Daniel Beltzhoover was born in 1826 in the commonwealth of
Pennsylvania. Daniel was a graduate of the 1847 class at West
Point. He was also a veteran who served in the United States
Military during the wars in Florida and in Mexico. He became a
professor at Mount Saint Mary's Seminary near Emmitsburg,
Maryland, where he taught mathematics. While teaching at the
Mount, Daniel married Elizabeth Miles who was the sister to
Professor George Miles, who also taught at the Mount. Daniel was a highly
religious Roman Catholic.
Before the Civil War, he commanded a company of Zouave Mountain
Cadets at Mount Saint Mary's, and drilled them thoroughly on
Eardin's and Casey's tactics. During the winter of 1860, Daniel
Beltzhoover gave a lecture on "Modern Fortifications". This was
his last lecture before he entered the Confederate Army.
In March of 1861, before the first shots of the Civil War rang
out in the Charleston Harbor at South Carolina, Daniel set out for
the state of Louisiana resigning from Mount Saint Mary's
Seminary.
Daniel Beltzhoover was commissioned into the Confederate
service as a major in the 1st Louisiana Heavy Artillery Regiment.
During this time period, Major Beltzhoover served as a staff
officer to Major General David E. Twiggs.
On April 26, 1861, Major Beltzhoover, who was
headquartered at New Orleans sent a dispatch to 1st Lieutenant H.
W. Fossler requesting him to report for duty at Fort Jackson to be
mustered in and to receive his official commission from the
Confederate States. This is the first record stating Daniel's rank
in the Confederate Army.
On July 25, 1861, Major Beltzhoover received a dispatch from
the Assistant Adjutant-General R. Chilton at Richmond, Virginia
stating: "When troops are organized under State laws and received
into service as so organized, as, for instance, by battalions or
regiments, all vacancies occurring are filled according to State
laws; but where independent companies are tendered as such and so
received by the President, all vacancies are filled by his
appointment." This dispatch was sent to several other officers as
well.
At Baton Rouge or New Orleans on July 1, 1861, Daniel helped
organized Watson's Artillery, named after A. C. Watson. A. C. Watson
was a wealthy planter from the Tensas parish and equipped the
battery with four 6-lb. Smoothbores and two 12-lb. Howitzers. The
men serving in the battery were from Livingston, East Baton Rouge,
and St. Helena parishes. According to the Story of the Mountain at
least thirty Mountaineers (Mount Saint Mary's Students) also
served in the ranks of Watson's Artillery. Shortly after Watson's
Artillery was formed, many of the officers who served in the
battery took demotions in rank. Daniel was accepted the position
as Captain in Watson's Artillery, but never gave up his rank as
Major in the 1st Louisiana Heavy Artillery.
Once the battery was equipped and enough manpower recruited,
Watson's artillery set out for camp in August of 1861. On August
14, 1861, Major Beltzhoover was promoted to Lt. Colonel while
serving in Watson's Artillery. At Lake Bruin, near St. Joseph the
men drilled until they were fit for active service. Watson's
Battery reported for duty in early October at Columbus, Kentucky.
On November 7, the men of Watson's Artillery received their
first baptism of fire at Belmont, Missouri. During the battle of
Belmont, Lt. Colonel Beltzhoover supported Colonel John V.
Wright's 13th Tennessee Regiment, who was on Beltzhoover's left
and the 13th Arkansas Regiment under Colonel Tappan, with the
regiments of Colonels Pickett, Freeman, and Russell on the right.
Beltzhoover's guns were directed to take up position in a field
about a hundred yards from the Mississippi River. Watson's
Artillery kept the fire hot and Lt. Colonel Beltzhoover was noted
by several regimental officers for his gallant conduct during the
battle. The Federals made an attempt to turn the left wing of the
Confederates but was defeated by the destructive fire of
Beltzhoover's battery supported by Colonel Wright's Tennessee
Regiment.
Colonel Beltzhoover was ordered to remove his battery to the
rear when it ran out of ammunition. During the execution to fall
back, one of the teams of horses ran off with the limber, leaving
the gun in its position where the battery was first stationed.
Some reports claim that a Federal artillery shell had exploded
near Watson's Battery. While the other pieces of Watson's
Artillery were withdrawn to the bank of the river, the gun fell
into Federal hands. Colonel Buford's 27th Illinois
were the first to press into the Confederate line and succeeded in
capturing the gun belonging to Watson's Battery. Lt. Colonel Beltzhoover asked for assistance
in recovering the lost gun.
Lt. Colonel Beltzhoover states the day after the Battle at
Belmont: "About 8 a.m., November 7, you informed me at Camp
Johnston, Missouri, that the enemy were advancing in force against
us, and ordered me to put the Watson Battery in position. I
immediately posted a section at the end of each of the three roads
by which our camp could be approached, and when you came out with
your regiment you gave me a company to support each section. We
stood as thus placed until the arrival of Brigadier-General
Pillow, who ordered your companies back to the regiment, and
united my battery at the edge of the woods and the bend of the
right-hand road from the usual landing of the enemy's gunboats.
There we stood doing our best until the whole line retreated to
the river. At the river I formed in battery again, although I had
no ammunition, and so remained until carried down the bank by the
force of retreating troops. My loss is 2 killed and 8 wounded and
missing; 45 horses killed; 2 guns missing."
"I feel bound to mention, for your favorable notice, Lieutenant
C. P. Ball, than whom a braver or more accomplished officer cannot
be found, and Privates White and Frederick. I am afraid Lieutenant
Ball is seriously wounded by being run over by a caisson." Signed:
Lt. Colonel D. M. Beltzhoover
On November 30, Watson's Artillery had 5 officers and 94 men
present for duty. In late December, Watson's Artillery reported at
Bowling Green, Kentucky where they were assigned to Colonel John
S. Bowen's Brigade. From there, they would travel to Corinth
Mississippi in February of 1862.
On March 13, 1862, Lt. Colonel Daniel Beltzhoover received an
appointment for a staff position as Chief of Artillery (Special
Order #44) and it was
requested that Lt. Colonel Beltzhoover enter his duties at once.
However, Beltzhoover failed to assume the duties as Chief of
Artillery and continued
serving in Watson's Artillery as it's Captain. Major Francis Shoup
was temporary appointed as Chief of Artillery in mid-April,
although the appointment was never filled.
On April 6th and 7th, 1862, during the battle of Shiloh,
Watson's Battery had 114 men manning four rifled 6 pound
cannon and two 12 pound howitzers. They were part of Bowen's
Brigade with Colonel John D. Martin commanding the brigade since
General Bowen was recovering from a wound. H. C. Carke a
Vicksburg, Mississippi native wrote about Watson's Artillery
during the Battle of Shiloh. "The artillery were all hurried
forward to complete the work. Thirty-six of our best guns were now
brought into position on a ridge at a distance of three-fourths of
a mile from the enemy's main body. There was the Watson heavy
battery, of Breckinridge's Division, among the first to take its
place, under the fearless and skilful Beltzhoover, who had already
performed several brilliant feats in aid of Cheatham's movement.
In this battery the liberal and patriotic gentleman after, whom it
was named, who had been instrumental in putting it into the field
with his own means, worked at the guns as an artillerist. There,
too, was the battery of the still unwearied Robinson, of Mobile,
whose guns were the handiwork of one of our own foundries."
Reports from the battle state Watson's Artillery sustained two
casualties and Lt. Colonel Beltzhoover was not there to command
his battery.
On April 13, 1862, Brigadier General Breckinridge announced his
staff in the Army of the Mississippi and Lt. Colonel Daniel Beltzhoover was appointed to Chief of Artillery. Because of this
order, Lt. Colonel Beltzhoover resigned from Watson's Artillery.
From this point, Lt. Colonel Beltzhoover assumes his duties in
the 1st Louisiana Heavy Artillery under the command of
Colonel Charles A. Fuller. Colonel Fuller just as Lt. Colonel Beltzhoover also holds a staff position as Inspector-General for
the Confederate Army. The 1st Louisiana Heavy Artillery Regiment
was organized with men from the New Orleans area during the spring
of 1861. It served at Forts Jackson and St. Phillip in New
Orleans.
Watson's Artillery was assigned to Moaxey's and Beall's
Brigade, Department of Mississippi and East Louisiana. After
serving in Mississippi, Watson's Artillery became part of the
garrison at Port Hudson and surrendered on July 9, 1863. Watson's
Artillery was exchanged, but many of its members joined the 1st
Louisiana Regular Artillery Regiment under the command of Lt.
Colonel Beltzhoover. Watson's Artillery had ceased to exist.
By December of 1862, Daniel Beltzhoover was stationed at
Vicksburg, Mississippi. Life for the artillery men consisted of
drilling in the tactics of Heavy Artillery, picket duty and
guarding prisoners. Lt. Colonel Beltzhoover wrote to the Assistant
Adjutant-General Major J. R. Waddy stating "Five hundred political
prisoners. None landed and will not be landed until definite
instructions are received regarding them."
During the Siege of Vicksburg, Mississippi, Lt. Colonel
Beltzhoover was attached to Colonel Edward Higgins’ Water
Batteries that served as a portion of the Vicksburg defenses.
Commander Lieutenant General John C. Pemberton, wrote on January
31, 1863, describing the layout of the area where Lt. Colonel
Beltzhoover and the rest of Colonel Higgins’ Brigade was
stationed. The batteries were divided into three commands. The
upper batteries, or those immediately on the city front, were
under the command of Major F. N. Ogden, Eighth Louisiana Artillery
Battalion, to whose command was attached Captain S. C. Bain's
company of Vaiden Light Artillery. The Lowe batteries were under
the command Lt. Colonel Daniel Beltzhoover of the First Louisiana
Artillery. A portion of the Twenty-Third Louisiana Volunteers was
joined to Lt. Colonel Beltzhoover's command.
On July 4th, 1863, the 1st Louisiana Artillery surrendered and
was paroled several months later at Enterprise, Mississippi. At
Demopolis, Alabama on August 29, 1863, Lt. Colonel Beltzhoover
reported "I cannot give any idea of the ordnance stores lost,
because I have none of the reports of returns. During the siege
the commanders of garrisons had nothing to do with the ordnance
stores further than to see that they were taken care of.
Ammunition was sent to the batteries and removed from them without
our knowledge. Colonel Higgins and all his staff are absent, and I
get no better information than given above."
Lt. Colonel Beltzhoover also assessed the losses of heavy
artillery from his Brigade during the surrender of Vicksburg. The
losses were: eight 10-inch Columbiads, one 9-inch navies, one
8-inch Columbiads, one 10-inch mortar, three 42-pounders, five
32-pounder rifles, five 32-pounder smooth-bores, two Brooks', one
Blakely's, and two 6-pounder field guns. Twenty-nine guns in all
were lost.
After the Confederate surrender of Vicksburg, Lt. Colonel
Beltzhoover took over the Brigade and reorganized it.
Beltzhoover's Brigade included the 27th Louisiana, 1st Louisiana
Heavy Artillery, 8th Louisiana Heavy Artillery Battalion, 1st
Tennessee Heavy Artillery, Anderson's Artillery, Bains' Artillery
company, Wade's Missouri Battery, and one company of Sapper’s and
Miner’s.
On November 20, 1863, Major General John H. Forney made his
report of paroled and exchanged troops at Enterprise, Mississippi.
The Confederate troops involved during the parole and exchange for
the Department of Mississippi and East Louisiana under General
Joseph E. Johnston listed Beltzhoover in command of the Henry
Artillery Brigade. The Brigade consisted of the following units:
1st Louisiana commanded by Lieutenant Colonel D. Beltzhoover, 8th
Louisiana Battalion commanded by Captain Toby Hart, 22nd Louisiana
commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Samuel Jones, Vaiden Mississippi
Artillery commanded by Captain Samuel C. Bains, Watson Louisiana
Battery which was unassigned, 1st Mississippi commanded by Colonel
John M. Simonton and the 1st Mississippi Light Artillery commanded
by Captain James J. Cowan.
On January 1st, 1864, Beltzhoover's command consisted of the
1st Louisiana Artillery, 8th Louisiana Battalion, 22nd Louisiana,
14th Mississippi Artillery Battalion, J. S. Smyth's cavalry
battalion, Trans-Mississippi Battalion, Vaiden (Mississippi)
Artillery, 1st Mississippi Light Artillery, and a Signal Corps
Detachment.
On April 23, 1864, Major General Dabney H. Maury who was
stationed at Mobile Alabama wrote to Major General Samuel Cooper
for the consideration of the establishment of a military school
for the education of young officers. General Maury suggested that
Mobile was the best place in the southwest for the establishment
of military schools, and at this time there are several officers
on duty here, graduates of military colleges and men of good
ability and attainments, who will gladly aid in organizing a good
system of military education. He had requested that Lt. Colonel
Beltzhoover as well as a few other officers to teach the young
officers and men in the enlisted ranks.
Lt. Colonel Beltzhoover accepted the teaching position and was
transferred to Mobile, Alabama, commanding the School of Practice
for Artillerists. The school was located on Government Street.
William T. Mumford of the 1st Louisiana Heavy Artillery Company
B was ordered to report to class on May 10th, 1864. His teacher
was Lt. Colonel Beltzhoover. By May 30th, class was in session. On
June 28th, Lt. Colonel Beltzhoover left Mobile at 5 A.M. and took
his class to Forts Morgan, Gaines and Powell. At Fort Gaines,
there were 13 Federal blockading vessels in full view. The Class
didn't return to Mobile until 7 P.M. that evening.
On July 5th, the class received orders to be ready to march out
of Mobile. Rations were to be cooked for five days and a hundred
rounds of ammunition were issued to each man. They were to march
to Meridian at 3 A.M. the next morning to assist in repelling a
raiding party of Federal soldiers coming from the north in
Mississippi.
Lt. Colonel Beltzhoover marched his battalion of artillerist
into Mississippi. At Tupelo, Mississippi Beltzhoover's Battalion
was used as Infantry. According to William Mumford of the 1st
Louisiana Heavy Artillery during the battle of Tupelo, Mississippi
several officers and men were left behind, among them was Colonel
Daniel Beltzhoover.
After suffering an illness in mid-July, Daniel Beltzhoover
retired from the Army and later was paroled at Mobile, Alabama.
After the Civil War, Daniel continued
teaching in Mobile until a Yellow Fever epidemic took his life. Daniel died on October 31, 1870 of
Yellow Fever. Some reports state he died of gastritis. His body
was laid out in the state of rest on November 1st, at the Cathedral
in Mobile.
He left behind four daughters, Mary 16, Sarah 15, Rosa 12 and Jane
10 and the Story of the Mountain claims they
became nuns, and one son Henry 14.
Daniel Beltzhoover's final resting place at
Mount Saint Mary's Cemetery. |
Daniel was later reburied at
Mount Saint Mary's College where he was finally laid to rest
considering he would not have been transported do to a highly
contagious epidemic such as Yellow Fever. His wife
Elizabeth Miles and two of his daughters would join him as they too are
buried next to him on the Mountain.
John G. Devereux, served with Lt. Colonel Beltzhoover
as his Lieutenant in the 1st Louisiana Artillery, visited Mount Saint
Mary's College forty years later, looking for the grave of his old
teacher Daniel Beltzhoover, and for that three of Beltzhoover's
Louisiana comrades, whose beautiful epitaph was written by another
of their teachers, George Henry Miles. It is said by his pupils,
that Colonel Beltzhoover stood far above General Grant at West
Point.
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