Civil War anniversary: Carl Franz August Rauschenberg Bandmaster, Phillips Legion

Carl Franz August Rauschenberg was born July 7, 1831, to Johann Andreas and Anna Rosina Toepfer Rauschenberg in the village of Rauschenberg, Germany.

His father died Feb. 21, 1843, at age 42. The eldest son, Christian Wilhelm Rauschenberg, came to America in early 1848 and his three younger brothers, Emil, 21, August, 19, and Fritz, 17, joined him in American in 1850. The brothers settled in middle and north Georgia and were so pleased with their new home that they soon sent for their mother and sister, thus reuniting the family. Sadly, their sister, Wilhelmine died March 24, 1854, at 14 years of age.

The boys pursued their studies in arts and crafts and by 1861, all had married except August.

By the outbreak of the Civil War, 29-year-old August was living in Dalton. He was an expert mechanical draftsman, pattern designer and maker. In addition, he was also an accomplished musician and exceled as a cornetist.

By the spring of 1861, he had joined the elite Dalton Militia company known as the Dalton Guards. In early June 1861, the company journeyed to Camp McDonald at Big Shanty (now Kennesaw) to join the newly formed 4th Georgia State Brigade under command of State Brig. Gen. William Phillips.

This brigade was eventually disbanded about the end of July and its rifle and cavalry battalions were joined to become the Phillips Legion under now Confederate Col. William Phillips. The Dalton Guards became Company B in the Infantry Battalion. August’s records at this time show him as a private so it is unclear whether he was performing musician’s duties yet.

After a grueling winter campaign in the mountains of western Virginia, the Legion was sent to the South Carolina coast in January 1862 to rest, recruit and refit. During this period it was determined to form a formal Legion band and on May 1, 1862, the musicians of the various infantry companies were transferred to the Legion’s Staff under the direction of newly appointed bandmaster, August Rauschenberg. Regimental bands in the Civil War performed in multiple roles. At reviews or on other ceremonial occasions the band would perform in its musical function. At other times while in camp, the band would conduct concerts. On the march, the band would play to liven the tedium and keep the men’s spirits up.

Rauschenberg wrote of one musical occasion that he dreaded having to perform.

In a letter written home on April 12, 1864, he wrote,

“Yesterday I had a very painful duty to perform. A Private of our Brigade, 24th Ga. Regiment, was shot for desertion and I had to play a Dead March from the Guard House to the place of execution. It was a very solemn and affecting scene. The prisoner seemed willing to die, he was firm and resigned, and received the fatal bullets fired by his countrymen like a man. God grant I may never witness another such spectacle.”

Research into Confederate court martial records reveals the identity of this unfortunate soldier to be Private W.H. Tanner of the 24th Georgia’s Company K.

On occasions when the Legion was going into battle, the musicians would put away their instruments and serve as stretcher bearers, carrying wounded soldiers to field hospitals located close by.

Rauschenberg served through the entire war until captured with most of the Legion infantry at Sailors Creek on April 6, 1865. He was imprisoned at Newport News, Va., until his release on June 24, 1865.

His oath of allegiance describes him as being 5 foot 6 inches tall with light hair, light complexion and gray eyes.

Shortly after his release, 34-year-old Rauschenberg married Miss Annie Elizabeth Kanerian in Richmond, Va. They returned to Georgia and spent the remainder of his life in productive and creative pursuits, mostly in Atlanta.

August passed away on March 14, 1911, outliving all of his siblings by many years.

This article is part of a series of stories about Dalton and life in Dalton during the Civil War. The stories run on Sunday and are provided by the Dalton-Whitfield Civil War 150th Anniversary Committee. To find out more about the committee, go to www.dalton 150th.com. If you have material that you would like to contribute for a future article contact Robert Jenkins at (706) 259-4626 or robert.jenkins@robertdjenkins.com.

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Civil War anniversary: Carl Franz August Rauschenberg Bandmaster, Phillips Legion

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