29 Nov., 1862. At Chancellorsville he commanded a brigade in Gen. Carl Schurz's corps, and served with credit at Gettysburg. In February, 1864, he was sent to St. John's inland, near Charleston, and thence crossed to James island. When Charleston was evacuated on the approach of Gen. William T. Sherman's army, Gen. Schimmelpfennig entered and took possession, 18 Feb., 1865. He remained in command of the city for some time, but was finally relieved on account of sickness, the result of exposure, which in a short time terminated in his death. He was the author of “The War between Russia and Turkey” (Philadelphia, 1854).
SCHLAGINTWEIT, Robert von (shlah-gint-vite).
German explorer, b. in Munich, Bavaria, 27
Oct., 1833; d. in Giessen, Hesse-Darmstadt, 6 June,
1885. He assisted his brothers, Hermann and
Adolf, in the geological exploration of India in
1854-’7, prepared the work entitled “Results of a
Scientific Mission to India and High-Asia” (4 vols.,
Leipsic, 1860-’6), and filled the chair of geography
in the University of Giessen. In 1867-’70 he
lectured in German and English throughout the
United States, beginning at the Lowell institute,
Boston, and while in the country explored the
Pacific coast. He published “Die Pacificeisenbahnen
in Nordamerika” (New York, 1870), and
“California” (1871).
SCHLATTER, Michael, clergyman, b. in St.
Gall, Switzerland, 14 July, 1716; d. on Chestnut
Hill, now a part of Philadelphia, Pa., in November,
1790. He was educated at the gymnasium of his
native town and at the University of Helmstedt,
Brunswick, taught for several years in Holland,
entered the German Reformed ministry, officiated
for a few months in Switzerland, and then went to
Amsterdam and volunteered his services as a
missionary to the destitute congregations of Pennsylvania.
He arrived in Philadelphia on 6 Aug.,
1746, and on 1 Jan., 1747, was installed as pastor
of the united churches of Germantown and
Philadelphia. For a great part of the time he was
absent on missionary tours among the German
Reformed settlers of Pennsylvania, Maryland,
New Jersey, and New York. He organized a
synod, which met in Philadelphia on 29 Sept.,
1747. Rev. John C. Steiner in 1750 drew away
more than one half of his hearers, which prompted
him in 1751 to visit Europe for the purpose of
making a complaint before the synods of South
and North Holland. In Amsterdam he published
(1751) a journal of his experiences and transactions
in America, with an account of the Reformed
congregations and their dearth of pastors. Of this
book he made a German translation (Frankfort,
1752), and afterward it was rendered into English
by Rev. David Thomson, of Amsterdam, and
distributed throughout Great Britain. He returned
to Pennsylvania in March, 1752, bringing with him
six young ministers and substantial aid in money.
As a result of his appeal, a fund of more than
£20,000 was collected in England and Holland for
the maintenance of free schools among the
Germans in America. Schlatter withdrew from the
active duties of the pastorate in 1755, and devoted
himself to the establishment of these schools,
which met with strong opposition among the
Germans, because the scheme included the teaching
of the English language. The project rendered
him unpopular, and in 1757 he abandoned it
and accepted a chaplaincy in the Royal American
regiment that was tendered him by Lord Loudoun.
He accompanied the Pennsylvania troops in the
expedition against Louisburg, and remained with
the army till 1759. After his return from Nova
Scotia he preached at Chestnut Hill, where he
resided, and in neighboring places, but held no
further relations with the authorities of the church.
When the Revolutionary war began he still held
the appointment of chaplain in the royal army,
and officiated as such for a short time. But his
sympathies were with the patriots, and when
English troops invaded Germantown in September,
1777, he refused to obey orders, and was imprisoned,
while his house was plundered. See his “Life,” by
Rev. Henry Harbaugh (Philadelphia, 1857).
SCHLEY, William, governor of Georgia, b. in
Frederick, Md., 15 Dec., 1786; d. in Augusta, Ga.,
20 Nov., 1858. He was educated at the academies
of Louisville and Augusta, Ga., studied law, was
admitted to the bar in 1812, and practised in
Augusta. In 1825-'8 he was a judge of the superior
court. In 1830 he entered the legislature, and in
1832 he was elected as a Democrat to congress.
When his term ended he was chosen governor of
the state for the two years ending with October,
1837. He was an ardent Democrat and strict
constructionist. The building of the first railroad in
Georgia was undertaken on his recommendation.
He also advocated the establishment of a lunatic
asylum and a geological survey of the state. Gov.
Schley published a “Digest of the English Statutes
in Force in Georgia” (Philadelphia, 1826).
SCHLEY, Winfield Scott, naval officer, b. in
Frederick county, Md., 9 Oct., 1839. He was
graduated at the U. S. naval academy in 1860,
served on board the frigate “Niagara” in 1860-'1,
was attached to the frigate “Potomac” of the Western
Gulf squadron in 1861-'2, and subsequently
took part, on board the gun-boat “Winona” and
the sloops “Monongahela” and “Richmond,” in all
the engagements that led to the capture of Port
Hudson, being promoted lieutenant on 16 July,
1862. He served on the “Wateree” in the Pacific
in 1864-'6, quelling an insurrection of Chinese coolies
on the Middle Chincha islands in 1865, and later
in the same year landing at La Union, San Salvador,
to protect American interests during a revolution.
He was instructor at the naval academy in 1866-'9,
served on the Asiatic station in 1869-'72, taking
part in the capture of the Corean forts on Salee
river, after two days of fighting, in June, 1871,
and was again at the naval academy in 1874-'6,
being promoted commander in June, 1874. In
1876-'9 he was on the Brazil station, and during
the cruise sailed in the “Essex” to the vicinity
of the South Shetland islands in search of a missing
sealer, and rescued a shipwrecked crew on the
islands of Tristan d'Acunha. In 1884 he
commanded the relief expedition that rescued Lieut.
Adolphus W. Greely and six of his companions
at Cape Sabine in Grinnell Land, passing through
1,400 miles of ice during the voyage. He was
commissioned chief of the bureau of equipment
and recruiting at the navy department in 1885, and
promoted captain in 1888, commodore in 1898, and
assisted in destroying Admiral Cervera's Spanish
squadron off Santiago in July, 1898.
SCHMIDEL, Ulrich (shmee'-del), German historian, b. in Straubingen, Bavaria, about 1511; d. there about 1570. He was the son of a wealthy
merchant, and received a good education, but entered the military service, and enlisted in the expedition of Pedro de Mendoza as an arquebusier.
He also accompanied Juan de Ayolas on his first trip in quest of provisions, and afterward went with Ayolas in his expedition up Paraguay river,
and was one of the soldiers that were left with Domingo Irala (q. v.) in charge of the vessels in the port of Candelaria. When Cabeza de Vaca was
