Andreas "Andrew" Dittmann was born in Bavaria, Germany on November 22, 1834. He was one of nine children of Andreas Dittmann and Anna Maria Voelker. After a sibling emigrated to Clermont County, Ohio, Andrew made the trip himself. Shortly thereafter, he enlisted with the 60th Ohio Volunteer Infantry.

Judging from Andrew's National Archives file, his service with the army caused permanent health problems. In his first month with Captain Gardner's Company C at Gallipolis, Ohio, (February 1862), he contracted an intestinal disorder. He recovered enough to participate in the Shenandoah Valley campaign, but Colonel Cluseret's forced march of June 1862 further damaged his health. Apparently, his marching in the hot sun and crossing ice cold streams on foot weakened his already fragile system. Many other men took ill, too, after sleeping on the ground in their still wet clothing. Andrew contracted malaria by the time he reached Harpers Ferry. Furthermore, he was troubled by rheumatism for the rest of his life.

His responsibilities during his enlistment included guard duty and the construction of fortifications at Winchester, Virginia. He was captured during the disastrous battle at Harpers Ferry, and paroled with the rest of the unit. He mustered out on November 10, 1862 at Camp Douglas in Chicago, Illinois.

A special thanks to Karen O'Hara for compiling and contributing this information. Andreas "Andrew" Dittmann was her great grandfather.

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