Captain August Fischer

August Fischer born in  Lippe-Detmold, Germany  enlisted at age 22 along with other members of the Turnverein  from Washington, Missouri in Company G, 17th Missouri Infantry on September 25, 1861 with the rank of First Sergeant. During the regiments encampment at Rolla, Missouri during the winter of 1861-62 he demonstrated exemplary leadership qualities and was commissioned 2nd Lieutenant of Company E, 17th Missouri Infantry on January 19, 1862. He served with Comanpy E during the Battle of Pea Ridge and the following movement into Arkansas. On May 15, 1862 was promoted to the rank of 1st Lieutenant of Company F commanding. He was dangerously  wounded in the right shoulder on May 19, 1862 at Grey's Farm near Searcy Landing, Arkansas while leading his Company on a foraging expedition south of Union lines. Although surgeons were unable to extract the ball from his shoulder, he recovered sufficiently to return to his Company and participate in the Vicksburg Campaign. He incurred rheumatism during the assault on  Chickasaw Bluffs in December 1862 being engaged day and night under a heavy cold rain and sleet not being able to put on dry clothes for several days. The rheumatism settled in his right shoulder at the site of  his previous wound.  Thereafter he offered to resign due to his weakened physicial condition but his resignation was not accepted. He served his Company during the Chattanooga Campaign and afterwards was promoted to Captain of Company E on December 7, 1863. He led  Company E during the Atlanta Campaign through the Battle at Kennesaw Mountain although suffering badly from rheumatism in his shoulder and back which resulted in hospitalization  from  June 19 to 30, 1864 at Big Shanty, Georgia. He returned to Company E and served until the end of the Atlanta Campaign when the 17th Missouri Regiment was mustered out of service on September 26, 1864. After the war he returned home to Washington, Missouri but in 1878 accompanied by William G. Ruge, a friend and fellow officer in the 17th Missouri he traveled to Arkansas to find a location further south by which he hoped to better his health. At a later date he returned to St. Louis where another friend, John H. Holtgtiewe reported his health was frail through 1881.