Background
Peter Joseph Osterhaus was born on January 4, 1823, in Coblenz, Germany, the son of Anton A. Osterhaus.
Peter Joseph Osterhaus was born on January 4, 1823, in Coblenz, Germany, the son of Anton A. Osterhaus.
Peter Osterhaus received his early education in his native city, studied at a military school in Berlin, and served as a volunteer in the 29th Infantry Regiment.
Peter Osterhaus became involved in the Revolution of 1848, and when the government triumphed he emigrated to the United States (1849), settling in Belleville, Illinois, where he was employed as a dry goods clerk. He later moved to Lebanon, Illinois, and operated a general merchandise business. Moving with his family to St. Louis, Missouri, in 1851, he became bookkeeper for a wholesale hardware firm.
At the outbreak of the Civil War, he volunteered as a private in the 12th Missouri Volunteers. He was soon commissioned captain, Company A, 2nd Missouri Volunteer Infantry, promoted to major, Apr. 27, 1861, and fought in the battle of Wilson's Creek, August 10, 1861. On August 27 of that year, he was honorably discharged from this commission, and on December 19 following, commissioned colonel, 12th Missouri Volunteer Infantry. Vacating that commission in June 1862, he accepted appointment as brigadier-general, United States Volunteers. He commanded the 16t Division of Gen. S. R. Curtis' corps and, in the Army of the Southwest, a division which took part in the engagement at Pea Ridge, Arkansas. (Mar. 6-8, 1862). He was in command of the 3rd Division, Army of the Southwest, to December 31, 1862, and of the 9th Division of the same army from December 31, 1862, to Augugus 2, 1863. In this last command he participated in the Vicksburg campaign. In a sharp engagement at Big Black River, Mississippi, on May 17, 1863, he was wounded by a shell fragment.
Osterhaus’s next command was the 16t Division, XV Corps of Grant's army at Chattanooga. Under temporary command of Gen. Joseph Hooker, Osterhaus led his troops over Lookout Creek, climbed to the summit of Missionary Ridge, took literally thousands of prisoners, and drove the Confederate southern wing from the crest of the ridge. On July 23, 1864, he was made a major-general of volunteers. He was chief of staff to the commanding general of the military division of West Mississippi to May 27, 1865; commanded the Department of the Mississippi to June 13, 1865; the District of the Mississippi to July 17, 1865; the Northern District of the Mississippi to September 16, 1865; the Department of the Mississippi to November 18, 1865, and the Western District of the Mississippi to January 17, 1866, when he was relieved, having been honorably mustered out January 15, 1866.
General Osterhaus served as United States Consul to France, from June 18, 1866, until August 16, 1877, residing at Lyons. His term included the period of the Franco-Prussian War, and his reports show keen insight into the economic problems involved in French compliance with the conditions of peace imposed by Germany. When relieved by his successor, he returned to the United States and engaged in the manufacture and exporting of hardware. He was again called into public service, however, and acted as vice and deputy consul of the United States at Mannheim, Germany, from March 16, 1898, to November 8, 1900, when he resigned that he might retire and enjoy a rest within the circle of his family and his friends. On June 27, 1902, Congress authorized an additional pension for his services as a major-general of volunteers. This pension was stopped March 20, 1905, for on March 3, 1905, Congress by special act appointed him brigadier-general of the United States Army, and on March 17 he went on the retired list. He lived to the age of ninety-four, his death occurring at Duisburg, Germany, where he was buried.
In 1846, at Kreuznach in Rhenish Prussia, Peter Osterhaus married Matilda Born. On November 15, 1863, his first wife died in St. Louis, and on July 28, 1864, he married her sister, Amalia Born. By his first marriage he had five children, and by his second, three.