Existing comment:
Valiant Men "Dat Fite Mit Sigel"
German-born Franz Sigel was one of several political generals whose Civil War service proved to be largely ineffective and worrisome to President Lincoln. Sigel aroused the spite of Adalbert Volck for his foibles on the battlefield. And despite their shared Germanic ancestry, Volck and Sigel had different views of American patriotism. Sigel, however, did prove to be useful in recruiting German immigrants, many of whom could speak little English. "I'm going to fight mit Sigel" became a favorite wartime slogan and song. Volck satirizes Sigel and his "valiant men" as they harass and draw their weapons on women and children whom they have just made destitute by burning their homes.
Transfer lithograph, 1864 |