapons to the Germans. Reichard managed to found a German battalion that consisted of the following regiments: Steuben (name) – guard, captain Kehrwald, Tuner-guard, captain Baehncke, Reichard rifleman, captain Mueller, Florance-guard, captain Brummerstaedt. This German battalion was erected with four Irish regiments as the 20th Louisiana volunteer regiment. Reichard became colonel of it. He stood out especially in the battles of Shiloh, Murfreesboro, Chickamauga, Atlanta and Nashville.
At Shiloh this regiment lost an awful amount of men. The Reichard riflemen were reduced from 72 men to 33 men and the other regiments suffered so much that the 20th Louisiana regiment had to be united with the 13th Louisiana regiment. After the war Reichard went to Egypt took over/on a cotton plantation and thereinafter lived in Dresden.”

I also have a certificate from the Louisiana Division of the Association of the Army of Tennessee, presented June 10, 1879, and signed by Gen. P.G.T. Beauregard. It chronicles Augustus' Confederate military career:

"To all whom it may concern we do hereby declare and certify that Augustus Reichard entered the Military service of the Confederate States of America on the --- day of January 1861 as a private in the Orleans Light Horse. Elected Major of the Orleans Rifle Battalion 9th May 1861, and Colonel of the 20th Louisiana Volunteers 30th Novr. 1861; resigned his commission 7th July 1863 and as Bearer of Dispatches for Europe, of the Confederate Government, ran the blockade at Wilmington, N.C. on board of the Advance, Augt. 1863 ..."

Reichard later became a brigadier general in the Louisiana state guard. I have a citation from Beauregard that explains.

He did die in France, after bringing his family to Dresden for a time, having spent his final years at his chateau in the Loire valley. I also have information relating to his raising war bonds in New Orleans and being targeted by Gen. Ben. Butler for that.