My Genealogy Hound

Henry Zeis, farmer and stock raiser near Pacific, was born in Bavaria, Germany, in 1825. He received an academical education, and in 1840 entered the military school at Munich, Germany, graduating there from in August, 1843, as second lieutenant, serving in the army until 1848. He took an active part in the revolution against the king, and, by degrees, was promoted to the office of major in 1849 he immigrated to the United States, and settled first near Belleville, Ill., and engaged in school-teaching. Later he traveled through several States, and about 1855 settled near Troy, Ill., where he was elected police justice, serving until about the time the late war broke out. He organized a battalion, but refused the majority of the same, but was appointed captain of Company B, Third Missouri Infantry. His first action was at Camp Jackson, near St. Louis, and the next near Carthage, July 5, 1861. Just before the battle of Wilson’s Creek he was sent to St. Louis, by Gen. Lyon, to bring out an ammunition train, having an escort of only ninety-two men, two of whom died from prostration by the heat, all of whom had been collected by Maj. Zeis, in less than three days. With this small body of men he successfully defended the train from all guerrillas, bushwhackers, etc. At the battle of Wilson’s Creek he assumed command of the Third Missouri Infantry, and afterward returned to St. Louis, with his regiment, and resigned his commission in December, 1861. He then went to Troy, Ill., and organized Company C, Eightieth Illinois Regiment, and was the only German captain in that organization. So great was his knowledge of military tactics that he was engaged to drill the officers of the whole regiment. After this the first battle in which he engaged was at Perryville, Ky., in October, 1862. Later he moved to Murfreesboro, Tenn., and, while en route, skirmished several times with the forces of the rebel general, Morgan. He did not take an active part in the battle of Murfreesboro. March 19, 1863, Maj. Zeis, with a force of four regiments, supported by two pieces of artillery, was ordered out on a foraging expedition, and while thus engaged was attacked, March 20, near Milton, by about 6,000 rebels, fifteen miles distant from the main army, and checked the advance of the enemy until reinforcements arrived the next day. So efficient was this service that the regiments were mounted. These regiments were the Eightieth Illinois, Third Ohio, Fifty-first Indiana, and Seventy-third Indiana. April 7, 1863, these four regiments raided as far as Eastport, Ala., which town they destroyed, thence moved to Tuscumbia, and while Gen. Dodge was engaging the rebels there moved to Rome, Ga., to destroy the arsenal at that place, but when within twenty-two miles of Rome the entire brigade was captured, and taken to Libby prison. On the 6th of July Maj. Zeis was among the number from whom two captains were selected to be hung in retaliation for two rebel captains who had been hung by Gen. Burnside. The captains selected were named Sire and Flint. Maj. Zeis was retained in Libby prison about eleven months, when he and many others were transferred to Macon, Ga.; then to Charleston, S. C, where they remained two months; then to Columbia, S. C, and then to Camp Sorghum, near the latter place. From this camp about 500 of the Union prisoners escaped, among whom was Maj. Zeis, in company with nine other men, who were followed by bloodhounds 110 miles, when they were recaptured and transferred back to Camp Sorghum, where they were retained until about January, 1865, when they were removed to Charlotte, N. C; thence to Goldsboro; thence to Wilmington, at which latter place they were paroled. He was acting major before his capture and was commissioned major April 4, 1865, but was not mustered as such; he was discharged May 15, 1865, and mustered out as captain. He was mustered again and was finally discharged as major, by Gen. Sheridan, and is entitled to back pay as major. About the year 1851 he was united in marriage to Miss Caroline Libel, who came to the United States with Gen. Osterhaus. This lady died in 1873, and October 8, 1874, Maj. Zeis was married to Miss Mary Oswald, who died September 7, 1884. October 13, 1884, Mr. Zeis was again married to Miss Mary Nesselbush. Mr. Zeis has served as notary public six years, and as justice of the peace four years.