Julius Raith
Julius Raith (March 29, 1819 - April 11, 1862) was a German-American military officer who served in the American Civil War and the Mexican-American War. He was mortally wounded at the Battle of Shiloh.
Raith came in the United States in 1836 with his family, settling in St. Clair County, Illinois.[1] During the Mexican-American War, he led a company of 2nd Illinois Volunteers. When the Civil War broke out, he helped Gustave Koerner organize a German regiment.[2]
During the Battle of Shiloh, he led a brigade in General McClernand's division composed of his own regiment, the 43rd Illinois along with the 17th Illinois, the 29th Illinois, and the 49th Illinois.[3] The actual commanding officer was Colonel Leonard Fulton Ross who was absent, leaving Colonel James S. Reardon in charge; however, Reardon was ill.[4] Raith was wounded by a minie ball in the leg above the knee and laid in the battlefield for 24 hours. He died of tetanus from his injuries.[3]
