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Civil War Soldiers - Pennypacker

Pennypacker, Galusha, brigadier-general, U.S. Army, was born in Valley Forge, Pa., June 1, 1844. He entered the volunteer army for service in the Civil war, April 22, 1861, as quartermaster-sergeant in the 9th Penn. infantry, and at the close of his three months' service enlisted for the war as captain in the 97th Penn. infantry on Aug. 22. He was promoted major in October and served in the Department of the South, being engaged in the operations in Florida and against Charleston, S. C. He commanded a successful expedition against Woodstock mills, Fla., in Feb., 1864, was promoted lieutenant-colonel on April 3, and in that month was placed in command of the post at Fernandina. He was then transferred to the Army of the James under Gen. Butler and fought at Swift creek, Drewry's bluff, Chester Station and Green Plains, and in the later engagements was three times wounded. He was promoted colonel on Aug. 15, and after recovering from his wounds sufficiently to be able to return to the field commanded a brigade at Deep bottom, Strawberry plains and Malvern hill, in the trenches before Petersburg and in the capture of New Market heights. In the unsuccessful attempt to capture Fort Gilmer he was wounded and had a horse shot under him ; he commanded a brigade before Petersburg in December, and took part in Gen. Butler's unsuccessful attempt to capture Fort Fisher on Dec. 25, and in the capture of that fort in Jan., 1865. Gen. Terry claimed that but for his bravery at the assault on Jan. 15 the place would not have been taken, and called him "the real hero of Fort Fisher." He was desperately wounded in the assault and lay in the hospital at Fort Monroe for ten months. For his gallantry there he was brevetted brigadier-general of volunteers, Jan. 15, 1865. He was promoted to the full rank of brigadier-general of volunteers, Feb. 15, 1865, and was brevetted major-general U. S. A. March 13, 1865, for his services during the war. For his gallantry at Fort Fisher Congress awarded him a medal of honor. Gen. Pennypacker was commissioned colonel in the 34th U. S. infantry in July, 1866, and soon afterward was transferred to the 16th infantry. On March 2, 1867, he was brevetted brigadier-general and major-general in the regular army. He was retired on account of disability from wounds received in action, July 3, 1883. He was the youngest officer to hold the rank of general in the volunteer army, and the youngest man in the regular army to hold the rank of colonel and brevet major-general.

Source: The Union Army: A History of Military Affairs in the Loyal States 1861-1865, Volume 8 Biographical, 1908
 


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