Civil War Brevet Brigadier General. Born in Switzerland, he emigrated to the United States in 1852, and was studying law n Decatur, Illinois when the Civil War began. He enlisted in the 8th Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and was mustered in as a Private in Company B om April 25, 1861. When the regiment was mustered out of service on July 25, 1861, it was reconstituted as a three-year enlistment unit, and Herman Lieb was commissioned as Captain and commander of the new Company B. He served in the duty until October 7, 1862, when he was promoted Major. On August 7, 1863 he was mustered out of the 8th Illinois Infantry, and was commissioned Colonel and commander of the 9th Louisiana Volunteers (African Descent), a regiment that eventually was designated as the 5th United States Colored Heavy Artillery. He was in command of the troops that fought in the June 7, 1863 Battle of Milliken's Bend during the Vicksburg Campaign, one of the first to involve African-American Union Army troops. Despite being relatively poorly trained, Colonel Leib and his USCT soldiers successfully repulsed the attacking Confederates, helping to show that African-Americans could fight as well was white soldiers, and earning the official praise of Army commander Major General Ulysses S. Grant. After the fall of Vicksburg to Union forces, Colonel Lieb was assigned to command the artillery that garrisoned the town. He was brevetted Brigadier General, US Volunteers on March 13, 1865 for "gallant and meritorious services during the war", and was honorably mustered out on May 20, 1866. After the war he was a newspaper editor in Chicago, Illinois.
Civil War Brevet Brigadier General. Born in Switzerland, he emigrated to the United States in 1852, and was studying law n Decatur, Illinois when the Civil War began. He enlisted in the 8th Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and was mustered in as a Private in Company B om April 25, 1861. When the regiment was mustered out of service on July 25, 1861, it was reconstituted as a three-year enlistment unit, and Herman Lieb was commissioned as Captain and commander of the new Company B. He served in the duty until October 7, 1862, when he was promoted Major. On August 7, 1863 he was mustered out of the 8th Illinois Infantry, and was commissioned Colonel and commander of the 9th Louisiana Volunteers (African Descent), a regiment that eventually was designated as the 5th United States Colored Heavy Artillery. He was in command of the troops that fought in the June 7, 1863 Battle of Milliken's Bend during the Vicksburg Campaign, one of the first to involve African-American Union Army troops. Despite being relatively poorly trained, Colonel Leib and his USCT soldiers successfully repulsed the attacking Confederates, helping to show that African-Americans could fight as well was white soldiers, and earning the official praise of Army commander Major General Ulysses S. Grant. After the fall of Vicksburg to Union forces, Colonel Lieb was assigned to command the artillery that garrisoned the town. He was brevetted Brigadier General, US Volunteers on March 13, 1865 for "gallant and meritorious services during the war", and was honorably mustered out on May 20, 1866. After the war he was a newspaper editor in Chicago, Illinois.
Bio by: RPD2
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