Last updated: January 5, 2026
Person
Brinzing, John (Johannes)
Quick Facts
Significance:
Company B, 24th Illinois Infantry
Place of Birth:
Ebersbach, Wurtenburg Germany
Date of Birth:
1826
Place of Death:
Murfreesboro, TN
Date of Death:
03/16/1863
Place of Burial:
Murfreesboro, TN
Cemetery Name:
Stones River National Cemetery
John (Johannes) Brinzing was born in 1826 in Ebersbach, Wartenberg, Germany. He immigrated to the United States and lived in Alton, Illinois before the start of the Civil War. He was described as having a light complexion, light hair and blue eyes, and standing at about 5'7". Before the war he was a farmer by occupation.
At the age of 35, Brinzing enlisted into the Union army on June 25th, 1861 as a private. On July 8th of that same year, he was assigned to Company B of the 24th Illinois Infantry in Rousseau's division.
The 24th Illinois arrived in Murfreesboro on December 30th, 1862. They crossed the Stones River and held a position at the Jefferson Pike, forming the far left of Rousseau's division. Eventually, they detached and left to cover the train tracks and the Nashville pike that the Union occupied. During the day on the 30th, they were attacked by Wheeler's Cavalry force but retreated with a loss of 80 men.
On the 31st of December, they returned to Rousseau's left and formed in line in the dense cedars. Post battle, the 24th Illinois suffered greatly from hunger and cold, and many of the men fell ill. For Brinzing, this was his reality. He was injured in battle and eventually fell ill due to malnutrition and vitamin deficiencies. March of 1863, John Brinzing died of his illness in Murfreesboro, TN at the age of 37.
John (Johannes) Brinzing was laid to rest in the Stones River National Cemetery along with many of the men he fought with. He is buried in plot M-5078.