Who Gets Remembered?

More Perfect Union: An American Civil War Era exhibition explores countless stories of the defining conflict of American history. One such story is Christopher Smith, an immigrant who died as a Union soldier.

Who was he?

Born John Christoph Schmidt, Christopher immigrated to Pennsylvania from the German state of Baden in the early to mid 1850s. Christopher declared his intent to become a U.S. citizen in 1855 and filed a petition in 1860; it is unclear if he was successful.

When did he serve?

In 1861, Christopher was living in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, with his wife Margaret and his six children. In August, he enlisted in the Union Army as a member of the 99th Pennsylvania Infantry. He was soon promoted to Sergeant and then, in May 1863, to 2nd Lieutenant.

The 99th Pennsylvania Infantry saw action at many of the major battles of the Civil War, including the Battle of the Wilderness. Christopher was killed there on May 6, 1864. The Wilderness’ dense forest and tangled underbrush made movement and visibility difficult, hindering soldiers as they fought and efforts to recover and bury the dead.

Where did this headstone come from?

Christopher was hastily buried on the battlefield beneath this temporary grave marker, which appears to made from the head of a barrel.

What happened to his family?

At the time of his death, Margaret was 6 months pregnant with their 7th child, a boy who she would name Christopher. The portrait in this piece may have been the only visual reference young Christopher had of his father.

While Margaret was awarded a federal pension in 1864, it only provided her with $15 a month ($320 today). Without Christopher, the family likely struggled financially. At least three of the Smith children moved into an orphanage.

Newspaper articles from the early 1870s document Margaret’s efforts to have her children released back into her care; she was ultimately unsuccessful.

Who gets remembered?

Immigrants like Christopher made up about 25% of the Union during the American Civil War. His story is one of many who enlisted, died in battle, and whose family struggled to pick up the pieces after their father, husband, or son was gone.