Otho French Strahl - Dyersburg, TN
Posted by: 
YoSam.
N 36° 01.904 W 089° 22.660
16S E 285773 N 3990083
Civil War General who died in combat
Waymark Code: WMXG0B
Location: Tennessee, United States
Date Posted: 01/08/2018
Views: 0
County of Marker: Dyer County
Location of Marker: TN-104 (E. Court St.), between Dixie Ave. & Broadway Ave., old City Cemetery, Dyersburg
Erected by: Tennessee Historic Commission
Marker Text:
Born in Ohio, he came to Dyersburg and practiced law before secession. In 1861 he raised here a company of the 4th TN Infantry for the Confederacy. Winning successive promotions to the grade of brigadier general, he was killed leading his brigade at the Battle of Franklin, Nov. 30, 1864. He is buried here.
"Otho F. Strahl was born near Elliotts Cross Roads, Ohio, and raised in nearby Malta, both in rural Morgan County. His parents were Philip Strahl and Rhoda French. His great-great-grandfather was Casper Strahl, an immigrant from Germany to Pennsylvania circa 1755. Both of his grandmothers had been raised in the South and, through their strong influence, Strahl became an ardent supporter of states' rights. Strahl was a graduate of Ohio Wesleyan University. He went south to Tennessee, reading law in Somerville and, being admitted to the bar in 1858, opening a practice in Dyersburg.
"With the outbreak of the Civil War, Strahl raised a local infantry company among friends and neighbors in Dyersburg. He became the captain of his company of the newly raised 4th Tennessee Infantry in May 1861. He and the regiment were transferred to Confederate service in August of that year. He was promoted to lieutenant colonel on May 15, 1862. After the Battle of Shiloh on April 24 Strahl was promoted to colonel and led his unit into the Battle of Perryville. The regiment was reorganized and consolidated with the 5th Tennessee Infantry Regiment in December right before the Battle of Stones River. Strahl led this 4th-5th Consolidated Tennessee Infantry till he was assigned to command the brigade of Alexander P. Stewart in June 1863, and was promoted to Brigadier General on July 28. He commanded a brigade in the campaigns of Chickamauga, Chattanooga and Atlanta. On November 30, 1864, at the Battle of Franklin, Strahl was leading his men on foot. Getting shot in the neck, he was struck and killed by another two bullets to the head. His body was taken to the back porch of the local Carnton plantation house, where he lay until he was buried near the battlefield.
"He was later reinterred in Old City Cemetery in Dyersburg, Tennessee." ~ Wikipedia