William (Wilhelm) Hexamer

Born in Germany, he is mentioned as one of the "Forty-Eighters" - revolutionaries of 1848 in Europe, many of whom fled to the US.

"Served as a Major in the pre-War New Jersey Militia, Hudson Artillery battery (which was made up of mostly German immigrants). When the war broke out, he immediately offered his militia artillery for service in the Federal Army, but was initially turned down by Regular Army officers who distrusted militia units. After the Union failure at the Battle of First Bull Run proved that the War would not be short, his offer was accepted and his battery was mustered in on August 18, 1861 as Battery A, 1st New Jersey Light Artillery"

He commanded the battery on the Campaign.

He mustered out of Federal service on 18 August 1864 at the end of his 3 year term of service.

His service from the Record. 1 More from Wolgang Hochbruck's "Forty-Eighters" in the Union Armies: A Preliminary Checklist - transcribed online. His obituary from the New York Times is online. His gravesite is on Findagrave, source of the quote above, from Russ Dodge, and his picture, from a photograph contributed by Gregory Speciale.

04/12/1825; Koblenz, GERMANY

4/25/1870; Hoboken, NJ; burial in Grove Church Cemetery, N. Bergen, NJ