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JOHANN (GEORGE) SCHEPPERLE, farmer and soldier,
first son and third child born to Johann (George) and Anna (Katharina)
Schepperle. He was born in Plieningen, Wuerttemberg, April 13, 1840. He
came to the United States with his parents, one brother, and three
sisters in the year 1847. George, as he was known, enlisted in the
United States Army at Wooster, Ohio, on August 8, 1862, at Franklin
Township, Covington, Kentucky, in Company F of the 102nd Regiment in the
Ohio Infantry Volunteers under the command of Captain H. H. Rowes as a
private to serve 3 years or the duration of the war. He was paid $2.00
premium for enlisting. His service record listed him as George Shepperly
and described him to be 5 feet 6 inches high, sandy complexion, hazel
eyes, sandy hair and, by occupation, a farmer. In
August, 1863, he was detailed as a bridge builder by order of Col.
Bruce. November, 1863, to February, 1864, he was detached to guard wood
choppers on the Cumberland River and at Headley's Bend, (probably in the
State of Tennessee) by order of General R.S. Granger. March to
September, 1864, company muster roll described him as presently doing
daily duty. September 24, 1864, he was listed as missing in action near
Athens, Alabama.
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October and November, 1864, he was still listed as missing in action. December,
1864, his status changed from missing in action to prisoner of war at
Stevenson, Alabama, and showed him captured September 24, 1864, in
action at Athens, Alabama. On March 12, 1865, he was admitted to the
hospital in Cahaba, Alabama, for ulcers. He was then scheduled to
be sent to Vicksburg, Mississippi. The war ended April 9, 1865, and
George was exchanged on April 22. Exchanged prisoners were picked up at
Cahaba, Alabama, and Andersonville and Macon, Georgia, and were on their
way home by way of the Mississippi River on the steamer called the
sultana. The Sultana left New Orleans on Friday, April 21, 1865. It
docked at Vicksburg, Mississippi, for repairs and P.O.W. passengers and
again docked at Memphis, Tennessee. The boat left Memphis at 2:00 a.m. on Thursday, April 27,
1865, with 2,156 people aboard. About 7 miles upstream from Memphis at
3:00 a.m. the steamer exploded and burst into flames. George and over
1,400 other soldiers perished in this great disaster. This tragedy is
described as being the greatest disaster that ever happened on the
Mississippi River and is regarded as the worst maritime disaster in
United States history. From:
Palmer William Nicholas Scheperle
History of the Scheperle (Schepperle) Family of America
Jefferson City, Missouri, 1982 |
