Visitors and staff have shown a great deal of interest in Jacob Realy's Civil War Experiences. Therefore, we have added a section to our primer that summarizes his military and pension records, which are from the National Archives, researched in 1994.
Born 27 September 1838 at Endersbach, Warbling, Wurtenburg, Germany, Jacob Realy enlisted in the 20th Michigan Infantry, Co. K, on 5 August 1862, at Waterloo. His personal description was given as: "Age 21, height 5 ft., 5 1/4 in., complexion light, eyes grey, hair light." That should have made him almost 24 years old, but the records stand. His post office address was Waterloo, Michigan.
Jacob was seriously wounded 10 May 1863 at Horseshoe Bend, Kentucky and was in and out of several hospitals, including Detroit. Doctors feared that removal of the ball (bullet) would prove fatal. In May 1864, he returned to his company and was assigned light duty. At the war's end, he mustered out at DeLaney House, Washington, D.C., 30 May 1865.
Major Cutting had recruited in Michigan and on 1 September, 1862, they left for Washington, D.C. and the marched to Leesburg, Virginia on 8 September. Ten days later, they moved to Sharpsburg, Maryland where they were attached to the 1st Brigade, 1st Div., 9th Corps Army of the Potomac until April 1863. The corps saw action at Antietam, Fredericksburg Mud March, Vicksburg, Jackson, Knoxville, Ft. Saunders, Rapidan and James, Wilderness, Spotsylvania, Cold Harbor, Petersburg Seige and Ft. Stedman.
The 20th Michigan Infantry was attached to this 9th Corps, which was organized at Secretary of War Stanton's suggestion for 50,000 men for "special service". Ambrose Burnside led recruits from New York, Pennsylvania, Michigan and New England, including new Negro recruits. The 9th Corps was moved about more than any other.
Jacob Realy saw action at Wilderness, Spotsylvania, Cold Harbor, Petersburg, and at Ft. Stedman. At Horseshoe Bend, where he was wounded, they saw action against the 12th Kentucky Cavalry. Forty-four were killed, wounded, or missing in that battle. Among the Michigan 20th Infantry, 4 were killed, 18 wounded, and 6 missing. Almost half the casualties were from the Michigan group.
The corps insignia is etched on Jacob Realy's monument at St. Jacob Cemetery, Waterloo Twp. It shows a seige cannon crossed with an anchor. This represents the fact that the men were moved about by waterways.
Ten years after the war, now "partially and almost wholly disabled from obtaining his subsistence by manual labor", Jacob applied for and received a disability pension. He was never able to do heavy work after being wounded. He carried the ball in his left lung just above the hip for the rest of his life and experienced continual pain and drainage that required daily attention. His injury was further aggravated when he was kicked in the chest by a colt that he had hitched with another horse to a sleigh. Nevertheless, he lived to be almost eighty years old before he died 12 July 1916. Realy is buried in the family plot on Riethmiller Road.
Catharine received the widow's pension until she died 10 September 1919. She is buried beside her husband. Also, five of their children are there, together with the German grandparents.
