Arrest of Atzerodt

[L Verge]

I think the exact same thing can be said of folks in the U.S. during the 19th century. Generally, only the upper classes would be exposed to a foreign language in their schooling. Also, public schools were practically non-existent in the rural areas of the South (and Maryland is the South). I believe that George Atzerodt would have been schooled at home and in the German language.

There are still large pockets of Amish communities in both Charles and St. Mary's Counties here in Maryland - our two most southern counties. I have been around them most of my life because they have wonderful farmers' markets. There is still a trace of the German accent in their speech.