OSTERHAUS, PETER J.. b. Prussia; having served as an officer in the Prussian army came to the linLed States, settle.] in St. Louis, and entered the U. S. volunteer army in the first year of the rebellion as mnj. of the 2d Missouri regiment. He partici pated in the battle of Wilson's creek, Aug. 10, 1861, under gen. byon who was killed, retiring under command of col. Sigel. He was promoted to the coloneley of the 12th Missouri, and commander) a brigade under gen. Fremont, and also in the exiwcii tion conducted by S. It. Curtis, maj.gen. commanding the army operating in say. Missouri, resulting in the battle of Pea Ridge or Elk Horn, March 6-8. 1862, between the confederates under gen. Van Dorn, and the Union forces under gen. Curtis, the lat ter gaining the victory. In this action he commanded a divisioq. June 9, 1802, he re ceive:) his commission as brig.gen., and in the following December \vas placed in command of a division of the 13t11 corpsat Helena. Ark., with which he assisted in the capture of
A ritnnsas post, under gen. McClernand and admiral Porter, .Jun. 11, 1863: also in the Vicksburg campaign, resulting in the surrender on July 4, 1863. He commanded the' 1st division, 15th corps at Chattanooga under Bens. Roseerans and Thomas, and at the battle of Missionary Ridge, the heights on the e. overlooking Chattanooga (Lookout mountain being on the w.), under gen. Sherman, Nov. 25-26, ending in the defeat of the con federates. In its results this was one of the most importaut of the war, On July 23d he was mule maj.gcu., and followed Sherman from Chattanooga to the occupation of Atlanta, Sept. 1, 1861, the 15th corps "from Atlanta to the sea." Ile was chief of staff to Gen. Canby at the surrender of the confederate gen. Richard Taylor, May 4, 1865, and was mustered out Feb., 1866.