Individual Details

Military

Civil War Record---Brenaman,Frederick. Age 25. Residence Brooklyn, nativity Switzerland. Enlisted Aug. 21,1862. Mustered Sept. 10,1862. Promoted Seventh Corporal July 1, 1864. Wounded slightly Sept. 19, 1864, Winchester, Va. Mustered out July 31, 1865, Savannah, Ga. He was a member of Company "H" Twenty-eighth Iowa Infantry.
The Graves Registration Record says that he was a member of the GAR Post No. 321 of Poweshiek County. He has a GAR marker at his grave site.

Military

Name: Frederick Brenaman Residence: Brooklyn, Iowa Age at enlistment: 25 Enlistment Date: 21 Aug 1862 Rank at enlistment: Private State Served: Iowa Was Wounded?: Yes Survived the War?: Yes Service Record: Enlisted in Company H, Iowa 28th Infantry Regiment on 10 Sep 1862.
Promoted to Full 7th Corporal on 01 Jul 1864.
Mustered out on 31 Jul 1865 at Savannah, GA.
Birth Date: abt 1837 Sources: Roster & Record of Iowa Soldiers in the War of Rebellion

Description

28th Regiment

The regiment left for that "death trap," Helena, Arkansas, November I,
1862, but suffered comparatively little there. It was brigaded with the Twentyfourth
Iowa. It was sent to Oakland, Mississippi, thence on the White River
expedition early in 1863. Their sufferings were from cold, rain and ice, wading
and working in water over their shoetops, in clothing stiff with ice. It is strange
that any with such an experience ever returned to Helena.' They were in the
battle at Port Gibson, May 1st, and fought heroically. On the 16th of May one
of their most desperate battles was fought on Champion's Hill, where B. F.
Cassidy was killed.,
The Twenty-eighth did itg-· full duty in the investment of Vicksburg, where
only an accident enables anyone regiment to distinguish itself especially.
The valley of the Shenandoah was the garden spot of the Confederacy, its
richest granary, sheltered by the mountains on two sides, it was the favorite resort
of Confederate troops when hard pushed in central Virginia. The Union
forces often met them there, and there some of the most desperate battles of
the war were' fought. The Confederate armies had found their supplies there
ana from there armies had set out to carry the war into Pennsylvania, and to
sweep around north of the Potomac to attack Washington. Some of the proudest
generals had there been shorn of their laurels. At the mouth of that river
was Harper's Ferry, with its memories of John Brown, and a few miles away
was Charleston, where he was imprisoned and where soldiers marched and
countermarched about his scaffold as though they were about to hang the generalissimo
of their enemies' armies, but in reality they were only immortalizing
the man whose last act at the gibbet was to take up a little negro child and kiss
HISTORY OF POWESHIEK COUNTY 199
it as arepr~sentative of the race for which he had so rashly l~ved and was now
so courageously to die.
Battles in the valley were to be ended in 1864, and the Twenty-eighth Infantry
was to have some of its most desperate fighting there, between September
19 and October 19. -General Gordon, a dashing cavalry general of the
Confederate army, and one of the fairest and most readable writers of war history,
tells us in his "Reminiscences of the Civil War" that the Confederates were
nearer Washington, July II, 1864, than any armed Confederates had ever been.
"Undoubtedly we could have marched into Washington, but in the council of
war called by General Early there was not a dissenting opinion as to the impolicy
of entering the city."
Early was sent to the Shenandoah valley, a part of which had been utterly
desolated by Hunter. Its importance was appreciated by both contestants. A
match for Early should be in command. Grant succeeded in getting that fiery
Irishman, Phil Sheridan, placed in control of the Union forces there. -
OUR IOWA TROOPS AGAIN COME INTO VIEW.
On July 6th the Twenty-eighth received command to prepare for transportation
to an unknown port under s'ealed orders. - When at sea their orders were
opened, and -to their delight their destination was away from the -swamps and
malaria of the lower Mississippi for the healthier region of Virginia. There,
too, they were delighted to be under the command of Sheridan, with the prospect
of something to do. No month was more memorable than that which they
began on the banks of the Opequan, Virginia, September 19, 1864.
Side by side with their brave, but somewhat self-satisfied, brethren from
farther north they went into the battles in the Shenandoah valley with some
questionings among the veterans of General John C. Breckenridge, once vice
president of the United States, and now in that, to him, doleful retreat through
Winchester, had lost nearly all trace of his division, and his division had lost their
general. General Gordon, commander of the Confederate cavalry, was
in that battle. H~ says of Breckenridge, "He was desperately reckless,-the
impersonation of despair. He literally seemed to court death. Indeed, to my
protest against his unnecessary exposure by riding at my side, he said: 'There
is little left to me if our cause is to fail.' Later, when the cause had failed, he
acted upon this belief and left the country and only returned after long absence
to end his brilliant career in coveted privacy among his Kentucky friends."
General Early could not refrain from firing a shot at Breckenridge-sarcasm,
not a bullet. Breckenridge had long bee~ a prominent advocate of "southern
rights in the territories," but Early had been a moderate southerner as to secession
until Virginia had voted herself out of the Union. Early broke the dismal
silence of that dismal night retreat by calling out, "General Breckenridge, what
do you think of the rights of the south in the territories now?"
He said nothing about those "rights." Wonder if. he was sorry that he had
ever spoken on that theme?We can't avoid giving him the comfort of our pity
for his tpistake.
200 HISTORY OF POWESHIEK COUNTY
The battles of Winchester, of Fisher's Hill and of Cedar Creek gave Confederates
and-Unionists enough to do through four weeks. Jubal A. Early was
in command of the Confederates in the valley; the Unionists sought their best
officer for leader there. The lot fell upon Sheridan and the Unionists commenced
the wrestle near Winchester. They lost ground, rallied again, and, in a most
desperate contest, drove back the Confederates through Winchester with a loss
of 5,000 men on their side and 4,000 by the Confederates.
Lieutenant Colonel Wilson reported that battle as follows:
Near Winchester-Sept. 26, '64.
Fisher's Hill-Sept. 27, '64.
Battle of Cedar Creek, Oct. 19, 1864.
Report of Major John Meyer in command of Twenty-eighth Regiment:
"General: I have the honor to report that, in compliance with orders, the
regiment ~t five A. M., was standing at arms, awaiting the issue of a reconnoissance
to be made by the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd brigades of our division; but before
the reconnoissance was made, the enemy, in overwhelming numbers, attacked
the 8th corps, which was on the left of the army. That corps, failing to be under
arms, was soon driven from their works, and the enemy was rapidly advancing
toward the loth army corps, occupying the center of the army, when Gen. Grover,
commanding the 2nd division, ordered the regiment, with the 4th brigade, by the
left flank, to change front, and assist the 8th corps. The regiment was on the
extreme left of the brigade and division, and under the personal direction of the
division commander, it was taken about one-fourth of a mile to the east of the
Winchester pike, to hold the crest of a hill. In the hurry, the remaining regiments
of the brigade were left west of the pike, and the 12th Maine was ordered
to form on o~r right, but after several unsuccessful efforts, it failed to come to
the line, and returned in confusion, which left our right exposed. A brigade
from the I st division, 19th army corps, formed on the line on our left; but the
right of the line of the enemy extended far beyond the left of that brigade.
"It was soon outflanked, and gave way. The Twenty-eighth was the last to
fall back, but being engaged on both flanks and front, there was no hope left of
holding our ground. At first we fell back slowly. It was, however, soon discovered
that our retreat was bJft;g: dosed. I gave the order "Double-quick," and
for one-third of a mile we passed through one of the most destructive fires ever
witnessed, losing six men killed and between thirty and forty wounded. A few
of the regiment, rather than run that great hazard of life, laid down their arms,
and have gone to Libby Prison.
"Arriving at Major-General Sheridan's headquarters, which were about half
a mile northwest from the crest of the hill where we first engaged the enemy,
with other regiments, we rallied and for a short time held the enemy in check.
Here, while rallying and encouraging his men, Capt. Riemenschneider, of Company
I, was instantly killed, and Lieutenant-Colonel Wilson was wounded and
taken from the field. The 6th corps, which was on the right of the army, now
engaged the furious foe, but every effort failed, because the enemy continued to
flank us on the left. The whole army was therefore ordered to fall back about
two miles, so that our left was no longer exposed to the rebel right. The enemy,
finding that they no longer had the advantage, and seeing that our brave
HISTORY OF POWESHIEK COUNTY 201
boys were not 'subdued,' but ready to renew the conflict, ceased to advance.'
Then, during a pause, such as is wont to prevail before a terrible. storm, our
army lines were formed, front to front with the enemy. The Twenty-eighth, as
well as the whole army had been repulsed. The enemy had our camps and all
that ·we had except our arms; they had possession of the battle-field, of our
dead and our wounded; but we were unconquered.
"Major-General Sheridan comes upon the field. The 19th corps is placed on
the right, the 6th in the centre, and the 8th on the left. The 24th and 28th Iowa
form the connecting link between the 6th and the 19th corps. The awful scene
opens. We notice nothing except our own commands and the enemy in front.
No officers ever did better, nor any soldiers ever fought more bravely, than did
those of my command in that hour, which turned our defeat into a glorious victory.
We press forward, the enemy yields, he flees. The victory is won. The
rout transcends all others of the war. It seems so cruel, yet so satisfactory to
the loyal heart, to see our boys drop the running foe, and when he gets beyond
the reach of the rifles of the infantry, to see the cavalry plunge, with their carbines,
revolvers, and sabers right into the disorganized masses of the traitors, to
kill, to terrify, and to scatter them in all directions.
"The Twenty-eighth goes to its old camp; our food an'd clothing all are gone.
We had no breakfast,' no dinner, and nothing for supper; nor any rations nearer
than Winchester, thirteen miles away. We go forward to guard a captured
train two miles long. It is cold and dark. The mind grows calm; sadness and
solemnity come over us all. The last struggles of our brave comrades, the heroic
dead, are forever engraven on our memories. In after years we iqvite all
interested in the Twenty-eighth, as they pass by on the hill, on the right of the
pike, just before they cross the Cedar Creek, to pause and read the names over
the nine graves of the killed of the'regiment on that day. They, with those mortally
wounded, and the crippled and scarred for life, are some of the tokens of
the unflinching fidelity of the regiment to an undivided nationality."
FISHER'S HILL, SEPTEMBER 22, 1864.
Early kept up his rapid gait to Fisher's Hill, thirty miles south of Winchester,
2,500 of his soldiers, five pieces of artillery and nine battle flags among the
Unionists. '
Fisher's Hill was made strong by the Shenandoah and the mountain
against attack but superior numbers and a failure to protect their flank soon
induced the Confederates to "advance backward." Again Lieutenant-Colonel
Wilson speaks of the Twenty-eighth as follows:
'IOn the morning of the 22nd, we moved forward a short distance towards
the enemy, who were strongly intrenched at Fisher's Hill, a naturally Strong position
a short distance above Strasburg. Some considerable maneuvering was made
in the early part of the day, but we finally got a position, and were ordered to
fortify. We had scarcely commenced work when I received orders to report
with my regiment to General Grover for special duty. On reporting, I was ordered
to the front line, a commanding position, fro~ which the enemy's skirmishers
had just been driven. As a battery immediately preceded me, I sup202
HISTORY OF POWESHIEK COUNTY
posed that I was there as its support. I soon had constructed a sort of an intrenchment,
a. protection against the bullets of rebel sharpshooters. Here I remained
until about four o'clock, P. M., when I was ordered by General Grover
to deploy as skirmishers on the right of the 22nd Iowa, and to proceed as far as
practicable toward the intrenched position of the enemy.
"We steadily advanced toward their works to within about three hundred
yards, when, pouring in volley after volley with great rapidity, the enemy seemed
to waver, whereupon I ordered a charge. With a prolonged shout, we went
after them, scaling their works, driving them in confusion before us, capturing
a six-gun battery, a large quantity of ammunition, and a number of prisoners.
After following them for about a mile, and heavy lines of infantry coming up,
I received orders to return for the knapsacks of my regiment, which had been
left previous to making the charge."
Early's army was compelled to retreat, slowly at first, then quicker, and soon
on a canter. They passed Staunton; they entered the passes of the Blue Ridge
-and waited. Twenty-six days followed. The army of Early wondered why
Sheridan did not attack them again. They saw the smoke of burning stacks
and buildings, the utter desolation of a country as rich in all supplies as the
Palitinate when Turenne entered it, but becoming as complete an ash heap as
the Palitinate when Turenne left it. It is said with an allowable tinge of poetry
that. a crow desiring to cross the valley of the Shenadoah "was obliged to carry
a haversack."
That valley never furnished food for another army of secessionists. But
there WlaS another side. The Confederates say the army could have been crushed
easily if 110 delay had been made, and they were reinforced. Six hundred cavalry
dashed in from Lee's army and Kershaw'~ entire division of South Carolina
joined them one night, and-Sheridan was in Washington!
A Confederate writer says:, "The news of Kershaw's approach ran along the
sleeping ranks and aroused them as if an electric battery had been sending its
stimulating current through their weary bodies. Cheer after cheer came from
their husky throat~ and. ran along the mountain cliffs, the harbinger of a com~
ing victory. 'Hurrah for the-Palmetto boys. Glad to see you South Caliny.
Whar did you come from? Did you bring any more guns for Phil Sheriqan?'
We had delivered several guns to that officer without taking any receipt for
them. Among the pieces of artillery sent us by th~ war department was a long,
black rifle cannon, on which some wag had printed in white letters words to this
effect: 'Respectfully consigned to General Sheridan through General Early.'
And Sheridan got it-some days later."
The Confederates made a quiet, but rapid night march, and woke Sheridan's
forces with bayonets at their bosoms. Every corps was scattered but the
Sixth and General Gordon had ordered his entire force to attack them on three
sides at the same instant, while at the call the Confederate artillery should
empty their guns into the Union force.
At that moment Early rode upon the field and said: "Well, Gordon, this is
glory enough for one day. Precisely ,one month ago we were going in the opposite
direction."
HISTORY OF POWESHIEK COUNTY 203-
Gordon explained his orders.
"No use in that. They will all go directly."
"But that is the Sixth Corps, General. They will not go unless we drive
them," said Gordon.
'·'Yes, it will," said the Confederate in command.
The moment of opportunity passed. Sheridan's men came back on the
double quick. Sheridan was at their head.

Military

Wounded 19 Sep 1864, Winchester, VA

Name: Frederick Brenaman Residence: Brooklyn, Iowa Age at enlistment: 25 Enlistment Date: 21 Aug 1862 Rank at enlistment: Private State Served: Iowa Was Wounded?: Yes Survived the War?: Yes Service Record: Enlisted in Company H, Iowa 28th Infantry Regiment on 10 Sep 1862.
Promoted to Full 7th Corporal on 01 Jul 1864.
Mustered out on 31 Jul 1865 at Savannah, GA.
Birth Date: abt 1837 Sources: Roster & Record of Iowa Soldiers in the War of Rebellion

Death

Cause of Fred's death was carcinoma of prostrate, in other words, he had prostate cancer.

Burial

Birth:
Aug. 28, 1837
Bern, Switzerland

Death:
Mar. 14, 1909
Brooklyn
Poweshiek County
Iowa, USA


Freidrich was born at Zimmerland, Bern, Switzerland and married Matilda Garner, April 1, 1866.

Family links:
Children:
Rose Belle Willett (1876 - 1942)*

* Reverse Relationships:" boBDY="This relationship was not directly added to this memorial. Rather, it is calculated based on information added to the related person's memorial. For example: if Joe Public is linked to Jane Public as a spouse, a reciprocal link will automatically be added to Jane Public's memorial.
" boCSSBDY boCSSHDR IEbugfix="false" fixX="NaN" fixY="NaN" absX="NaN" absY="NaN" offY="10" offX="10" fade="true" fadespeed=".09" delay="0" windowLock="true"Calculated relationship




Burial:
Brooklyn Memorial Cemetery
Brooklyn
Poweshiek County
Iowa, USA


Created by: Rose Rathbun
Record added: Jul 08, 2002
Find A Grave Memorial# 6589470

Burial

Fredrick's stone has a GAR marker beside it.