Julius H. Stahel

He Led His Division Until He Was Severely Wounded

Julius H. Stahel was a Hungarian-born American military officer, Medal of Honor recipient, and diplomat who rose to the rank of Major General in the United States Army during the American Civil War. His military career included service in the Hungarian revolutionary forces, command of Union infantry and cavalry formations, and the Battle of Piedmont, Virginia, on June 5, 1864, where he led his division into action until he was severely wounded. Nearly three decades later, he received the Medal of Honor for his conduct during that engagement.

Stahel was born in Szeged, Hungary, and was known in Hungarian records as Gyula Számwald. He received his early education in Hungary and worked in the book trade before becoming involved in the revolutionary movement of 1848. During the Hungarian struggle for independence from Austrian rule, he served as a military officer and was associated with the commands of Generals Artúr Görgei and Richard Guyon.

Following the defeat of the Hungarian revolution in 1849, Stahel left his homeland. He subsequently lived in Germany and England, supporting himself through teaching and journalism before emigrating to the United States. Settling in New York City, he continued working in journalism and became associated with the German-language press.

When the American Civil War began in April 1861, Stahel joined the Union military effort. He helped organize the 8th New York Volunteer Infantry, also known as the First German Rifles, alongside Colonel Louis Blenker. On April 23, 1861, Stahel entered service as Lieutenant Colonel of the regiment.

The 8th New York Infantry served in the Union forces defending Washington and participated in the First Battle of Bull Run on July 21, 1861. During the Union withdrawal following the battle, the regiment assisted in covering the retreat. Stahel's subsequent advancement reflected the increasing responsibilities he received within the volunteer army.

On August 11, 1861, he became Colonel of the 8th New York Infantry. He was promoted to Brigadier General of Volunteers in November 1861 and received command of a brigade in Blenker's division.

During the Shenandoah Valley Campaign of 1862, Stahel served under Major General John C. Frémont. On June 8, his brigade participated in the Battle of Cross Keys, Virginia, against Confederate forces commanded by Major General Richard S. Ewell.

During the battle, Stahel's brigade advanced toward Confederate positions, but the 8th New York Infantry moved ahead without adequate support and encountered devastating fire from Brigadier General Isaac Trimble's troops. The regiment suffered heavy casualties, and Stahel's brigade was forced to withdraw. The engagement ended in a Confederate defensive victory.

Stahel continued his military service during the Northern Virginia Campaign. At the Second Battle of Bull Run in August 1862, he served in the Union forces under Major General Franz Sigel and assumed temporary divisional command after Major General Robert C. Schenck was wounded.

On March 14, 1863, Stahel was promoted to Major General of Volunteers. He subsequently received responsibility for cavalry forces assigned to the defenses of Washington, D.C., and later served in the Department of the Susquehanna during the Gettysburg Campaign.

By the spring of 1864, Stahel commanded a cavalry division in the Department of West Virginia under Major General Franz Sigel. His division participated in the Union advance through the Shenandoah Valley toward Staunton, Virginia.

On May 15, 1864, Stahel was involved in the Battle of New Market. His cavalry operated on the Union left, and he temporarily directed Federal forces before Sigel arrived on the battlefield. During the fighting, Confederate artillery and infantry repulsed a cavalry attack by his troops. The Union army was ultimately defeated and withdrew northward.

Following the defeat at New Market, Major General David Hunter replaced Sigel as commander of the Federal force. Stahel retained command of his cavalry division as Hunter renewed operations in the Shenandoah Valley.

On June 4, 1864, Hunter directed Stahel's cavalry to occupy Confederate mounted troops near Mount Crawford while the main Union column maneuvered toward Port Republic. The following morning, Stahel's advance units moved south and encountered Confederate cavalry associated with Brigadier General John D. Imboden's command.

On June 5, 1864, Stahel commanded his division during the Battle of Piedmont in Augusta County, Virginia. The Union army faced Confederate forces commanded by Brigadier General William E. Jones, who had positioned his troops to block Hunter's advance toward Staunton.

As the engagement developed, Stahel led his cavalry into action against the Confederate positions. During the fighting, he was severely wounded while directing his troops. Contemporary accounts describe his active leadership during the engagement and his determination to remain involved despite his injuries.

The Union forces eventually broke the Confederate line, forcing the defenders to retreat. General Jones was killed during the battle, and Hunter's army occupied Staunton the following day.

Stahel's conduct at Piedmont became the defining action of his military career. His leadership while under enemy fire was formally recognized decades later in the citation accompanying his Medal of Honor.

Following the battle, Stahel's injuries limited his ability to continue commanding troops in the field. He later performed administrative and court-martial duties before resigning his volunteer commission on February 8, 1865.

After leaving military service, Stahel began a new career representing the United States overseas. In 1866, he was appointed United States Consul at Kanagawa, Japan, operating from the Yokohama area.

His diplomatic service coincided with a period of major political change in Japan. Official United States diplomatic correspondence from 1868 identifies Stahel as the American consul at Kanagawa and documents his involvement in consular administration during the transition from the Tokugawa shogunate to the Meiji government.

Following his first diplomatic appointment, Stahel returned to private employment and worked in mining-related business. In 1877, he resumed consular service in East Asia.

During this later period, he held diplomatic responsibilities in Japan and China. Official diplomatic correspondence identifies him as United States Vice-Consul-General at Shanghai in 1878 and as consul at Kobe in 1879. He later served as United States Consul-General at Shanghai during 1884 and 1885.

After retiring from the consular service in 1885, Stahel returned to New York City. He subsequently worked with the Equitable Life Insurance Company, continuing his professional career after decades of military and diplomatic service.

On November 4, 1893, Stahel received the Medal of Honor for his actions at the Battle of Piedmont nearly thirty years earlier. The citation recognized his leadership of his division during the engagement until he was severely wounded.

Stahel died in New York City on December 4, 1912. He was buried with military honors at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia, where his grave is recorded in Section 2, Grave 988.

Julius H. Stahel's documented career extended from the Hungarian revolutionary struggles of the nineteenth century to command in the American Civil War and service in the United States diplomatic corps. His Medal of Honor preserves the recognition of his leadership at Piedmont, while his military and diplomatic records document a career spanning several nations and decades of public service.