Adolph Willhartitz was enrolled as a second lieutenant in Company E, 6th Regiment Enrolled Missouri Militia on August 15, 1862, at St. Louis, Missouri; he was promoted to first lieutenant on October 17, 1862. On June 16, 1863, he was ordered into active service, promoted to captain and assigned to the Paymaster Department. Promoted to major and assistant adjutant general on December 7, 1864, he joined the staff of General E. C. Pike in the 1st Military District, Enrolled Missouri Militia; he vacated that position on March 12, 1865.

The Enrolled Missouri Militia was a part-time force tasked with protecting Union civilians and military stores and battling local Confederate guerrillas, allowing Missouri State Militia regiments to conduct larger-scale offensive operations against Confederate forces in the state.

Carte-de-Visite by Holelke & Benecke, St. Louis, Mo.

Image Courtesy Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield; WICR 11579