Greetings all
It's a quiet and rainy Saturday here in Arizona, had a little time on my hands and wanted to work this little esay up, hope you don't mind.
Here are a set of CDV images recently purchased on EBAY. They depict a husband and wife identified as Lieutenant and Frau Scheffler, with period identifications appearing on the reverse of each. They were part of a large 1870 era photo album which was being broken up and the photos sold individually. Fortunately for us, we were able to purchase a number of them and over time we will place them here to share with you .
All of the images we purchased from this album were identified to the individual portrayed, with unit and rank detail included for the soldiers. Men from several infantry, hussar and dragoon regiments were included with some candid photos of enlisted personnel as well.
Today we will have a closer look at one of the soldiers, Lieutenant Karl August Perceval Sheffler, 11th Company, III Battalion, 39th Fusiliers. He received a severe wound to his left arm during the Battle of Spicheren, August 6th 1870, one of the early engagements of the Franco-Prussian War.
At 12:00pm on August 6th the Third Battalion of the 39th Fusilier Regiment was part of the advance guard of the 14th Division entering into the valley prior to the general assault on the Rotherberg height. According to several sources, an incomplete reconnaissance of the French positions by the Prussian cavalry led General Kamacke, commander of the 14th Division, to believe he was facing far fewer enemy troops than actually occupied this position. Descending Drill-ground Hill the III/39R immediately received intense fire from the Chassepot armed French infantry and shellfire from the bronze Napoleons. The III/39R gained the Stiring Wood forcing the French infantry to give way. Reaching the center of the wood French resistance stiffened and the battalion was forced to fight for its life. It is likely that during this two and a half hour ordeal by the III/39R that Lieutenant Sheffler received his life changing wound and perhaps his Iron Cross.
The Prussian troops were successful in removing the French from their positions on the 6th of August, but not without a considerable cost. The 39th Fusiliers alone endured the loss of over 650 men killed and wounded that day.
In the CDV image of Lt Sheffler, he is shown wearing an elaborate arm support sling, with a snap-hook system to ease his efforts in taking the sling on and off. With the 1871 date on the reverse of his photograph, this no doubt illustrates the fact that his wound was not a minor one. His left hand is still encased in a protective glove, perhaps a glove he wore for the rest of his life. Yet his steady gaze and proud bearing attest to his spirit and the pride he felt when awarded the Iron Cross.
Lt. Sheffler remained in the army at least until 1875, serving at the NCO School Weissenfels, in the rank of Premier-Lieutenant.
This information is courtesy of the German General Staff Report The Franco-German War 1870-1871, The Prussian Rang und Quartiere Listen for 1869 & 1875 and the book The Battle of Spicheren by Lt.Col.GFR Henderson.
Hope you enjoyed this little tale, I certainly enjoyed writing it up.
Larry
PS, the EK2 and Spicheren bar are not Scheffler's, thought they'd look good for effect.
It's a quiet and rainy Saturday here in Arizona, had a little time on my hands and wanted to work this little esay up, hope you don't mind.
Here are a set of CDV images recently purchased on EBAY. They depict a husband and wife identified as Lieutenant and Frau Scheffler, with period identifications appearing on the reverse of each. They were part of a large 1870 era photo album which was being broken up and the photos sold individually. Fortunately for us, we were able to purchase a number of them and over time we will place them here to share with you .
All of the images we purchased from this album were identified to the individual portrayed, with unit and rank detail included for the soldiers. Men from several infantry, hussar and dragoon regiments were included with some candid photos of enlisted personnel as well.
Today we will have a closer look at one of the soldiers, Lieutenant Karl August Perceval Sheffler, 11th Company, III Battalion, 39th Fusiliers. He received a severe wound to his left arm during the Battle of Spicheren, August 6th 1870, one of the early engagements of the Franco-Prussian War.
At 12:00pm on August 6th the Third Battalion of the 39th Fusilier Regiment was part of the advance guard of the 14th Division entering into the valley prior to the general assault on the Rotherberg height. According to several sources, an incomplete reconnaissance of the French positions by the Prussian cavalry led General Kamacke, commander of the 14th Division, to believe he was facing far fewer enemy troops than actually occupied this position. Descending Drill-ground Hill the III/39R immediately received intense fire from the Chassepot armed French infantry and shellfire from the bronze Napoleons. The III/39R gained the Stiring Wood forcing the French infantry to give way. Reaching the center of the wood French resistance stiffened and the battalion was forced to fight for its life. It is likely that during this two and a half hour ordeal by the III/39R that Lieutenant Sheffler received his life changing wound and perhaps his Iron Cross.
The Prussian troops were successful in removing the French from their positions on the 6th of August, but not without a considerable cost. The 39th Fusiliers alone endured the loss of over 650 men killed and wounded that day.
In the CDV image of Lt Sheffler, he is shown wearing an elaborate arm support sling, with a snap-hook system to ease his efforts in taking the sling on and off. With the 1871 date on the reverse of his photograph, this no doubt illustrates the fact that his wound was not a minor one. His left hand is still encased in a protective glove, perhaps a glove he wore for the rest of his life. Yet his steady gaze and proud bearing attest to his spirit and the pride he felt when awarded the Iron Cross.
Lt. Sheffler remained in the army at least until 1875, serving at the NCO School Weissenfels, in the rank of Premier-Lieutenant.
This information is courtesy of the German General Staff Report The Franco-German War 1870-1871, The Prussian Rang und Quartiere Listen for 1869 & 1875 and the book The Battle of Spicheren by Lt.Col.GFR Henderson.
Hope you enjoyed this little tale, I certainly enjoyed writing it up.
Larry
PS, the EK2 and Spicheren bar are not Scheffler's, thought they'd look good for effect.
