Conrad Bockmier
Conrad Bockmier (Bauchmire)
Reference: "Adjutant General's Report, 1901"
Information from great-grandson Terry A. Krott:
Conrad Bockmier was born on April 7, 1846 in Nuremberg, Bavaria and emigrated to the
United States in 1847 with his family. At the age of 15 he enlisted in the Union Army at
Elmira, N.Y. on October 11, 1861 and mustered out 3 years later on November 18, 1864 at
Petersburg, Virginia. Private Bockmier was in Company K, 64th N.Y. Regiment, 4th
Brigade, 1st Division, II Corp, Army of the Potomac.
The following article was written by Mr.
Bockmier for one of his daughter's school projects, and reprinted by the Allegany, N.Y.
Citizen paper on February 12, 1914.
by
Conrad Bockmier
Being wounded at the battle of Fairoaks, Virginia, I was separated from my regiment. The battle began early Sunday morning, June 1, 1862. We charged the rebels, who were on the edge of the woods and in heavy force.
The battle raged fiercely and many of our regiment were killed or wounded. I was left lying on the battlefield until evening, then two men from the Irish brigade carried me to their field hospital. I remained there all the next day, until dark, then I and the rest of the wounded were placed side by side in a box car. At midnight the train started for White House Landing, arriving the next day at noon.
It was about 2:00 p.m. when my wounds were properly dressed, relieving much of my suffering and making me feel like a new man. The next morning we were taken aboard a large steamship bound for Philadelphia, arriving the next Sunday morning. I was carried on a stretcher thru the streets to the nearest hospital. The citizens were very kind to us and did everything they could to make us comfortable. I stayed at the 5th and Butterwood Streets Hospital for a few weeks, then transferred to the West Philadelphia Hospital.
From there I was sent with a troop of 500 men through Washington and Georgetown, up the Potomac River, as far as Chain Bridge. A call came for men belonging to the 2nd Army Corps. I left for my regiment which I found after 2 days of hard marching, on the evening before the battle of Antietam, September 17, 1862. Soon after arriving I was ill and ordered to the field hospital.
It was there that I had the good fortune to see President Lincoln. Our division commander , Major General Richardson was mortally wounded in battle, and the President came to see him. He not only called on the commander but went thru the tents filled with the wounded soldiers from both armies. He came to our tent and shook hands with everyone.
It happened there was a young rebel lying by my side, and when Lincoln came to him he said , "I wish to God your leaders would see their folly and stop this bloodshed." After the President left, the young rebel exclaimed, "If all our men could see what I have just seen, they would lay down their arms at once, and not fire another shot."
The President made such a good impression on all of the men that I am sure no one will
ever forget him. He was truly a great and good hearted man.
Conrad Bockmier
