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Colonel Joseph Moesch commanded the 83rd New York Infantry and was killed May 6, 1864 at the Wilderness. Moesch's remains were recovered and reinterred in the National Cemetery in 1887 and the veterans of the 83rd NY placed this monument at his grave. This is one of the few privately funded and unique headstones in the cemetery.

Colonel Joseph A. Moesch

Head, Beard, Jaw, Neck

Moesch Monument

Plant, Sky, Cemetery, Tree

Moesch Monument

Plant, Sky, Cemetery, Headstone

NY Muster Roll showing Moesch mustered into the 83rd NY in May 1861 as 1st Sergeant and promoted to Captain of Co. B in October. This roll also shows he was wounded at Fredericksburg in December 1862.

Rectangle, Font, Parallel, Tints and shades

NY Muster roll showing Moesch's promotions to Lt. Colonel and then Colonel in 1863, as well as his death in action May 6, 1864.

Handwriting, Rectangle, Font, Parallel

Moesch's widow was able to apply for a pension for herself and their child after his 1864 death.

Handwriting, Rectangle, Font, Parallel

Pension file, page 1

Handwriting, Rectangle, Font, Paper

Pension file, page 2

Font, Rectangle, Parallel, Paper

Brief in the pension case for Moesch's two daughters, Melanie and Josephine. Once Moesch's widow remarried, the family had to file for a Minor's Pension for the two girls. (Pension file, page 3)

Handwriting, Font, Writing, Parallel

Adjutant General's Report for James Moesch (November 1, 1864) (pension file, page 6)

Handwriting, Font, Writing, Paper

John A Kohl appointed guardian of Melanie and Josephine Moesch (February 9, 1865) (pension file, page 24)

Handwriting, Font, Writing, Paper

Guardianship paperwork, page 2 (pension file, page 25)

Rectangle, Font, Parallel, Paper

Guardianship paperwork, page 3 (pension file, page 26)

Rectangle, Handwriting, Font, Wood

Declaration of Minor Children for Pension filed by the Moesch children's' guardian John A. Kohl (April 28, 1865) (pension file, page 4)

Handwriting, Black, Font, Paper

Pension file, page 5 (back of Declaration)

Handwriting, Font, Rectangle, Parallel

Birth and Baptism record for Margaret Josephine Moesch, born in 1856 (May 1, 1865) (pension file, page 18)

Handwriting, Rectangle, Font, Writing

Back of birth and baptism record (pension file, page 19)

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Notary on 1864 marriage certificate (pension file, page 15)

Handwriting, Font, Rectangle, Paper

Verine (Rau) Moesch remarried in August 1864 to George Lichte (August 1, 1864, record September 15, 1865) (pension file, page 16)

Handwriting, Font, Rectangle, Monochrome

Back of marriage certificate (pension file, page 17)

Handwriting, Rectangle, Font, Parallel

Surgeon General's Report, March 28, 1866 (pension file, page 7)

Handwriting, Font, Rectangle, Parallel

Evidence of birth for Melanie Moesch, born February 20, 1852 (March/April 1867) (pension file, page 12)

Handwriting, Font, Parallel, Writing

Birth record, page 2 (pension file, page 13)

Handwriting, Font, Parallel, Paper

Notary from the U.S. Consulate in Switzerland verifying the previous records (April 8, 1867) (pension file, page 14)

Handwriting, Font, Parallel, Signature

Evidence of Marriage for Joseph and Verine Moesch (March 20, 1868) (pension file, page 8)

Handwriting, Font, Parallel, Writing

Evidence of marriage, page 2 (pension file, page 9)

Handwriting, Font, Parallel, Postcard

Possibly a second record of Melanie Moesch's birth (same date-February 20, 1852) (March 1868) (pension file, page 10)

Handwriting, Font, Parallel, Writing

Birth record, page 2 (pension file, page 11)

Handwriting, Font, Parallel, Paper

Pension file, page 20

Handwriting, Font, Rectangle, Diary

Pension file, page 21

Handwriting, Font, Line, Writing

Pension file, page 22

Rectangle, Wood, Font, Tints and shades

Pension file, page 23

Handwriting, Black, Font, Writing

Deposition of John A Kohl confirming that Joseph and Verena Moesch were husband and wife (February 7, 1865) (pension file, page 27)

Handwriting, Font, Writing, Paper

Back of Kohl deposition (pension file, page 28)

Handwriting, Font, Rectangle, Parallel

"Proof that there are no other heirs" submitted by Verena (Moesch) Lichte (September 15, 1865) (pension file, page 29)

Handwriting, Font, Parallel, Writing

Colonel Joseph Moesch is honored by one of the few privately funded headstones in the cemetery. Colonel Moesch commanded the 83rd New York, and is the 2nd highest ranking officer buried in the cemetery. The thirty-two year old officer was killed at the Wilderness May 6, 1864 while leading his regiment. His body was carried to the division hospital, placed in a rude coffin, and originally buried in the cemetery at Ellwood. The two men who buried him remembered the location of his grave and he was reinterred in the National Cemetery in 1887. Cemetery Superintendent Andrew Birdsall oversaw the interment of Moesch’s remains into the National Cemetery on October 10, 1887 in grave #6618. Shortly afterwards, veterans of his regiment planned to place a monument on his grave. These plans were delayed because the regiment was also raising funds for its monument at Gettysburg, but once the Gettysburg monument was finished they turned their attention back to the Moesch monument. The monument was dedicated on September 24, 1890 in a ceremony largely attended by regiment veterans.

Fredericksburg National Cemetery is a soldier’s cemetery. There are no generals buried here and only a few field officers. The vast majority of the soldiers interred here are enlisted men or company-grade officers who are not represented by a monument like that dedicated to Humphreys’ men. Their memories are honored by a simple stone marker of which you will mainly see two types. Those shaped like a headstone mark the gravesites of identified soldiers. The smaller, square stones mark the graves of the unknown. These stone carry two numbers: the top number identifies the plot, the bottom number tells the number of bodies in that plot. There are also larger white headstones which mark the graves of soldiers who served in the Spanish-American War, World War I, and World War II. Of the 15,00 Union soldiers buried here, 85%--17 out of every 20—are unknown.

Pfanz, Donald C. "Where Valor Proudly Sleeps: A History of Fredericksburg National Cemetery, 1866-1933." National Park Service, 2007. (Available at Fredericksburg & Spotsylvania NMP)

Image Sources(Click to expand)

Hussey, George A. History of the Ninth Regiment N.Y.S.M.--N.G.S.N.Y. (Eighty-third N.Y. Volunteers) 1845-1888. Edited by William Todd. New York: Published under the auspices of veterans of the Regiment, 1889. Accessed February 22, 2021. https://catalog.hathitrust.org/Record/008730201.

Photo by Kathleen Thompson

Photo by Kathleen Thompson

New York, Civil War Muster Roll Abstracts, 1861-1900. New York State Archives. 14-020. Accessed through Fold3, March 23, 2021.

New York, Civil War Muster Roll Abstracts, 1861-1900. New York State Archives. 14-020. Accessed through Fold3, March 23, 2021.

Organization Index to Pension Files of Veterans Who Served Between 1861 and 1900, compiled 1949 - 1949, documenting the period 1861-1942. NARA Record Group 15, Catalog ID 2588825. Accessed through Fold3, March 23, 2021.

Case Files of Approved Pension Applications of Widows and Other Veterans of the Army and Navy Who Served Mainly in the Civil War and the War With Spain, compiled 1861 - 1934. NARA Record Group 15, Catalog ID 300020. Accessed through Fold3, March 23, 2021.

Case Files of Approved Pension Applications of Widows and Other Veterans of the Army and Navy Who Served Mainly in the Civil War and the War With Spain, compiled 1861 - 1934. NARA Record Group 15, Catalog ID 300020. Accessed through Fold3, March 23, 2021.

Case Files of Approved Pension Applications of Widows and Other Veterans of the Army and Navy Who Served Mainly in the Civil War and the War With Spain, compiled 1861 - 1934. NARA Record Group 15, Catalog ID 300020. Accessed through Fold3, March 23, 2021.

Case Files of Approved Pension Applications of Widows and Other Veterans of the Army and Navy Who Served Mainly in the Civil War and the War With Spain, compiled 1861 - 1934. NARA Record Group 15, Catalog ID 300020. Accessed through Fold3, March 23, 2021.

Case Files of Approved Pension Applications of Widows and Other Veterans of the Army and Navy Who Served Mainly in the Civil War and the War With Spain, compiled 1861 - 1934. NARA Record Group 15, Catalog ID 300020. Accessed through Fold3, March 23, 2021.

Case Files of Approved Pension Applications of Widows and Other Veterans of the Army and Navy Who Served Mainly in the Civil War and the War With Spain, compiled 1861 - 1934. NARA Record Group 15, Catalog ID 300020. Accessed through Fold3, March 23, 2021.

Case Files of Approved Pension Applications of Widows and Other Veterans of the Army and Navy Who Served Mainly in the Civil War and the War With Spain, compiled 1861 - 1934. NARA Record Group 15, Catalog ID 300020. Accessed through Fold3, March 23, 2021.

Case Files of Approved Pension Applications of Widows and Other Veterans of the Army and Navy Who Served Mainly in the Civil War and the War With Spain, compiled 1861 - 1934. NARA Record Group 15, Catalog ID 300020. Accessed through Fold3, March 23, 2021.

Case Files of Approved Pension Applications of Widows and Other Veterans of the Army and Navy Who Served Mainly in the Civil War and the War With Spain, compiled 1861 - 1934. NARA Record Group 15, Catalog ID 300020. Accessed through Fold3, March 23, 2021.

Case Files of Approved Pension Applications of Widows and Other Veterans of the Army and Navy Who Served Mainly in the Civil War and the War With Spain, compiled 1861 - 1934. NARA Record Group 15, Catalog ID 300020. Accessed through Fold3, March 23, 2021.

Case Files of Approved Pension Applications of Widows and Other Veterans of the Army and Navy Who Served Mainly in the Civil War and the War With Spain, compiled 1861 - 1934. NARA Record Group 15, Catalog ID 300020. Accessed through Fold3, March 23, 2021.

Case Files of Approved Pension Applications of Widows and Other Veterans of the Army and Navy Who Served Mainly in the Civil War and the War With Spain, compiled 1861 - 1934. NARA Record Group 15, Catalog ID 300020. Accessed through Fold3, March 23, 2021.

Case Files of Approved Pension Applications of Widows and Other Veterans of the Army and Navy Who Served Mainly in the Civil War and the War With Spain, compiled 1861 - 1934. NARA Record Group 15, Catalog ID 300020. Accessed through Fold3, March 23, 2021.

Case Files of Approved Pension Applications of Widows and Other Veterans of the Army and Navy Who Served Mainly in the Civil War and the War With Spain, compiled 1861 - 1934. NARA Record Group 15, Catalog ID 300020. Accessed through Fold3, March 23, 2021.

Case Files of Approved Pension Applications of Widows and Other Veterans of the Army and Navy Who Served Mainly in the Civil War and the War With Spain, compiled 1861 - 1934. NARA Record Group 15, Catalog ID 300020. Accessed through Fold3, March 23, 2021.

Case Files of Approved Pension Applications of Widows and Other Veterans of the Army and Navy Who Served Mainly in the Civil War and the War With Spain, compiled 1861 - 1934. NARA Record Group 15, Catalog ID 300020. Accessed through Fold3, March 23, 2021.

Case Files of Approved Pension Applications of Widows and Other Veterans of the Army and Navy Who Served Mainly in the Civil War and the War With Spain, compiled 1861 - 1934. NARA Record Group 15, Catalog ID 300020. Accessed through Fold3, March 23, 2021.

Case Files of Approved Pension Applications of Widows and Other Veterans of the Army and Navy Who Served Mainly in the Civil War and the War With Spain, compiled 1861 - 1934. NARA Record Group 15, Catalog ID 300020. Accessed through Fold3, March 23, 2021.

Case Files of Approved Pension Applications of Widows and Other Veterans of the Army and Navy Who Served Mainly in the Civil War and the War With Spain, compiled 1861 - 1934. NARA Record Group 15, Catalog ID 300020. Accessed through Fold3, March 23, 2021.

Case Files of Approved Pension Applications of Widows and Other Veterans of the Army and Navy Who Served Mainly in the Civil War and the War With Spain, compiled 1861 - 1934. NARA Record Group 15, Catalog ID 300020. Accessed through Fold3, March 23, 2021.

Case Files of Approved Pension Applications of Widows and Other Veterans of the Army and Navy Who Served Mainly in the Civil War and the War With Spain, compiled 1861 - 1934. NARA Record Group 15, Catalog ID 300020. Accessed through Fold3, March 23, 2021.

Case Files of Approved Pension Applications of Widows and Other Veterans of the Army and Navy Who Served Mainly in the Civil War and the War With Spain, compiled 1861 - 1934. NARA Record Group 15, Catalog ID 300020. Accessed through Fold3, March 23, 2021.

Case Files of Approved Pension Applications of Widows and Other Veterans of the Army and Navy Who Served Mainly in the Civil War and the War With Spain, compiled 1861 - 1934. NARA Record Group 15, Catalog ID 300020. Accessed through Fold3, March 23, 2021.

Case Files of Approved Pension Applications of Widows and Other Veterans of the Army and Navy Who Served Mainly in the Civil War and the War With Spain, compiled 1861 - 1934. NARA Record Group 15, Catalog ID 300020. Accessed through Fold3, March 23, 2021.

Case Files of Approved Pension Applications of Widows and Other Veterans of the Army and Navy Who Served Mainly in the Civil War and the War With Spain, compiled 1861 - 1934. NARA Record Group 15, Catalog ID 300020. Accessed through Fold3, March 23, 2021.

Case Files of Approved Pension Applications of Widows and Other Veterans of the Army and Navy Who Served Mainly in the Civil War and the War With Spain, compiled 1861 - 1934. NARA Record Group 15, Catalog ID 300020. Accessed through Fold3, March 23, 2021.