Charles Frederick Wacker / Karl Friedrich Wacker

 

                             Born Feb. 3rd 1834 in Waibstadt, Baden Germany and died   

                                              March 24th 1911 in Mobile Alabama

                                  _____________________                                                                                                                

 

 

         Charles Frederick Wacker (Karl Friedrich), a 19 year old farm boy from Waibstadt, Baden Germany, made his way to the seaport of Bremerhaven Germany in 1853. there boarded the 331-Ton bark “Favorite” along with others seeking to make a new life in North America free from political oppression and conscription into the German Army. Under the mastery of Captain B. Hey, they made their way through the North Sea, down the English Channel and set out southerly and Westward across the Atlantic into the Caribbean. Sailing past Cuba they turned northward into the Gulf of Mexico and on to the Port of New Orleans Louisiana. They arrived on January 26 1854.

 

note:

                 The immigrant ship "Favorite" was accidentally rammed and sunk by another ship in the

            English Channel on Its very next voyage to America. Only the captain and 4 crewmen survived.

            Al Immigrants, about 180 in all were never seen again.

 

1853    Departed Bremerhaven Germany for America December?

1854    Arrived in the port New Orleans Louisiana January 24

185?    Moved to Springhill (Mobile) Alabama

1858    Received U. S. Citizenship July 19th as Charles F. "WALKER" in City Court at Mobile Alabama

 

Note:

     Immigrant surnames were often misspelled. This was due in part to: Immigration Officials and persons of other nationalities not being familiar with names foreign to their own culture, and also, due to the heavy accents of the immigrants themselves. As a result of this problem Charles Frederick "WACKER" Sr. was sometimes called “Walker”.

     The deed document dividing his mother-in-law Mary Ann Lucas-Tosh-Flannery's property between his wife Mary Ann Tosh-Wacker and his sister-in-law Margaret Tosh-Pitroff dated August 8th 1877 recorded in deed book 037 pages 363-365 in The Office of the Judge of Probate Court for Mobile County, Alabama, and personally attested to by the Judge of Probate, Price Williams Jr. himself, states that Charles F. WACKER Sr. is “sometimes called Walker”.

     The original 1860 U. S. Census field document plainly and clearly list Charles and his wife Mary Ann as “WACKER”, yet the later transcribed published record shows them as “Walker”. This was only one (1) year prior to his enlistment in the army of The Confederate States of America wherein his service record lists him as C. F. “Walker“. 

     The later 1880 U. S. Census field document list them, and seven (7) of their eight (8) children, as “Walker” and the transcribed published record once again list them as “Walker”. 

     The Alabama Department of Archives and History records of members serving in the army of the Confederate States of America, Wilcox Brigade, Eighth Alabama   Infantry, Company “G” has no listing for C. F. “Walker“, but instead list C. F. “WACKER“.

     The Alabama State Department of Archives and History publication, The Alabama Historical Quarterly XXXIX, 1977, No. 1,2,3 and 4 page 270 Appendix K list: “2nd Lt. Charles F. Walker (WACKER)”

  The Roster of Confederate Soldiers 1861-1865 Volume XXV published by the Broadfoot Publishing Company 1996, lists “Walker, Charles F. AL 8th Inf. Co. G 2nd Lt.”. 

     The 1906 hand written deed executed by Charles F. WACKER Sr. on February 15 conveying his property to his eight (8) his children as recorded February 23 1906 in deed book 121 pages 299-300 in the Office of The Judge of Probate for Mobile County, Alabama states in part “and also in consideration of the love and affection which I __?___  my children who are the grantees herein, I Charles F. WACKER Sr. do remise, release, quite claim, and convey unto”. Then he proceeds to name the same seven (7) children, plus a later born child, listed along with he and Mary Ann erroneously in the 1860 and 1880 U. S. Censuses under the name Walker, by the surname WACKER.

Clearly his name was WACKER and not Walker and the errors were made by others as all documents to which a signature is affixed are signed Charles F. WACKER Sr. All of his descendants then and today have the same surname, i.e. “WACKER”.    

 

 

1859    Married Mary Ann Tosh in Springhill (Mobile), Alabama the daughter of John and Mary Ann Lucas-Tosh (Later Mary Ann Lucas-Tosh-Flannery), French immigrants living at Springhill (Mobile), Alabama

 

1861    Enlisted “for the war” with the rank of Lance Corporal in the army of the Confederate States of America, Alabama Eighth (8th) Infantry Company “G”, know as the “Mobile German Fusiliers” at Mobile, Alabama

 

Note:

Alabama's eighth infantry is distinguished as the very first regiment of THE ENTIRE confederate army to enlist “for the war”

 

1861    Son Charles Frederick Wacker Jr was born. He Married Hannah O’Neil and together they had two (2) CHILDREN who lived past infancy, namely Charles Frederick Wacker III and John Conrad Wacker

 

Company Muster roll, for June 8th to June 30th L Corp. Charles Walker

 

Company Muster roll, For July August Mobile, Alabama, L Corp. Charles F. Walker, Present, Enlisted May 25th 1861 “for the war” at Mobile, Alabama by Captain John P. Emrich, Remarks: Quartermaster Sgt.

 

 

HISTORY OF SERVICE WITH THE EIGHTH ALABAMA INFANTRY

           

 

1861    York Town Virginia, Staged there for first eleven months of service

 

1862    Winn’s Mill Engaged in skirmish near there

 

Note:

The Alabama Eighth Infantry was Placed IN GENERAL Pryor's Brigade

 

1862    Williamsburg May 5th overtaken by ENEMY 100 men lost

 

            Fair Oaks May 31ST AND June 1st

 

            Seven Pines 32 killed, 80 wounded, 32 missing

 

Note:

The Alabama Eighth Infantry was transferred to the brigade of General Cadmus Wilcox

 

1862    Mechanicsville June 26th

 

Gaines’ Mill June 28TH LOST 175,  (1/2) of 350 men engaged, 3rd sergt. C. F. Walker distinguished himself in battle for which his name was to be placed on the ROLL of HONOR of Confederate Soldiers (The very highest honor award of the Confederate Army)

 

Frazier’s Farm June 30th, 180 engaged 90 met muster the next morning

 

            Second battle of Manassas   Somewhat engaged, lost 60 men

 

            Harper’s Ferry   Somewhat engaged

 

Antietam (Sharpsburg), September 17th Heavily engaged 67 killed and wounded

 

            Wintered at Rappahannock

 

            Fredericksburg

 

            Salem Church, 58 killed and wounded

 

December 27th, 1ST. Serg’t. Chas. F. Walker received pay for period of service from June 30th to October 12th   1862, Promoted to 2nd Lt.

 

 

1863    Gettysburg, July 3rd, Fought with General Robert Edward Lee's Army of Northern Virginia, MAJ.GEN. James Longstreet's Command, MAJ.GEN. Richard Herndon Anderson's Division, Col. Alfred Cumming's Wilcox (Cummings) Brigade, Maj. Hillary A. Hebert's 8th Alabama Infantry, Capt. John P. Emrch's Company "G" "Mobile Fusiliers" 420 ENGAGED, more than 1/2 or 260 left killed and wounded on the battle field. While engaged in battle there 2nd Lt. C. F. Walker sustained an enemy gunshot wound in the left shoulder and side, “left in enemy lines” reads the report. He was captured and sent to the Union field hospital at Delaware.  

           

            July 4th admitted 12th A. C General Field Hospital  A. P. Gettysburg PA.

           

July 6th transferred to General hospital …Gunshot wound in lt shoulder and side.

 

Muster Roll Company G 8TH Alabama “Absent” POW  “left in enemy lines“.

 

            JULY?  POW at Fort Mc Henry Transferred to Fort Delaware

 

July 21st,   transferred from Fort Delaware to Johnson Island Prison for Confederate Officers in Lake Erie at Sandusky Ohio. in charge of Lt Wm. Hall

 

1864    Muster Roll 8th Alabama Co. G  “absent” POW

 

Note:

            August 10th, Name placed on "ROLL of HONOR" of Confederate Soldiers. for bravery at the Battle of Gaines’ Mill

 

Note:

            After his capture his Company “G” went on to fight the following listed battles:

 

1864    The Wilderness May 5th, 6th and 7th

 

            Spotsylvania May 8th to 18th

 

            Salem Church, Cold Harbor June 1st to 12th

 

Weldon RAILROAD JUNE 22nd and 23RD FORMED a portion of the troops engaged

 

            The “Crater” AT Deep Bottom July 30th outstanding in battle.

 

PETERSBURG, Somewhat engaged in the battle at the plank road below Petersburg.

 

            Appomattox, ENGAGED

 

1865    March 21st transferred from Johnson Island Prison to Point Lookout Md. For exchange.

 

June 12th Oath of Allegiance attested to at Fort Delaware, Released,

            Complexion: fair, Hair: light.  Eyes: dark, Height: 5 ft. 8 in

 

Released 1,000 miles from home ... no horse, no gun, no money and no food

 

Note:

More than one-third (470) OF the 1377 ON the roll of the Alabama   Eighth were killed, mortally wounded, or died of DISEASE. 236 others were discharged or transferred. the remaining 671 returned home with honor still proud of their service to The Confederate States of America

 

1865    Returned to HIS WAITING family, wife, Mary Ann and young son Charles Frederick Jr at MOBILE, ALABAMA. It had been four (4) hard years for all of them, including the better part of two (2) years he spent as a prisoner of war. Afterwards together he and       Mary Ann had seven (7) MORE CHILDREN, namely:

 

1866? Louis Julius Wacker BORN???  (Married Margaret Betbeze and after her death             married Rose Hofheins) 0 children w/Margaret, 3 w/Rose

 

1868?  Emma Wacker, born??  (Married James Griffith Jr) 1 child (died at birth)

 

1870    John Conrad Wacker, born August 17th he Married Elizabeth Margaret             Hoffmann and they had two (2) children

 

1872    Delphine Wacker, born December 18th  (Married Edward Wilmer Hansen) 11 children including ONE (1) stillborn

 

1874    Catherine Fannie Wacker, born November 8th   (Married Frank C. Hofheins)      

            4 children lived to maturity

 

1877    Dora Ann Wacker, born November 20th (Married William J. Scott) 2 children

 

1882    Mary Magdalene Wacker, born April 14th  (Married Charles F. Hofheins) 1 child (died at birth)

 

 

The above biography is from information obtained from numerous sources by descendants of Charles Frederick WACKER. Footnote source documentation to be added later as this is a work in progress and information is still being gathered.

 

JCW