Correspondence and other materials concerning life in Germany and Civil War service; and record book, 1868-1877, listing German settlers in the Dieckerill section of Niles brought to the United States by Brethschneider. Three letters written in July 1861 and one in November 1861 are chiefly love letters to his wife. But he also speculates on possible offensives and the end of the war; then writes of the casualties after the battles,saying: "It is sad to see thousands slaughtered through the ignorance of their leaders, but the Americans have to learn and pay for it. All our fancy officers here are sick or not worth the powder it would take to shoot them." However, he expresses a very high opinion of himself and his worth as an officer. The letters are written in German, and the collection contains the originals and translations, as well as his commission, dated April 25, 1861 and application for invalid corps dated June 23, 1863. The collection also includes a letter from Colonel Francis Quinn of the12th Michigan Infantry (May 2, 1862) and affidavits of James Vandemark and Robert Hardy, also of the 12th Infantry (June 4, 1862) relating to the Battle of Shiloh
Robert Brethschneider was a resident of Niles, Mich. who had served in the Prussian artillery corps from 1837 to 1849, including seven years as an officer. During the Civil War he served in Company E, 2nd Michigan Infantry as a captain. He received his commission on April 25, 1861, and fought in the battle of Blackburn's Ford (July 18, 1961) and Bull Run (July 21, 1861) until being forced to resign on December 14, 1861 due to poor health. He re-entered service as a captain in Company K, 12th Michigan Infantry only to be forced to resign again on September 3, 1862 due to ill health. He later returned to Niles, Berrien County, Michigan, and worked as a soap manufacturer.
