Pvt. George
F. Haas Co
"A" 2d Ks. Vol. Cavalry
Information and Photos used by permission of descendant John Beckendorf.
George F. Haas was born July 7, 1842 in Inglefingen, Wurtenburg, Germany. His father, Leonard Haas (7-3-1797) passed away March 3, 1851. Times were hard in Germany, especially for a widow with five children. His mother, Eva Maria Hass (b. 1-3-1803), decided to bring her family to America.
In 1854, the family (consisting of Eva Maria with four sons,
Christian (22), Frederich (15),
George (11) and Louis (9) and one daughter, Magdelena (19)
traveled by train to La Havre,
France and waited five days, until they could board the sailing
ship, Samuel M. Fox, to cross the
Atlantic. Thirty-three days were spent on water and they had to
bring enough food with them to
last the voyage. On April 10, 1854 they landed at Castle Gate,
New York.
The family subsequently made their way by train to Lebanon, CT, to the home of the oldest daughter, Sophia Bachmann, who came to the U.S. several years before. The children soon found employment nearby, although it was hard for them as they could not speak English, which they soon learned.
In 1856 Christian and Magdelena came to St. Louis, staying with a friend. Christian entered the Evangelical Seminary at Marthasville, MO and became a minister. Eva Maria, her remaining children, and the Bachmanns moved to Davenport, Iowa in 1858. In the fall of the same year, the Hass' moved to what was then known as Willow Springs, a community about 15 miles southwest of Lawrence, KS. At that time, Kansas was still Indian Territory. They preempted 160 acres of Government Land, 11A miles south-east of Worden, Kansas. Magdelena found employment in Lawrence.
The family had a hard beginning on this farm, so far away from town and their only transportation was with oxen. The neighborhood was sparsely settled and there was not much money to do with. The boys worked very hard and would also hire out to help other family when time was available. Political tensions in the area ran high prior to the Civil War.
In 1861 and 1862, two sons, George and Louis, enlisted in the Union Army. George Hass served as a Private in Company A, 2nd Regiment Kansas Volunteer Cavalry. He enlisted at Minneola, Kansas on December 14, 1961 and served until April 14, 1865, mustering out at Little Rock, AK.
Company A of the 2nd Kansas Cavalry was commanded by Captain
Samuel J. Crawford. In
October, 1863 Crawford was appointed Colonel of the 2nd Kansas
Colored Infantry (83rd U.S.
Colored Infantry) ended the Civil War with the brevet rank of
Brig. General. In January of
1865, he became Governor of the State of Kansas and served two
terms. January 8, 1864, John
Johnston was promoted to the rank of Captain of Company A
following the transfer of Captain
Crawford.
Here is a recapitulation of his National Archive's record:
Following the Confederates foray into New Mexico, seeking to cut California off from the Union, three companies of the 2nd (A, D, & C left at Ft. Larned) were detailed to escort a large train of Government supplies to the troops and forts in New Mexico. They left Ft. Riley, KS on May 22, 1862 and arrived at Ft. Union, NM on June 22nd. While in New Mexico, 100 men were detailed to pursue marauding Navajo indians, a five day pursuit.
Returning east, the 2nd subsequently saw heavy action in
Missouri and Arkansas at the Battle of
Newtonia (October 4, 1862), night engagement at Cross Hollows
(October 18, 1862), Battle of
Old Fort Wayne (October 22, 1862), Capture of Battery -
Engagement at Boonsboro and Cove
Creek (November 8, 1862), Skirmish with Bushwhackers (Tom
Livingston & Fay Price) - Calvary
fight at Carthage (November 20, 1862), Battle of Cane Hill
(November 29, 1862), Battle of the
Boston Mountains (December 6, 1862), Battle of Prairie Grove
(December 7, 1862), Pursuit of
Rebels in SW Missouri (May, 1863), Battle of Perryville (August
25, 1863), Battle of the
Backbone Mountains (Sept. 1, 1863), Occupation of Fort Smith
(September, 1863), Pursuit of
Generals Marmaduke, Price & Smith in Arkansas (April, 1864),
various posting and skirmishes
balance of the war. The aforementioned references (and others)
elaborate on these engagements.
Company A mustered out April 14, 1865 at Little Rock Arkansas.
In February, 1862, while at Leavenworth, KS, George Haas contract measles and resulting nasal catarrh disease of throat, heart, eyes and chronic bronchitis. He was treated at a private house for approximately one week. In 1890, this formed the basis for his application and receipt of an "Invalid Army Pension" under the Act of June 27, 1890.
Following his service, George Hass return to the family home. He met Elizabeth Albright (b. 4-12-1844, d. 8-11-1926). They were married January 15, 1867 in Johnson Co., Iowa (affidavit of County Clerk April 1, 1905), although the Family Bible shows a January 17th date; see wedding photograph. They resided in Willow Springs (Lots 7, 8 & No. 1/2 of 9 on Ninth Street), Kansas. George and Elizabeth had seven children:
See the family photograph taken
outside their home in Baldwin circa 1885.
His application for disability pension in 1890 listed his
occupation as a farmer. George Haas was active in the Grand Army
of the Republic, Baldwin, Kansas Post 40, Company G, Regiment 2.
George Hass died March 13, 1905 at the age of 62. Much of his estate was sold to pay debts and funeral expenses. His Civil War photograph was displayed by his coffin at the funeral. A second tombstone was placed on his grave by the Kansas State Historical Society in commemoration of his service.
Note 1: See page 30 and pages 67-67 (Supplement I) of Official
Military History of Kansas Regiments During the War for the
Suppression of the Great Rebellion by W. S. Burke.
Also, see pg. 45-52 for excellent account in Kansas in the
Sixties by Samuel J. Crawford.
Note 2: See George Haas CW Diary and Lemuel Cook account (this
information will be added
at a later date).