William Falck

(1837 - 1909)
Home State: New York
Command Billet: Regimental Sergeant Major
Branch of Service: Infantry
Unit: 2nd and 10th United States Infantry

Before the Antietam Campaign:
About 25 years of age in 1862, he had spent two years in England, then emigrated to the US in 1858. He served in the 2nd Infantry from June of that year as Private and Corporal in Company F, then Sergeant Major of the regiment until 3 Oct 1862.

The remainder of the War:
He was appointed 2nd Lieutenant (probably for performance at Antietam) to date from 18 July 1862. He was promoted to 1st Lieutenant on 9 Feb 1863. He was assigned as Adjutant from November 1863 - November 1864.

He was seriously wounded at Spottsylvania, Virginia, in May 1864, and spent part of his recovery on duty at the POW camp at Elmira, New York, where he met his future wife. He was recognized for War service by brevets to Captain, Major, and Lieutenant Colonel for actions at Richmond, Chancellorsville, and Spottsylvania Courthouse.

After the War:
Falck continued in the Army after the War, being promoted Captain on 18 April 1866, and he married Miss Mary B. McQuhae of Elmira in June 1867. He retired from the Army in 1883 ìfor disabilities incurred in the serviceî, and afterward had a successful business career including the position of treasurer and general manager of the LaFrance (now part of American-LaFrance) fire engine company. He died at home in Elmira in 1909.

References, Sources, and other notes:
Basic service data from Heitman1. More on him from Genealogical and family history of central New York : a record of the achievements of her people in the making of a commonwealth and the building of a nation (1912), pp. 1251-1252 [online].

Birth Date: 11/25/1837 Place of Birth: Berlin, GERMANY
Death Date: 02/10/1909 Death Place: Elmira, NY

Notes

1 Heitman, Francis Bernard, Historical Register and Dictionary of the United States Army 1789-1903, 2 volumes, Washington DC: US Government Printing Office, 1903, pg. 412 [AotW citation 855]

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