Louis A. Gratz (the name is almost always found as “Louis”), was a German-Jewish immigrant, who has not been identified in any way with the merchant family of Philadelphia of the same name . Louis Gratz‘s name was found on the passenger list of the ship Gibralter which arrived in New York City on 5 December 1860, when he declared that he was a 19 year-old merchant by occupation. He then proceeded to make a living as a jewelry peddler in Pennsylvania towns in and around Scranton in late 1860 and early 1861. When the Civil War began, he immediately enlisted in the15th Pennsylvania Infantry, Company B, as a Corporal and served a three-month term. Apparently convincing others that he had enough military experience to qualify as a Lieutenant, he was an early joiner of the 9th Pennsylvania Cavalry at that rank and participated in the recruitment of volunteers – going to the Scranton area where he was familiar with the terrain and the people.

It is not known how many of those who Gratz recruited actually knew him before the war. One of those recruited by Gratz may have been George Samuels (a German-Jewish immigrant) who also served in Company B of the 9th Pennsylvania Cavalry. It is highly possible that Louis A. Gratz also recruited Frederick Metzger and he may have known him before the war.

Unfortunately, very little is known about Frederick Metzger other that the meager description found on the Index Card. No one applied for a pension based on his service and death. He has not been located in any pre-war census – which could mean that he too was an immigrant, and possibly also Jewish.

There are some burial records that are available through Ancestry.com. These indicate that Frederick Metzger was laid to rest at the Nashville National Cemetery, Nashville, Tennessee, although the accidental death occurred near Bowling Green, Kentucky.

The story of Louis A. Gratz differs greatly from that of the less fortunate Metzger and will be told in greater detail at a later date. For now, suffice it to say that he soon-after was discharged from the 9th Pennsylvania Cavalry, not because of the incident involving the death of Metzger, but because he was offered a commission as Major of the 6th Kentucky Cavalry!

Louis A Gratz