The expression "brother against brother" has become something of a cliche when speaking about the Civil War. But the story of Peter and Christian Gingerich, two Amish brothers from Woodford County, gives the phrase new meaning in that context.

Though born in Switzerland, the Gingerich brothers—children of Johannes and Barbara Gingerich—grew up outside of Metamora, in north central Illinois. When the Civil War broke out in April 1861, both men were married with families and members of the Partridge Creek Amish Church. Baptized in the church and committed to pacifism, the Gingerich brothers did not enlist when President Abraham Lincoln called for volunteers in April 1861. But as the war progressed, Christian's allegiances to the church were overshadowed by his devotion to the Union cause. In August 1862 he enlisted as a private in Company E of the 82nd Illinois Volunteer Infantry Regiment. Christian's regiment fought at Gettysburg, Lookout Mountain, and in the Atlanta Campaign. And he participated in the Grand Review parade in Washington, D.C., before being discharged and returning to Woodford County in June of 1865. Peter, on the other hand, refused military induction and chose to remain at home and farm. In 1864, he and several other Woodford County Amish were drafted, but Amish Bishop Andrew Bachman came to Springfield on their behalf and pleaded to the governor for their exemption on religious grounds. This was in the days before the "Conscientious Objector" status was recognized by the Department of War. The petition, however, was successful and the men were not required to wear Union blue—although they may have had to pay a commutation (exemption) fee or hire a substitute to fill their draft call. Peter, who suffered from tuberculosis, died in 1866 and was buried in Hickory Point Cemetery, just outside of Metamora. Christian lived to be a much older man, dying in 1895, and he too, is buried in Hickory Point Cemetery.

—William Furry

For more information about the Amish in the Civil War, see A History of the Amish, by Steven M. Holt. (Good Books: 1992).

16 lLLIN0IS HERITAGE