Gottfried Reiche

Gottfried I. Reiche

Gottfried I. Reiche was born on February 5, 1848, in Cincinnati, Ohio. On November 13, 1862, at the age of 14, he enlisted in General George H. Thomas' Army of the Cumberland as a Drummer Boy. Later he became a Private in Company H, 108th Regiment Ohio Voluntary Infantry when the Army of the Cumberland became XIV Corps in General William Tecumseh Sherman's army. He marched with General Sherman's army from Atlanta to the sea fighting at such places as Resaca and Kennesaw Mountain.

In the subsequent campaign of the Carolinas he fought in the Battle of Bentonville, North Carolina, from March 19 - 21, 1865. He was a 17-year-old Corporal. The Battle of Bentonville was the last major battle to occur between the armies of Major General William T. Sherman and General Joseph E. Johnston. Corporal Reiche fought again at the Neuse River. This was his last hostile meeting with the enemy. Gottfried Reiche was mustered out on July 22, 1865, at Louisville, Kentucky, the same date that the 108th Ohio was disbanded.

In 1907, Gottfried Reiche moved to Helena, Montana, and in 1916, he succeeded Wilbur Fiske Sanders as Montana's Department Commander of the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR). In 1916, there were 300 members of the GAR in Montana. When Gottfried Reiche died on February 3, 1940, there were only three members left. Gottfried Reiche was buried in Helena, Montana.

Information and photograph provided by Gottfried I. Reiche's great grand nephew, Robert H. Haley (Chief Petty Officer, U.S. Navy - Ret.), General James J. Byrne Camp #1, Arlington, Department of Texas, SUVCW.

Gottfried I. Reiche