Page:Appletons' Cyclopædia of American Biography (1900, volume 5).djvu/446

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SCHLAGINTWEIT
SCHMIDEL

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