On 1 February 1864 John Haufler enlisted in the First Regiment of the Texas Cavalry. John lived in Kendall County and was a Union sympathizer in a Confederate state. His muster and descriptive roll dated 22 July 1864 in Brownsville states he was born in Wurttemberg, Germany and was 38 years old and a farmer. According to this muster roll, he enlisted in Kendall County for a 3 year period. How can you enlist in the Union Army if you are residing in a Confederate state? So perhaps “enlisted in Kendall County” means he was from Kendall County? The date of enlistment was 1 February 1864. John was described as blue-eyed with light hair and a fair complexion. He stood 5 feet 6 inches tall. John was a private and assigned to Company C. Adolph Zoeller, his neighbor, was the captain.
While in Brownsville, John wrote home to his wife, Louise, and 5 children. One letter dated 27 August 1864 survives and was translated from German script to English by Penelope Borchers, Helen Dietert, and Herbert Reitsamer. He writes from Camp at Brazos Santiago that on the 17th of August “we had a fairly heavy firefight for 4 to 5 hours. We were, with reinforcements, 50 men. I had the outpost that fine morning, with three men…A group of 6 men gave us fire, but we gave them a good answer with our bullets. A bullet of theirs, just missing by a hair, almost stretched my horse out on the sand. It was quiet for about 2 hours. Then they came back in columns, about 200 to 300 men… We were in the same old heavy firefight for four hours. Bullets were buzzing by my ears like bees.”
In the last paragraph he says, “Do not be afraid if you don’t hear from me, as the opportunity to write does not come often. Once again, greetings to you, my beloved Louise. Greetings to all friends. I believe we will meet again, all hale and hearty. Your loving husband John Haufler.”
John mustered out in San Antonio 31 October 1865 and returned to his home and family in Kendall County.
Because I am a descendant of John Haufler who is a Union veteran I was able to join the Daughters of Union Veterans. The Clara Barton Detached Tent #3 of DUV meets in San Antonio four times a year. If you are descendant of John Haufler, you can apply and join a DUV tent. There are always interesting speakers and a delicious lunch.
Haufler, John. Photograph of the original held by Harold Haufler family. Digital copy privately held by Kathryn Adam-Hurst. Boerne.
“John Haufler Civil War Union Muster Rolls Texas” Fold 3. http://www.fold3.com : 2012.
Kiel, Frank Wilson. “Wir waren unser 20 Mann gegen 150” Southwestern Historical Quarterly, January, 2002, 464-470p.
Conrad's Stories 