b. Strobeck, Prussia, April 7, 1826
d. Salt Lake City, Utah, March 8, 1897

Gen. Frederick Salomon was one of four brothers from Germany who distinguished themselves during the Civil War (Edward, Frederick, Charles, and Herman). He was colonel of the 9th Wisconsin Infantry during its first year and then commanded a brigade in the Southwest for the remainder of the war.

German Immigrant

Frederick Salomon was born in Prussia in 1826. Frederick received a military education and received a commission as a lieutenant in the Prussian army. During the German uprisings of 1848, he supported the democrats. He fled the country when the revolution was defeated by the crown.

Salomon came to the United States in 1848, settling in Manitowoc, Wisconsin. He used his knowledge of engineering and surveying to establish himself in business and soon rose to prominence within the German community in the Midwest. In 1860 he relocated to St. Louis, Missouri. At the outbreak of the Civil War, Salomon volunteered for service.

Civil War Service

In May 1861 Salomon joined the 5th Missouri Infantry as a captain, enlisting for a three-month tour. When this was up, he was recalled to Wisconsin to help form the 9th Wisconsin Infantry, a regiment composed mainly of German immigrants. Due to his training and experience, Salomon was appointed its colonel.

After training at Camp Sigel in Milwaukee, his regiment was sent to the Southwest in January 1862. They traveled to Leavenworth, Kansas, then south through Fort Scott to Baxter's Springs. From this location they conducted raids on Confederate bands in Arkansas, Missouri, Kansas, and Oklahoma.

On July 12, 1862, Salomon was promoted to brigadier general in the U.S. Army. The command of the 9th Infantry passed to his younger brother, Charles Eberhardt Salomon. Gen. Frederick Salomon led his new brigade at the battles of Newtonia, Missouri (September 30, 1862) and Helena, Arkansas (July 4, 1863). In the latter battle, Salomon designed defenses that enabled his Union forces of 4,000 men to turn back 10,000 Confederates.

During 1864 his brigade provided reinforcements to the ill-fated Red River Expedition, and he spent the remainder of the war headquartered at Little Rock, Arkansas. He was brevetted a major general on March 13, 1865, and was mustered out of service the following August.

Postwar Years

After leaving the army, Salomon returned to Missouri where he was elected register of lands for the state. He eventually moved to Salt Lake City where he served as surveyor general for the territory of Utah, an appointment given to him by the president. He worked in this capacity until his death on March 8, 1897, from heart disease.

Links to Learn More

• Biographical Sketch

  of Frederick Salomon by E.B. Quiner in his book, "Military History of Wisconsin" (Chicago, 1866)

• 1927 Proclamation by Gov. Zimmerman

  commemorating the Salomon Brothers

• View Original Documents Related to Gen. Frederick Salomon

[Source: Welsh, Jack D. Medical Histories of Union Generals (Ohio, 1996): 286; Forsyth, Michael. The Camden Expedition of 1864… (North Carolina, 2003): 51-52; Quiner, E.B. Military History of Wisconsin (Chicago, 1866).]