Guinzius, Christian

Christian Guinzius

NPS Photo

Quick Facts

Significance:

Company B, 15th Missouri Infantry

Place of Birth:

St. Louis, Missouri

Place of Death:

Murfreesboro, TN

Date of Death:

12/31/1862

Place of Burial:

Murfreesboro, TN

Cemetery Name:

Stones River National Battlefield

Christian Guinzius enlisted into the Union Army on August 1st, 1861 in Saint Louis, Missouri. His enlistment rank sergeant and he was assigned to Company H of the 15th Missouri Infantry. At some point between his enlistment and the Battle of Stones River, he was transferred to Company B of the same regiment and given a promotion to be a 2nd Lieutenant.

The 15th Missouri Infantry was led by Brigadier General Schaefer, Division General Sheridan, and Corps Commander McCook. They left from Nashville on Decmeber 26th, 1862 and upon arrival on the 30th, they positioned themselves as reserves along the Wilkinson Pike and Gresham Lane. Hearing the initial strikes of the Confederate forces aiming to collapse the Union in on themselves, the 15th Missouri was determined to hold their position as reserves. By 9am on the 31st of December, only three hours after the initial fighting began, were they sent forwards out of reserves. The men in Shaefer's brigade rushed forward to the left of the Former General Sill's brigade.

By 10am, the Confederates had pushed the Union into a V-shaped position along the Wilkinson Pike and McFadden Road. Schaefer's brigade was being hit head on by Confederate infantry and artillery strikes. They could not hold the position for long, and eventually, not without great effort to avoid it, they fell into a chaotic retreat through the cedar trees, with no idea what lay in wait for them on the other side.

It was during this fighting that he lost his life, along with countless others, on the bloodiest day of the battle of Stones River, December 31st, 1862.

Christian Guinzius is laid to rest in the Stones River National Cemetery in plot F-2294.