- Augustus Meyers
Augustus Meyers was an American soldier during the Civil War, best-known for writing "Ten Years in the Ranks, U.S. Army", an account of his life in the military. The book is an important historical document, containing many unique descriptions of practices that would otherwise be unknown. Meyers was the first to write about the training he received at the
School of Practice onGovernor's Island , New York, where Army musicians were trained. [ [http://bands.army.mil/history/default.asp?chapter=10 U.S. Army Bands] ]After joining the Army at the age of twelve in 1854, Meyers served in the
color guard for the 2nd Infantry Regiment, and then became the youngest sergeant in his company at age twenty-one. He was detailed as brigade commissary sergeant. Later in the war, during the battle forPetersburg , Meyers was appointed acting ordinance sergeant. [Fisher, pg. 122]"Ten Years in the Ranks, U.S. Army" was originally published by Stirling Press in 1914 and that edition was reprinted by Arno Press in 1979.
Notes
Augustus Meyers was born on June 20, 1841 in the community of Morschwyl, Borough of Rorschach, in the Swiss canton of St. Gallen. He was baptised Johann Baptist August Maier. The name was changed to Meyers upon arrival in the US. He came to the United States in 1852 along with his widowed mother, Franziska (Benz) Maier, and his half brother Joseph Peter Maier. The family settled in New York City, but after a short time, due to the limited opportunities for an immigrant at the time, he joined the army. He later lost contact with his brother Joseph and after the Civil War spent many years trying to locate him without success. It was a testament to his self determination that he was able to educate himself to be an effective author in English despite growing up speaking German and having almost no formal education. After the war he married Elizabeth Cousins and achieved wealth in the blue stone business. Later in his career, he developed several large warehouse buildings along the Hudson River, one of which remained in the Meyers family until September of 2000. He traveled widely and circled the world several times. He had six children and died in NYC in 1919.
References
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*External link
* [http://openlibrary.org/details/tenyearsinranksu00meyerich Full text of "Ten Years in the Ranks, U.S. Army"]
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