The Battle of Chickamauga on September 18-20, 1863 was the largest and most significant battle that Wilder’s Brigade fought. It is generally considered to be a Confederate victory, although losses on both sides were high. It ultimately cost General Rosecrans his job, and he was replaced by one of his subordinates, General George H. Thomas. […]
Annie Rademacher – life in a sod house
Our records about the early years of the Joseph and Ottilia Burkey family are a little sketchy, but here’s what we think we know. Shortly after they were married, the family moved to Columbus (Platte County), Nebraska. A Nebraska State Census in 1885 shows Joseph, Ottilia and their two young children Alois and Anna living […]
Salathiel Timmons: Second Battle of Chattanooga
Following their stunning success Hoover’s Gap, Salathiel Timmons and Wilder’s Brigade spent the next three weeks going after the rear of Confederate General Bragg’s army, burning railroads and bridges, capturing horses, and raiding for supplies. The Adjutant General’s report then describes at great length what was really just a minor skirmish but again displays the […]
Annie Rademacher’s mom: Ottilia Winkler
Last time we learned about Annie Rademacher’s father, Joseph Burkey. Joseph was a young Mennonite man living in Crete, Nebraska in the early 1880’s. How in the world did the Rademacher family tree – almost entirely Catholic – end up with a Mennonite branch? Let’s look first at the woman Joseph Burkey would eventually marry: Ottilia […]
Salathiel Timmons: Battle of Hoover’s Gap
When we last left off, Salathiel’s regiment had just joined the famous Wilder’s Brigade and his younger brother Battle had just died of disease. After about a month of extensive drills and training in their new role as mounted infantry, Wilder’s Brigade was called upon for a couple of minor skirmishes. Then on June 23, […]
