| Joseph Karge | |
| Birth Date: | 4 July 1823 |
| Birth Place: | Poznań, Kingdom of Prussia |
| Death Place: | New York City, New York |
| Placeofburial: | Princeton Cemetery, Princeton, New Jersey |
| Allegiance: | United States of America |
| Branch: | United States Army Union Army |
| Serviceyears: | 1861–1865 1867–1871 |
| Rank: | Colonel |
| Unit: | 1st New Jersey Cavalry Regiment 8th U.S. Cavalry Regiment |
| Commands: | 2nd New Jersey Volunteer Cavalry |
| Battles: | American Civil War |
Joseph Kargé (July 4, 1823 in Poznan, Grand Duchy of Posen, Kingdom of Prussia - December 27, 1892 in New York City) was a military officer and educator. He was involved in the unsuccessful 1848 revolutions in Poland and was sentenced to death. He fled to France, then England, and arrived in New York City in 1851 as a political refugee. He taught classes in classical literature and foreign languages until the Civil War.
Karge was commissioned the military as lieutenant colonel in the 1st New Jersey Volunteer Cavalry. He was wounded at the Second Battle of Bull Run in 1862, did not heal fully, and was rendered inactive for most of the War. A later Congressional Record from 1894 noted he suffered a gunshot wound that effectively ended his career in the military.[1]
Kargé was promoted to colonel of the new 2nd New Jersey Volunteer Cavalry in November 1863 and took part in raids of Tennessee and Alabama. His victory over General Nathan Bedford Forrest at Bolivar, Tennessee, resulted in a rare cavalry victory over Forrest, who developed a reputation as a superb cavalry leader. In December 1864 Col. Kargé led the 1st. Brigade of Brig. Gen. Benjamin Grierson's 2nd Cavalry Division. The 1st. Brigade included the 2nd New Jersey Cavalry – Lt. Col. P. Jones Yorke, 7th Indiana Cavalry – Capt. J. H. Elliott, 4th Missouri Cavalry – Capt. Hencke, and the 1st Mississippi Mounted Rifles.[2]
Kargé was brevetted brigadier general by Lincoln on March 13, 1865, "for gallant and meritorious services during the war" at the recommendation of Benjamin Grierson.[3]
Kargé briefly rejoined the regular army in 1867 and served in Arizona with the 8th U.S. Cavalry. His service was cut short when he resigned in 1871. In the latter part of his life, he taught literature at Princeton University for the next twenty years of his life.[1]