Frederick Alber (June 28, 1838 – September 12, 1913) was a

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...

soldier who fought for the

Union Army During the American Civil War, the Union Army, also known as the Federal Army and the Northern Army, referring to the United States Army, was the land force that fought to preserve the Union (American Civil War), Union of the collective U.S. st ...

as a member of Company A, 17th Michigan Infantry during the

American Civil War The American Civil War (April 12, 1861 – May 26, 1865; also known by other names) was a civil war in the United States. It was fought between the Union ("the North") and the Confederacy ("the South"), the latter formed by states th ...

. He was awarded his nation's highest military honor, the U.S. Medal of Honor, on July 30, 1896, for valor during the Battle of Spotsylvania Court House in 1864.

Formative years

Born in

Germany Germany,, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It is the second most populous country in Europe after Russia, and the most populous member state of the European Union. Germany is situated betwe ...

on June 28, 1838, Frederick Alber emigrated to the United States in 1846, and settled in

Michigan Michigan () is a state in the Great Lakes region of the upper Midwestern United States. With a population of nearly 10.12 million and an area of nearly , Michigan is the 10th-largest state by population, the 11th-largest by area, and the ...

, where he became a farmer.

Civil War

At the age of 24, Alber enrolled for a three-year term of Civil War military service at Manchester, Michigan on July 2, 1862. He then officially mustered in for duty as a private with Company A of the 17th Michigan Infantry on August 19. Engaged with the 17th Michigan in the Battle of Spotsylvania Court House in 1864, he captured two enemy soldiers after freeing Lieutenant Charles Todd, one of the officers from his regiment who had been captured by Confederate troops. On February 21, 1865, he was recognized for his valor when Major General John G. Parks, commanding officer of the U.S. Ninth Army Corps, recommended him for the

Medal of Honor The Medal of Honor (MOH) is the United States Armed Forces' highest military decoration and is awarded to recognize American soldiers, sailors, marines, airmen, guardians and coast guardsmen who have distinguished themselves by acts of valor. ...

. On June 3, 1865, Alber honorably mustered out at Delaney House in Washington, D.C.

Post-war life

Following his honorable discharge from the military, Alber returned to Michigan. Married to Mary S. Alber, he was widowed by her on December 8, 1896.

Death and interment

Alber died in

Oregon Township, Michigan Oregon Township is a civil township of Lapeer County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 5,786 at the 2010 Census. Geography According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of , of which is land and (5 ...

at the age of 75 on September 12, 1913, and was buried at that township's cemetery in Lapeer County.

Medal of Honor citation

Rank and organization: Private, Company A, 17th Michigan Infantry. Place and date: At Spotsylvania, Va., May 12, 1864. Entered service at: Manchester, Mich. Born: 1838, Germany. Date of issue: July 30, 1896. Citation:

Bravely rescued Lt. Charles H. Todd of his regiment who had been captured by a party of Confederates by shooting down one, knocking over another with the butt of his musket, and taking them both prisoners.

In November 1999, U.S. Senator Spencer Abraham (R-MI) paid tribute to Alber. According to the November 10, 1999 edition of the ''Congressional Record – Senate'', Abraham delivered the following addressed to his colleagues:Abraham, U.S. Sen. Spencer. "Tribute to Civil War Hero Frederick Alber", ''Congressional Record – Senate'', p. 29478.

External links

* McAfee, William B.
Pvt. Frederick Alber Memorial
, in ''Michigan's Messenger: The Newsletter of the Department of Michigan – Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War'', Vol. 8, No. 3, 2000 (retrieved online August 9, 2018). Lansing, Michigan: Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War, Department of Michigan.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Alber, Frederick 1838 births 1913 deaths Union Army soldiers United States Army Medal of Honor recipients People of Michigan in the American Civil War Emigrants from the German Confederation to the United States People from Lapeer County, Michigan German-born Medal of Honor recipients American Civil War recipients of the Medal of Honor