Back in 2013, Bremen resident Lowell Roberts gave a talk at the Bremen Public Library during the Historic Bremen annual board meeting. He addressed the residents and family of those who fought in the Civil War, the campaigns they participated in, and the effects those campaigns had on the war.

The talk was recorded, as have been many others, and Historic Bremen is now editing these and beginning to making them available. Look for more in the future.

It was a fascinating talk, presented here in annotated form, which includes maps and pictures of the personalities discussed as well as stories and photos of some young Bremen men who served their country in its time of need.

Marshall county boys served primarily in the 20th and 29th Indiana Volunteers (infantry). Many served in other regiments because they were from other areas and eventually settled and were buried in Bremen or moved away from Bremen before going to serve. All the known residents and family are listed in the Bremen Public Library’s genealogy pages.

Click the video below to play it.

Here is the main visual aid Lowell uses. Click on it to see a larger version.

Linear map of Confederacy

Lowell offers this summary:

War in the east was a stalemate. The west was where the war was won, and that is where most Marshall county boys served.

The above diagram shows the Confederacy as a rectangle with four aquatic boundaries. In this diagram, the rail lines straighten out (like a subway map). Important hubs were at Corinth, MS, and Atlanta, GA. An inconvenience did exist between Selma, AL, and Montgomery, AL, which were not connected by rail. Both railroad hubs in Corinth and Atlanta were captured by the western armies, greatly diminishing the effectiveness of the railroads in acting as interior lines for the Confederacy.

  • Corinth, MS, captured May 30, 1862 by General Halleck
  • Atlanta, GA, captured Sep. 2 1864 by General Sherman

The Confederacy was sliced into smaller pieces by the western armies three times under General Grand or General Sherman. General Lee surrendered on April 9, 1865.

  • Along the Mississippi when Vicksburg, MS, fell on July 4, 1864 to General Grant
  • Louisville, KY, to Savannah, GA, when Savannah fell on Dec. 21, 1864 to General Sherman
  • Carolinas Campaign when Columbus, SC, fell on Feb 17-18, 1865 to General Sherman
  • Carolinas Campaign when Goldsboro, NC, fell on Mar. 23, 1865 to General Sherman

He also notes that at two times he misspoke:

  • The war lasted 4 years, not 5 (April 12, 1861 – May 9, 1865).
  • General Henry Halleck won the Siege of Corinth for the Union rather than Grant.

Bremen vets highlighted in the presentation:

  • 2Lt. Elijah Macomber
  • Benjamin Shaffer
  • Jacob C Kaufman
  • Lt. Col. Charles Ream