John Gatzke was a native of Posen, Prussia, on June 8, 1839. He left Prussia when he was 17 years old. He settled in Faribault, Minnesota and became an American citizen in 1860. When he enlisted he was 22, stood 5' 8 3/4 " tall, had a fair complexion, hazel colored eyes and dark hair. He initially enlisted for three months of service. When it became apparent the rebellion would not be put down in that time, President Lincoln asked for everyone to re-enlist for three years, which John did. On June 3, 1861, he was on duty with Company G at Fort Ridgely in southwestern Minnesota. The company was recalled soon thereafter and the regiment headed east. The muster roll for June 3, 1862, reports John as sick and in the hospital at Annapolis, Maryland. He was wounded at Antietam. John served in all the major battles of the regiment up to Gettysburg. During the regiment's charge, on July 2nd, John received a gun shot wound to his right thigh. He was taken to a field hospital. On July 12th he was sent to the McDougal General Hospital at Fort Schuyler, New York. He returned to duty on Sept 29, 1863. He was mustered out with the regiment on May 5, 1864. John married a woman by the name of Eliza. Their children were Alexander (1869), Elizabeth (1871), Nellie (1876), Robert (1878), Ernest (1883) and Anna (1882). John and his family lived in Ellington in Dodge County for many years. During this time he farmed and drew a pension for his Gettysburg wound. Eliza died on Dec 18, 1897. In about 1902, John moved to Portal, North Dakota. In about 1906, he moved to Webb, in the province of Saskatchewan, Canada. He died there on Jan 9, 1914. He was 74 years old. Learning about John's death, Sam Lilly wrote a nice note to John's daughter: Dear madam, Your letter containing the report of your father's death received. I can assure you the report of your father's death will be sorrowfully received by all his comrades of Co. G 1st Minnesota. None was esteemed more highly than he. No one had a clearer service record than he. Quiet unassuming, always of good cheer, ever ready for his part of camp duty or the long march and never manifesting fear in the most trying battles the 1st Minnesota was called to participate in, were his characteristics. Shoulder to shoulder he stood with us for three years. He was one of our boys in that awful charge at Gettysburg, in which every man offered his life to save the battle. Surely you have the sympathy of the remaining 28 of his company in arms in your bereavement. Respectfully, Samuel Lilly Sources: Descriptive List of the Men of Comapny G, First Minnesota assoc papers, MHS, p615, box 2. The St Paul Pioneer Press, Sept 6, 1909. 1883 List of Pensioners, Dodge County. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
