Union Army Civil War Officer. Alsatian-born German, he served during the Civil War as Captain of Battery I, 1st New York Light Artillery, "Wiedrich's Battery"; and as Lieutenant Colonel of the 15th New York Heavy Artillery. He immigrated to the US in 1837, settling in the German community in Buffalo, New York. In 1841 he joined the state militia, serving with an artillery company attached to the 65th New York State Militia. By the late 1850's he held the rank of Major and entered politics. In 1860 he became co-publisher of the "Buffalo Freie Presse", a daily German language newspaper and was elected tax-collector of Buffalo in November. Mustered in as Captain of the First New York Light Artillery, Battery I on 30 August 1861 Michael Wiedrich would lead the battery at the battles of Cross Keys, Second Bull Run, Chancellorsville and Gettysburg. Transferred west Wiedrich and Battery I participated in the Chattanooga Campaign in October and November, 1863. In early 1864 he was commissioned Lieutenant Colonel of the Fifteenth New York Heavy Artillery. By June Wiedrich was commanding the regiment outside Petersburg; serving as infantry with the Fifth Army Corps. Flesh wound (back) at Globe Tavern 18 August 1864. At Five Forks 1 April 1865 he was more seriously wounded, suffering a gun shot wound to his right arm and was subsequently discharged for disability. On 13 March 1865 he was brevetted Colonel, US Volunteers for "gallant and meritorious services in the battles on the Weldon Railroad, Va." Following the war he entered the insurance business and was re-elected Buffalo receiver of taxes for two terms (1866-67). He worked for the Germania Fire Insurance Company of New York's Buffalo firm beginning in 1866 and later co-managed the branch. In 1869 he was elected assessor for the Internal Revenue (1869-73). Wiedrich was a Freemason and an influential member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Stuttgart Encampment No. 70 (German), as well as a prominent member of the Republican Party in Erie County. A member of Bidwell Post No. 9, Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) he was active in veterans affairs; a monument was erected on East Cemetery Hill at Gettysburg in 1889 dedicated to Battery I. Wiedrich died in Buffalo a decade later at the age of 78.
Union Army Civil War Officer. Alsatian-born German, he served during the Civil War as Captain of Battery I, 1st New York Light Artillery, "Wiedrich's Battery"; and as Lieutenant Colonel of the 15th New York Heavy Artillery. He immigrated to the US in 1837, settling in the German community in Buffalo, New York. In 1841 he joined the state militia, serving with an artillery company attached to the 65th New York State Militia. By the late 1850's he held the rank of Major and entered politics. In 1860 he became co-publisher of the "Buffalo Freie Presse", a daily German language newspaper and was elected tax-collector of Buffalo in November. Mustered in as Captain of the First New York Light Artillery, Battery I on 30 August 1861 Michael Wiedrich would lead the battery at the battles of Cross Keys, Second Bull Run, Chancellorsville and Gettysburg. Transferred west Wiedrich and Battery I participated in the Chattanooga Campaign in October and November, 1863. In early 1864 he was commissioned Lieutenant Colonel of the Fifteenth New York Heavy Artillery. By June Wiedrich was commanding the regiment outside Petersburg; serving as infantry with the Fifth Army Corps. Flesh wound (back) at Globe Tavern 18 August 1864. At Five Forks 1 April 1865 he was more seriously wounded, suffering a gun shot wound to his right arm and was subsequently discharged for disability. On 13 March 1865 he was brevetted Colonel, US Volunteers for "gallant and meritorious services in the battles on the Weldon Railroad, Va." Following the war he entered the insurance business and was re-elected Buffalo receiver of taxes for two terms (1866-67). He worked for the Germania Fire Insurance Company of New York's Buffalo firm beginning in 1866 and later co-managed the branch. In 1869 he was elected assessor for the Internal Revenue (1869-73). Wiedrich was a Freemason and an influential member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Stuttgart Encampment No. 70 (German), as well as a prominent member of the Republican Party in Erie County. A member of Bidwell Post No. 9, Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) he was active in veterans affairs; a monument was erected on East Cemetery Hill at Gettysburg in 1889 dedicated to Battery I. Wiedrich died in Buffalo a decade later at the age of 78.
