Collection	Ostertag
Copyright	Oshkosh Public Museum
Description	Sixth plate tintype with hand tinting (no case) of Johann Sebastian Ostertag.
Event	Civil War
Medium	Tin/Photographic Emulsion/Paint
Neg #	14138
Notes	Full standing view of J. Sebastian Ostertag wearing a commercial blouse, military vest, light blue trousers, and a black felt "Pork Pie" hat. He is also wearing spectacles and a bandage on his head. he is leaning on a Hitchkock style chair, standing on a carpet, and posed in front of a painted canvas back-drop depicting a military scene of Sibley tent and canon. Sebastian was born April 21, 1839 in Wurtenburg, Germany. His parents, Valentine and Mary Ruedinger Ostertag immigrated to America in 1847; entered at the port of New York; farmed near the town of Nekimi; came to Oshkosh in 1861. He enlisted in Company E, 2nd Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry April 21, 1861 and participated in the Battles of 1st Bull Run (wounded); Gainsville (wounded and captured); and Gettysburg (severely wounded). On medical leave in Oshkosh he married Sophia Kuebler on January 20, 1862. They had 8 children. On July 1, 1863 at the Battle of Gettysburg, a bullet entered his left cheek, passed through the sinus cavity, and lodged behind his right eye. He was sent to a hospital in West Philadelphia on July 9 and had the bullet removed on July 11 (the bullet is in the collection of the OPM). In April 1864 he was transferred to the Invalid Corps and was mustered out June 16, 1864. He returned to Oshkosh and began working for the Chicago & Northwestern RR and in November 1865 began a grocery store. on April 8, 1884 he was elected captain of the Oshkosh Rifles (National Guard); 1884 he entered the hardware business; Alderman Third Ward; operated an 83 acre farm 2 miles from Oshkosh in Black Wolf Township and was a member of the Phil H. Sheridan Post of the Grand Army of the Republic. Last surviving member of Company E.
Object ID	P2001.4
Object Name	tintype
People	Ostertag, Johann Sebastian
Print size	H=3 1/2 W=2 1/2 in
Subjects	Civil War Soldiers Casualties Infantry 2nd Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry Iron Brigade
Title	Johann Sebastian Ostertag
Year Range from	1863
Year range to	1864

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Last modified on: July 22, 2007