Civil War Union Brevet Brigadier General. One of the oldest active field officers in the Union Army, and one of the few who had served in the War of 1812. A long-time Philadelphia, Pennsylvania militia officer, when the Civil War began he helped recruit what became the 29th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, and he was commissioned as it’s Colonel and commander on July 1, 1861. He led his regiment during the 1st Bull Run Campaign, and at the 1st Battle of Winchester, Virginia in May 1862. In the last engagement he had his horse shot from under him, and he was captured by Confederate forces. Imprisoned first at Libbey Prison in Richmond, Virginia, then at Salisbury Prison in North Carolina, he was eventually exchanged, and placed in command of the Union garrison at Boonesborough, Kentucky, before returning to the Army of the Potomac as command of the Third Brigade, First Division of the XII Corps, which he led at the December 1862 Battle of Fredericksburg. His term of active field service ended due to his age, he was discharged on Surgeon's certificate from the 29th Pennsylvania on April 23, 1863. He was then commissioned first as Captain and commander first of the 121st Company, 2nd Veterans Reserve Battalion, then the 131st Company, 2nd Reserve Battalion, and led the two units in the defenses of Philadelphia until the end of the war. He was brevetted Brigadier General, US Volunteers on March 13, 1865 for "gallant and meritorious services during the war".
Civil War Union Brevet Brigadier General. One of the oldest active field officers in the Union Army, and one of the few who had served in the War of 1812. A long-time Philadelphia, Pennsylvania militia officer, when the Civil War began he helped recruit what became the 29th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, and he was commissioned as it’s Colonel and commander on July 1, 1861. He led his regiment during the 1st Bull Run Campaign, and at the 1st Battle of Winchester, Virginia in May 1862. In the last engagement he had his horse shot from under him, and he was captured by Confederate forces. Imprisoned first at Libbey Prison in Richmond, Virginia, then at Salisbury Prison in North Carolina, he was eventually exchanged, and placed in command of the Union garrison at Boonesborough, Kentucky, before returning to the Army of the Potomac as command of the Third Brigade, First Division of the XII Corps, which he led at the December 1862 Battle of Fredericksburg. His term of active field service ended due to his age, he was discharged on Surgeon's certificate from the 29th Pennsylvania on April 23, 1863. He was then commissioned first as Captain and commander first of the 121st Company, 2nd Veterans Reserve Battalion, then the 131st Company, 2nd Reserve Battalion, and led the two units in the defenses of Philadelphia until the end of the war. He was brevetted Brigadier General, US Volunteers on March 13, 1865 for "gallant and meritorious services during the war".
Bio by: RPD2
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