Great, great granfather civil war pic Rifle ID needed

[Indian Steve]

Howdy All, This is a picture of my Great, Great Grandfather Frederick Lutz in his Union uniform. I am trying to find out more about his service in the Civil War. He was born in Germany in 1837 and lived near Louisville Kentucky after the war. Can anybody Id his rifle or pick up any other info about his unit from this picture. Thanks Steve

 

[Charlie P. (NY)]

I think maybe an 1853 Enfield. Hammer isn't as "humpy" as a Springfield and the bands appear narrower in the image..

Enfield



Springfield

 

[NHBandit]

I agree with the Enfield comment. I have an 1853 Enfield hanging over my fireplace. The picture of course, is reversed. Look at the backwards "US" on the buckle. That's why the hammer on the rifle appears to be on the wrong side. The Enfields were used extensively by both sides during the Civil War.

 

[duggap]

Man, that is extremely cool that you have that family pic.

 

[maxpower]

Frederick Lutz fought in the United States Civil War for the Union Side. He was listed as being from Kentucky. He was a Private K in the 2nd Kentucky Infantry.

 

[Bramblefind]

Frederick Lutz fought in the United States Civil War for the Union Side. He was listed as being from Kentucky. He was a Private K in the 2nd Kentucky Infantry.

I came across that too but I think there is another candidate from Indiana that might be him. There is a family tree published on Ancestry:

__________________________________
Frederick Lutz
Birth 3 Mar 1837 in Nassau / Germany
Death 17 May 1923 in Scott Co. Indiana

Birth
1837
3 Mar
Nassau / Germany
1 Source
Residence
1863
1 Jul
Age: 26
Oregon, Clark, Indiana, United States
Age on 1 July 1863: 26; Marital Status: Unmarried
1 Source
Residence
1870
Age: 33
Louisville Ward 1, Jefferson, Kentucky, United States
Age: 30
2 Sources
Residence
1880
Age: 43
Oregon, Clark, Indiana, United States
Age: 43; Marital Status: Married; Relation to Head of House: Self
Death
1923
17 May
Age: 86
Scott Co. Indiana

Spouse & Children:

Augusta Scheirer
1840 – 1923


Emma Lena Lutz
1869 – 1955


Philip Lutz
1871 –


Louisa Lutz
1875 –


Amanda Lutz
1878 – 1981

____________________________

I followed a link provided in the tree to a Civil War draft record index which led me to the Company B, 81st Indiana Infantry and this reference for Frederick Lotz whom I think is the same.

 

[Indian Steve]

Bramblefind, You found him. Hi daughter, Amanda, was my great grandmother. She lived to be 103 and lived by herself and took care of herself until she was 101. As a side note, she helped deliver Colonel Sanders of Kentucky Fried Chicken fame when he was born. He came to her 100th birthday and gave her a $100 bill with his signature on it.

 

[Indian Steve]

Here is a picture of his wife Augusta.

 

[Tigger]

that card that is pictured is his pension index card. the National Archives in Wash DC has it - I recommend going there if you have a chance - you can read through his invalid pension file from the time he got it in 1883 to his death in 1923. It may have some cool stuff in it. At the very least, it should have lots of documentation on his injuries/disease that gave him the invalid pension, possible info on death/burial, maybe details on his health before and after his injuries, including what his jobs were... His military file is different, accessed with his unit info. It will consist primarily of his status on the unit's muster rolls, when he was in the hospital, home on leave, etc. (you can pay a fee to get either or both copied and sent to you, but doing it in person is a very cool experience.) A history of his unit will help you meanwhile, but will not tell you if he was with the unit at the time. You are so lucky to have their pictures, and to have names to go with them!!

 

[Indian Steve]

Thanks Tigger, I avoid DC like the plague. I do not like crowds and traffic. I will check into getting that info though. Thanks Again, Steve

 

[tamrock]

Great post. I'm glade to here you have the concern in recording and preserving your ancestry. (hope your descendants share the same passion)...I get a bit sad when I run into old boxes and albums full of old family photos that no one cared to take the time to record and keep them and they all just end up in an antique shop. They sell them as instant ancestors. I look for interesting old pictures that can possibly tell a story or have interesting subject matter. Most sell for around 50 cents to a dollar each and there fun to look through. Old daguerreotype's and ambrotype's cost more because of the collectability, but I will find a deal on them from time to time.