Henry Bertram

Henry (Heinrich) Bertram (October 5, 1825 – September 25, 1878) was a Prussian immigrant to the United States who was a general in the Union Army during the American Civil War. He served in the Trans-Mississippi and Western Theaters.

Henry Bertram (Emil Gustave Victor Beeger)
Born	October 5, 1825 Ueckermünde, Prussia
Died	September 25, 1878 (aged 52) Juneau, Wisconsin
Allegiance	United States of America Union Army
Service/branch	United States Army
Years of service	1846–1851, 1861–1865
Rank	Colonel Brevet Brigadier General
Unit	2nd U.S. Artillery
Commands held	20th Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry 1st Bde, 1st Div, Army of the Frontier Bertram's Brigade
Battles/wars	Mexican–American War American Civil War Battle of Prairie Grove Siege of Vicksburg Siege of Fort Morgan Battle of Spanish Fort
Other work	hotel proprietor, sheriff

Bertram was born in Prussia as Emil Gustav Victor Beeger.[1] Sometime before 1846 he immigrated to the United States. He joined the U.S. Army under the Americanized named Henry Beeger in 1846 and served in the Mexican War. In the 2nd U.S. Artillery he rose to the rank of sergeant on August 21, 1846 but deserted the army four and a half years later on January 20, 1851.

Sometime before 1861 he changed his name to Henry Bertram, presumably to escape any connections to his earlier army desertion. On June 29, 1861, under his new name, Bertram enlisted in the 3rd Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry as a first lieutenant. By July 31, 1861 he had risen to lieutenant colonel of the 20th Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry. Bertram and the 20th Wisconsin first saw action at the battle of Newtonia.

In early December 1862, Bertram found himself as the senior ranking officer in his brigade, though only a lieutenant colonel.[2] He assumed command of the 1st Brigade in Francis Herron's 3rd Division of the Army of the Frontier. and was in command at the battle of Prairie Grove. Though Bertram clung to the title of brigade commander during the battle, he realistically commanded no more than the 430 men of his own 20th Wisconsin regiment as the other regiments in his command were detached for temporary assignment elsewhere.

On December 10, 1862 Bertram was promoted to colonel. Despite his promotion he returned to regimental command during the siege of Vicksburg. He commanded brigades in the Department of the Gulf after the fall of Vicksburg. In August 1864 his brigade was transferred to the Mobile Bay Land Forces under the command of Gordon Granger. There Bertram participated in the land operations during the battle of Mobile Bay against Fort Morgan.

He briefly commanded the District of Southern Alabama before returning to brigade command. His brigade, now part of the XIII Corps, fought in the battle of Spanish Fort.

He received a brevet promotion to Brig. Gen. of U.S. Volunteers, backdated to March 13, 1865. He was mustered out of the volunteer service on July 14, 1865.

After the war he was a hotel proprietor and sheriff. He died in Wisconsin in 1878.

References

1. Eicher p.130
2. 20th Wisconsin