Loesch, Charles Gustavus (1843-1944), Collection, 1862, 1864, 1935-1944, 1996 (C3931)

4 folders

INTRODUCTION

Newspaper clippings, photographs, and a memoir of Missouri Civil War veteran Charles G. (Gus) Loesch.

DONOR INFORMATION

The Charles G. Loesch Collection was donated to the State Historical Society of Missouri by Douglas Keller on 12 March 1996 (SHS Accession No. 3100) and Larry L. Amos, a great grandson of C. G. Loesch, on 29 January 1997 (SHS Accession 3144).

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH

Charles Gustavus Loesch, known as "Gus", was born on March 26, 1843, on a farm near Jefferson City in Cole County, Missouri, the eldest son of Gustav and Johanna (Mueller) Loesch, German immigrants who arrived in Missouri about 1839. Gus Loesch enlisted in the Union Army at Jefferson City on August 12, 1862, for three years of service. While serving with the 10th Missouri Cavalry he was captured on February 26, 1864, near Canton, Mississippi, and spent a year in a series of Confederate prisons, including Andersonville. He was paroled near Wilmington, North Carolina, in February 1865 and mustered out at Benton Barracks in St. Louis on July 1, 1865.

Returning to Cole County, he married Sophia Kingery (1850-1927) in 1868, and they had six children: Emily Leona (Amos) 1869-1949, Sarah Louise (Reinhardt) 1871-1962, Enos Henry 1876-1952, Agnes Cordelia (Reinhardt/Mulvaney) 1878-1969, and Charley 1880 and Logan 1888, both of whom died in infancy. Loesch lived on the family farm near Jefferson City almost his entire life. In his later years his birthdays were celebrated by large crowds of family and friends, and as one of the few remaining Civil War veterans in the state, his 100th birthday in 1943 was attended by Missouri Governor Forrest C. Donnell. Gus Loesch died of pneumonia in Jefferson City on March 22, 1944, four days short of his 101st birthday, and is buried in Johnston Cemetery in Cole County.

SCOPE AND CONTENT

The Charles G. (Gus) Loesch Collection consists of his 1935 memoir recalling his Civil War service, and ancillary newspaper clippings, photographs, and miscellaneous papers.

Gus Loesch's brief 1935 memoir, written in his 92nd year, begins by describing his early years near Jefferson City, Missouri, and then relates his wartime experiences with Company G, 10th Missouri Cavalry (Union), which comprises the bulk of the account. Anecdotal in nature, Loesch traces his war experiences from his enlistment in 1862 and camp life in St. Louis; to episodes leading to his eventual capture during the Meridian, Mississippi, Campaign, February 1864; a year long period in a series of Confederate prison camps; and finally, his return home and life after the war.

The newspaper clippings date from late in Loesch's life, 1935-1944. Focusing on his being one of the few remaining Civil War veterans, they provide details of his life, including his war service.

The photographs consist of an 1862 image of Loesch in uniform, probably taken at the time of his enlistment, and two images of Loesch late in his life: as an old veteran brandishing a saber, and on his 100th birthday in 1943 with his siblings and Missouri Governor Forrest C. Donnell.

The miscellaneous papers consist of photocopies of documents from the National Archives, including an 1864 letter of Loesch's mother inquiring about her son after his capture, and a biographical sketch compiled by Gus Loesch's great-grandson.

FOLDER LIST

f. 1Memoir, 1935
f. 2Newspaper clippings, 1935-1944
f. 3Photographs, 1862, 1943
f. 4Miscellaneous

INDEX TERMS

These index terms are the subjects, people, places, etc. under which this collection is listed in all available indexes at the Western Historical Manuscript Collection-Columbia. If you are interested in a specific index term, please contact the reference staff.

  • Civil War--Meridian Campaign
  • Civil War--Missouri, St. Louis
  • Civil War--Prisoners and prisons
  • Donnell, Forrest C.
  • Loesch family
  • Loesch, Charles G. (1843-1944)
  • Missouri Cavalry, 10th Regiment, Company G