George Teufel was 5'5" light complexion, blue eyes, light hair. He was 19 in 1862 and a painter (possibly also as a carpenter) by trade. The Adjutant General gives his birthplace as New York, but he was actually born in Germany and the family landed in New York when he was 2. His actual name was Johann George, but the common usage was simply George. He enlisted in Company H, August 4, 1862 at Detroit and mustered August 13, 1862. He is alternately listed as killed or missing in action at the Wilderness, May 5, 1864.
For his mother to be able to claim a survivors pension she needed proof of his death and so acquired two affidavits from officers stating that they "saw him shot dead by the enemy on May 5 1864". The affidavits attesting to his death were from Lt. Col. Albert Edwards on Oct. 23,1865 and from Capt. Norton on July 17, 1866. Quote from the one from Capt. Norton, "..was acquainted with John G. Teufel late Pvt. Co. H same Regt. He further declares that the said John G. Teufel was killed by a gunshot wound from the enemy at the battle of the Wilderness Va. on or about the 5th day of May 1864." From the affidavit of Col. Edwards, ".. That he was acquainted with John George Teufel, he was a private in Co. H, 24th Regt. Michigan Infty. Vols. and the same John George Teufel was killed at the Battle of the Wilderness on or about the 5th day May 1864 and was first reported missing in action."
Descendant: Geoffry Teufel ateufel@zianet.com