Gottfried Neitzel was born in Germany in 1826. He came to America with his wife and daughter Maria in 1855.

Once in the United States, Gottfried settled at Peru, La Salle County, Illinois where he worked as a tailor.

On August 1, 1861 he enlisted as a Corporal in Company A, 44th Illinois Infantry and was mustered into service on September 13, 1861.

The 44th Illinois Infantry was organized in August 1861 at Camp Ellsworth, Chicago, under the supervision of Col. Charles Knobelsdorff, was mustered into the U. S. service on Sept. 13, and on the 14th embarked on board the cars for St. Louis, Missouri, where it arrived on the next day.

It received its baptism of fire in the terrible battle of Pea Ridge, Arkansas (March 7-8, 1862) which had such disastrous results for the Confederates, and in which the regiment took a prominent part. After the enemy had been routed it was one of the regiments selected to follow up his retreat, which was done for three days, capturing a stand of colors, several hundred prisoners and some artillery.

The regiment was engaged in the battle of Perryville, Kentucky in October 1862, being in the division commanded by Gen. Philip H. Sheridan. In the bloody battle of Stone’s River, Tennessee (December 31, 1862 & January 2, 1863) it took a prominent part, losing more than half its number in killed and wounded.

Gottfried Neitzel was perhaps wounded in the latter two engagements as he was discharged from the 44th Illinois on February 15, 1863 due to disability.

He again enlisted on October 11, 1864 as a Private, and was mustered as a substitute into Co. G, 32nd Illinois Infantry. During this enlistment he was detailed to Brigade Headquarters as Staff Bugler.

On November 13, 1864, the 32nd Illinois Infantry fired their stockade and quarters at Big Shanty, and began the “March to the Sea,” having been transferred to the Third Brigade (Belknap), Fourth Division (Giles A. Smith), Blair’s Seventeenth Army Corps. They reached Monticello the 20th, and the Oconee River the 26th, where a sharp skirmish took place, with considerable artillery firing. On November 30 they reached the Ogeechee River. The distance traveled from Big Shanty was 300 miles.

The Regiment crossed the Ogeechee River on December 1, 1864 and destroyed a railroad. On the 10th they encountered the enemy five miles from Savannah, and drove him two miles. Here they endured a severe fire from the heavy guns of the city’s defenses. They shifted to the right and skirmished in the face of severe artillery fire. On December 16, they moved to King’s Bridge on Ogeechee River, and on the 18th received supplies from the fleet, having been on scant rations, and some days without food, since the 8th. At 2 p.m. on the 19th, the 32nd moved toward a rebel fort in front, and fortified within 300 yards under heavy fire. Ordered to assault on the 21st, it was discovered that the enemy had evacuated. They entered Savannah at 11 a.m., having marched 160 miles during the month, and were reviewed by General Sherman on the 29th.

On January 5, 1865 the 32nd Illinois embarked at Thunderbolt Inlet on the U. S. gunboat Winona and disembarked at Beaufort, South Carolina on the January 7th.

The 32nd Illinois began a march into South Carolina on February 1, 1865. On the 3d, they forded the Salkehatchie, wading the stream and backwaters, two miles wide, in ice-cold water, varying from two to five feet in depth, and engaging in a sharp skirmish upon reaching solid ground. On the 12th they reached the North Edisto River, and forced a passage as at the Salkehatchie, under a severe artillery fire, making a way for the direct column to enter Orangeburg. They reached the Congaree River on the 16th and experienced slight loss by rebel sharpshooters in the outskirts of Columbia on the opposite bank. On the 17th, a company of the 13th Iowa and Company C, 32nd Illinois, crossed the river in scows. The flag of the former was displayed from the state house and that of the 32nd from the town hall. A pair of rebel colors were brought away by the latter command.

On April 13, 1865, they reached Raleigh and remained in the vicinity until Johnson’s surrender. On the 28th, they transferred to the Second Brigade under Brigadier General Stalbrand. On the 29th, they marched north via Petersburg, Richmond and Alexandria to Washington, and participated in the Grand Review on May 24, 1865.

They moved westward by rail to Parkersburg, Virginia on June 6th, thence by boat to Louisville, Kentucky.

On June 20, 1865, the Brigade, consisting of the 14th, 15th and 32nd Illinois Regiments, was transferred to the Department of the Missouri and moved by boat to St. Louis. Here orders were received dispatching the command to the far west via Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. After equipping, they marched from the latter place on the 22d and arrived August 13, 1865 at Ft. Kearney, Nebraska, where telegraphic orders for muster out were received. They returned to Fort Leavenworth on September 2, and were mustered out September 16, and paid off at Camp Butler.

Gottfried Neitzel was mustered out at Fort Leavenworth with the rest of his regiment.

After the war Gottfried returned to Peru, Illinois where he opened his own tailor shop.

Gottfried Neitzel died in July 1905 and was buried at Peru, Illinois. He was a member of E. N. Kirk Post No. 656, G. A. R. of Peru.