Frank Pfaffenschlaeger: Difference between revisions
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'''Frank A. Pfaffenschlaeger''' (born [[1818]] - died March 14, [[1882]]) was a [[Civil War]] veteran who settled in [[Birmingham]] as a music teacher. | '''Frank A. Pfaffenschlager''' or '''Pfaffenschlaeger''' (born [[1818]] - died March 14, [[1882]]) was a [[Civil War]] veteran who settled in [[Birmingham]] as a music teacher. | ||
Pfaffenschlaeger enlisted in the Confederate army in [[1861]] in New Madrid, Missouri and made a name for himself as a talented bugler. His friend William Hartmann of the 38th Alabama Infantry arranged for his transfer to that regiment from the Tennessee Light Artillery so that he could become part of the regimental band. | Pfaffenschlaeger enlisted in the Confederate army in [[1861]] in New Madrid, Missouri and made a name for himself as a talented bugler. His friend William Hartmann of the 38th Alabama Infantry arranged for his transfer to that regiment from the Tennessee Light Artillery so that he could become part of the regimental band. | ||
Pfaffenschlaeger became chief musician, having the opportunity to demonstrate his skills not only on the bugle, but also with the piano, violin, fife and guitar. He also excelled as an artist, with officers pooling money to buy his sketch of regimental headquarters to give as a gift to their Colonel Ketchum. | Pfaffenschlaeger became chief musician, having the opportunity to demonstrate his skills not only on the bugle, but also with the piano, violin, fife and guitar and transcribed tunes he heard in his travels. He also excelled as an artist, with officers pooling money to buy his sketch of regimental headquarters to give as a gift to their Colonel Ketchum. | ||
After the war's end, Pfaffenschlaeger married a widow with two daughters and settled in Birmingham to teach music under the name "Professor Pfaffenschlaeger". In [[1882]], while talking with friends, he suddenly produced a Derringer pistol and shot himself through the temple. | After the war's end, Pfaffenschlaeger married a widow with two daughters and settled in Birmingham to teach music under the name "Professor Pfaffenschlaeger". In [[1882]], while talking with friends, he suddenly produced a Derringer pistol and shot himself through the temple. | ||
Revision as of 19:04, 3 March 2007
Frank A. Pfaffenschlager or Pfaffenschlaeger (born 1818 - died March 14, 1882) was a Civil War veteran who settled in Birmingham as a music teacher.
Pfaffenschlaeger enlisted in the Confederate army in 1861 in New Madrid, Missouri and made a name for himself as a talented bugler. His friend William Hartmann of the 38th Alabama Infantry arranged for his transfer to that regiment from the Tennessee Light Artillery so that he could become part of the regimental band.
Pfaffenschlaeger became chief musician, having the opportunity to demonstrate his skills not only on the bugle, but also with the piano, violin, fife and guitar and transcribed tunes he heard in his travels. He also excelled as an artist, with officers pooling money to buy his sketch of regimental headquarters to give as a gift to their Colonel Ketchum.
After the war's end, Pfaffenschlaeger married a widow with two daughters and settled in Birmingham to teach music under the name "Professor Pfaffenschlaeger". In 1882, while talking with friends, he suddenly produced a Derringer pistol and shot himself through the temple.
After his death, a friend told the Mobile Daily Register that Pfaffenschlaeger was actually an Austrian noble, Lord Seeau, who opposed Emperor Franz Joseph and narrowly escaped the country with his life after the revolution of 1848.
Pfaffenschlaeger is buried under a large obelisk at Oak Hill Cemetery, which he shares with his widow and her first husband and numerous descendants.