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Julius Kirmse was a twenty-six year old bachelor, in 1861 when the American Civil War broke out.

Missouri was a deeply divided state during the Civil War. Counting minor actions and skirmishes, Missouri saw more than 1,200 distinct engagements within its boundaries The conflict split the population into bitterly opposed factions: anti-slavery Unionists and pro-slavery Confederate secessionists – especially in the southern part of the state.

Like most of the German immigrant element in Missouri, Kirmse supported the Union cause.  In the summer of 1862, Kirmse enlisted as a private in Company C, 64th Regiment of Enrolled Missouri Militia, which was recruited mostly from Perry County. Colonel Robert M. Brewer was the regiment commanding officer and Captain John C. Ocks was in charge of Company C along with First Lieutenant Christian Popp and Second Lieutenant Thomas Hooss (who was promoted to the Regiment Adjutant) and Second Lieutenant Adam Hahn (Appendix to the Annual Report of the Adjutant-General of Missouri, 1863, p. 619).

Enrolled militia regiments served mostly as local protection of roads, railways, bridges, and military installations. According to the Weekly Perryville Union paper, the 64th Regiment of Enrolled Missouri Militia also saw service in St. Genevieve, Fredericktown, Irondale, Pilot Knob, and Cape Girardeau. Kirmse served eight months in Company C.

In April of 1863, at Iron Mountain (Ironton), Julius Kirmse was detached to Captain Eddlemon‘s Company B of the 8th Regiment Provisional Enrolled Missouri Militia.  The Provisional Enrolled Missouri Militia was a “picked force of men,” to be detailed from the Enrolled Missouri Militia, “for a more permanent service” (Appendix to the Annual Report of the Adjutant-General of Missouri, 1863, p. 149). This regiment was commanded by Colonel McLane.

On or about the first of October 1863, at Cape Girardeau, Private Kirmse became sick with a badly swollen liver and was granted leave to go home “for medical treatment and a different diet.” While Kirmse was absent, the 8th Provisional Regiment was ordered to Ironton and disbanded.

When he recovered from his illness, Kirmse was transferred to Captain Henry Little’s Company E of Kirmse’s old 64th Regiment. According to the regiment roster of officers (Appendix to the Annual Report of the Adjutant-General of Missouri, 1863, p. 619), First Lieutenant Jos. A Abernathy and Second Lieutenant Joseph Wormack were officers of Company E at that time.  He served thereafter in Company E until March 12, 1865, when the entire Enrolled Missouri’ Militia was vacated.

As Kirmse would testify later, all his military service “was rendered free gratis, for I never received one cent for pay.  When the 8th Prov. E.M.M. was paid, I was absent on detached service and on Novbr. 6, 1863 (date of disbanding of Regt.), I was absent, sick as aforesaid.”

After the war, Kirmse returned to his farm in Perry County.