Galusha Pennypacker

Infobox Military Person
name=Galusha Pennypacker
born= birth date|1844|6|1
died= death date and age|1916|10|1|1844|6|1
placeofbirth=Valley Forge, Pennsylvania
placeofdeath=Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
placeofburial= Philadelphia National Cemetery


caption=Lithograph of Galusha Pennypacker
nickname=
allegiance= United States of America Union
branch= Union Army United States Army Union Army
serviceyears=
rank=Major General
commands=
unit= Pennsylvania Infantry
battles= American Civil War
awards= Medal of Honor
laterwork=

Galusha Pennypacker (June 1, 1844 – October 1, 1916) was a Union general during the American Civil War. He is to this day the youngest person to hold the rank of brigadier general in the U.S. Army, at the age of 20, the only general who was ineligible by age to vote for the president who appointed him.

Biography

Pennypacker was born in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania. His father had fought in the Mexican-American War, his grandfather in the American Revolutionary War. At the age of 16 he enlisted as a quartermaster sergeant in the 9th Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment. In October 1861 he was appointed a major in the 97th Pennsylvania, for which he had helped recruit a company of men. He and his regiment saw action in South Carolina at Fort Pulaski and in the battles around Charleston. In 1864 his regiment was transferred to Virginia where he was engaged in the Bermuda Hundred Campaign under Maj. Gen. Benjamin Butler, in which he was wounded at the Battle of Ware Bottom Church. After the Battle of Cold Harbor and during the siege of Petersburg, he was appointed colonel of his regiment, August 15, 1864. He assumed command of the 2nd Brigade, 2nd Division, X Corps of the Army of the James. He led his brigade into action at the Battle of New Market Heights and was wounded near Fort Gilmer. His brigade was attached to the Fort Fisher Expedition under Alfred Terry.

Pennypacker's greatest moment of the war came at the Second Battle of Fort Fisher, January 15, 1865, where he was again severely wounded. His wounding was considered fatal and General Terry promised the young officer that he would receive a brevet promotion for his conduct that day. General Terry called Pennypacker "the real hero of Fort Fisher" and remarked that without his bravery the fort would not have been taken. He was much later awarded the of volunteers on March 13, 1865.

Galusha Pennypacker and George Armstrong Custer, two of the youngest generals in the Civil War, were 5th cousins, both being descendents of Paulus Kuster (1643-1707). He was also cousin to General Benjamin Prentiss through the Pennypacker family.

Pennypacker stayed in the Army after the Civil War, serving on the frontier as Colonel of the 34th U.S. Infantry, transferring in 1869 to the 16th U.S. Infantry, which he commanded until his retirement in July 1883. He received a brevet promotion to major general in the regular army on March 2, 1867. He died in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and is buried in Philadelphia National Cemetery.

Medal of Honor citation

Rank and Organization::Colonel, 97th Pennsylvania Infantry. Place and date: At Fort Fisher, N.C., January 15, 1865. Entered service at: West Chester, Pa. Born: June 1, 1844, Valley Forge, Pa. Date of issue: August 17, 1891.

Citation::Gallantly led the charge over a traverse and planted the colors of one of his regiments thereon, was severely wounded.cite web
publisher = American Civil War website
title = PENNYPACKER, GALUSHA, Civil War Medal of Honor recipient
date = 2007-11-08
url = http://americancivilwar.com/medal_of_honor7.html
accessdate = 2007-11-08]

ee also

*List of Medal of Honor recipients
*

Notes

References

*Eicher, John H., and Eicher, David J., "Civil War High Commands", Stanford University Press, 2001, ISBN 0-8047-3641-3.
*Warner, Ezra J., "Generals in Blue: Lives of the Union Commanders", Louisiana State University Press, 1964, ISBN 0-8071-0822-7.
* [http://www.army.mil/cmh/html/moh/civwarmz.html Army Medal of Honor website M-Z] Center of Military History
*findagrave|3647 Retrieved on 2007-11-08

External links

* [http://www.generalsandbrevets.com/ngp/penny.htm Photographs of Pennypacker]

Persondata
NAME= Pennypacker, Galusha
ALTERNATIVE NAMES=
SHORT DESCRIPTION= United States Army Medal of Honor recipient
DATE OF BIRTH=June 1, 1844
PLACE OF BIRTH=Valley Forge, Pennsylvania
DATE OF DEATH=October 1, 1916
PLACE OF DEATH=Philadelphia, Pennsylvania