Prussia, while trying to unite the various German states under its command, did not participate in the American Civil War. However, there were volunteers from the Prussian army who were on both sides of the front.
When compared to Great Britain and France, Prussia was less involved in the war. Regarding the actions of Sherman in Georgia, Prussian general Helmut von Moltke said that the “armed crowd” has nothing useful to learn. There is some evidence that this story is somewhat apocryphal, since Sherman, who appeared before the Anglo-American Peace Commission, said:
Moltke was never stupid enough to say that. I personally saw Moltke; I did not dare to ask him a question, because I did not think that he was such a donkey to say that. The Prussian army learned many lessons and benefited from them during our war, and their officers quickly recognized this.
In 1862, the British Foreign Secretary, Lord John Russell, tried to bring Prussia along with France and Russia to mediate an armistice to end the war, but the countries refused.
Interestingly, the new saddle used by the Allied cavalry was invented by Major General George McClellan using Prussian designs brought by German volunteers.
Official military observers sent to North America collected information and studied the tactics of both sides, which were later used in the Franco-Prussian war, in which Germany won.
Sources:
Burin S. N. On the battlefields of the civil war in the United States
Kuropyatnik G.P. Second American Revolution
Ivanov R. F. Abraham Lincoln and the American Civil War
Foote S. The Civil War: A Narrative
Boatner MM The Civil War Dictionary
Nevins A. The War for the Union
Long EB Civil War Day by Day: An Almanac 1861–1865
Davies WC The Imperial Union: 1861-1865 .
McPherson GM Battle Cry of Freedom. The Civil War Era
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