8th Iowa Cavalry

MICHAEL GASSMANN

Born in the Alsace region of France in 1825, Michael emigrated to the U.S. on Oct. 1, 1847. He married Mary Threne on Nov. 1, 1848 and settled in Erie County, N.Y.

( just south of Buffalo) Mary was born in Homberg, Germany on Dec. 3, 1820. The couple had four children while living in N. Y. and in 1854 they moved to Iowa where their last child was born. Michael purchased a forty acre farm a few miles northwest of Dubuque, near Balltown.

In August 1863, Michael enlisted in the 8th Iowa Volunteer Cavalry. He was 38 years old at the time and his children’s ages were: Elizabeth 15, Helena 13, Michael 12, Rachael 10, and Peter was 6. When Michael signed up, he received a $25 bounty, $2 for signing, and a $13 advance on his first month’s pay. He is listed as being 5’8 1/2" in height with grey eyes and dark hair.

The 8th spent most of the winter and spring of 1863-64 in Tennessee guarding railroads and chasing small bands of rebel guerrillas. Then in May of 1864, Sherman began his Atlanta campaign. After three months of hard fighting, Sherman’s army was at the outskirts of Atlanta, but unable to penetrate the rebel fortifications. Sherman decided to send his cavalry around Atlanta to try to destroy the railroads and cut the enemy supply lines. These raids were a disaster, and resulted in almost the entire 8th Iowa being killed or captured. Only 20 of the 300 men from the regiment made it back to Union lines. The rest were either killed or captured. Michael was among those captured and sent to Andersonville prison.

A few months later, as Sherman began his march to the sea, Michael and many other prisoners were moved east ahead of the advancing Union army. By February of 1865, due to the poor sanitary conditions and inadequate prison food, Michael was suffering from chronic diarrhea and was apparently near death. One of his comrades, Sgt. Tharp described Michael’s condition:

".... about this 20th of February A.D., 1865 we were taken to Wilmington to be exchanged, as our forces were attacking the city we were sent to Goldsborough. Gassman was still with us but not able to help himself and could scarcely eat anything. The 3rd of March, 1865 we were paroled and sent back to Wilmington for a final exchange; Gassman was lain by my side where he remained for about two days. I was sick at the time. I crawled to him and spread his bread, and tried to get him to eat or drink but he was too weak. Whilst I was asleep he was moved and upon my making inquiry the next morning the nurses told me he was removed to another hospital. I have no doubt but what Gassman died that night I never saw him afterwards and never heard from him since he was carried from the hall"

Apparently Michael recovered since his military records indicate he was paroled on March 5, 1865, at Wilmington, N. C. However, the government has no further information on his ultimate fate. His widow indicated in her Pension Application that her husband died at "sea on board Steamer Elnora while being transferred from Charleston" in the State of "S.C. to Annapolis M.L. as a prisoner to be exchanged" on the "25th" day of "May A.D. 1865"

It is unknown where Michael’s widow got the above information, and it is also unknown where Michael’s final resting place is. Many letters of inquiry to various State and Federal Agencies have not produced any further information. It is probable that he was buried at sea.

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