Hermann Lieb

Hermann Lieb (also known as Herman Lieb; May 23, 1826 – March 5, 1908) was a Swiss immigrant to the United States who served in the Union Army during the American Civil War. He is best remembered as the commander of the Union forces at the Battle of Milliken's Bend in 1863.

Biography Lieb was born in on May 23, 1826 in Ermatingen, Switzerland, to Sigmund Friedrich Lieb and Christine Vasmer, and was educated in Zürich, Vevey, and in France. In 1846 he moved to Paris, where he worked as a merchant, and there took part in the French Revolution of 1848. Upon reorganization of the regiment as a three-year unit in July 1861, Lieb was elected captain and the following year was promoted to major. During the Vicksburg campaign Lieb commanded the post of Milliken's Bend along the Mississippi River. Here, on June 7, 1863, Lieb defeated Confederate forces under General Henry E. McCulloch and was wounded during the fighting. On August 7 his unit was converted into an artillery unit which eventually became the 5th U.S. Colored Heavy Artillery. With his regiment he performed garrison duty in the Vicksburg area for the remainder of 1863. On May 6, 1864, he was given command of the artillery forces of the Post of Vicksburg.

On March 13, 1865 Lieb was promoted to brevet brigadier general of U.S. Volunteers and was mustered out of the volunteer service on March 20, 1866.

After the war Lieb returned to Illinois where he worked as a newspaper editor, postal worker and author. He was elected Clerk of Cook County in 1873. Lieb died in Chicago on March 5, 1908.