Civil War Military history of Jewish Americans

judah p. benjamin served second confederate states secretary of war september 17, 1861 – march 24, 1862.

reflecting pattern of long settlement in both northern , southern cities, jews served , supported both union army of northern states confederate states army of southern confederate states of america during american civil war. had taken on regional loyalties according residence. jews among supporters of each side of american civil war. 150,000 jews lived in united states @ time of american civil war, 0.5 percent of population. 1 academic estimate @ least 8,000 jewish soldiers fought union , confederate during civil war. donald altschiller estimates @ least 10,000 jews served, 7,000 union , 3,000 confederacy, 600 jewish soldiers killed in battle.

jews played leadership roles on both sides, 9 jewish generals , 21 jewish colonels participating in war. judah p. benjamin, non-observant jew, served secretary of state , acting secretary of war of confederacy.

jews , union

union army brevet major general frederick c. salomon.

the civil war, saw appointment of first official jewish chaplain in army, rev. jacob frankel of philadelphia s congregation rodeph shalom, on september 18, 1862. while catholic chaplains had been appointed first during mexican–american war, serve needs of large influx of irish immigrant enlistments, same had not been accomplished jewish americans; make matters worse, in 1861 congress ordered military regiments appoint chaplains of christian faith. following protests board of delegates of american israelites , introductions others, meeting held in december 1861 president lincoln, led rescinding of order , appointment of first jewish chaplain. sources consider intercession perhaps first example of organized jewish lobbying in washington .

during war, approximately 7,000 jews (out of around 150,000 jews in united states) fought on union side. 2 union jewish companies raised, including company c of 82d regiment of illinois volunteers, made of recent immigrants europe, , perkins rifles of syracuse, new york. but, jews serving in war served alongside christian soldiers, many in units such company d of 8th new york national guard regiment , light infantry blues of richmond.

four generals known have been jews served union , attained higher rank in heat of key battles:

jews , confederacy

during war, approximately 3,000 jews (out of total of 150,000 jews in united states , confederacy) fought on confederate side. notable jewish figure judah p. benjamin (1811–1884) who, before civil war, first jewish cabinet member in north american government. benjamin born british subject in saint croix phillip benjamin, english jew, , wife, rebecca mendes, portuguese jew (sephardic). emigrated parents u.s. several years later , grew in north , south carolina. considered brains of confederacy, serving in high office throughout war: confederate attorney general in 1861, secretary of war in 1861 , 1862, , secretary of state 1862 1865. president jefferson davis called benjamin capable statesman have ever known, subject vicious anti-jewish attacks object of popular discontent after becoming acting secretary of war in 1861. quarreled confederate generals p.g.t. beauregard , stonewall jackson on strategy. in 1864, south s military position became increasingly desperate, benjamin publicly advocated plan whereby slave willing bear arms confederacy emancipated , inducted, proposal faced stiff opposition traditionalists. not passed until march 1865, time late salvage southern cause.

other prominent jewish confederate figures include colonel abraham charles myers of charleston, south carolina, quartermaster general of confederate states army , dr. david camden deleon, surgeon general of army. surgeon dr. simon baruch, father of financier bernard baruch, served on general robert e. lee s personal staff. widow became member of daughters of confederacy.

major raphael j. moses, georgia businessman , later state representative, before war commissary officer of georgia. carried out last order of confederate government on may 5, 1865, taking possession of $40,000 in gold , silver bullion confederate treasury , delivering defeated confederate soldiers headed home – following president jefferson davis instructions. 3 of moses sons served in confederate army, , 1 killed @ 7 pines.