★  Owen, Joshua Thomas

Joshua Thomas Owen

Born: March 29, 1822
Owen.jpg


Birthplace: Carmarthen, Wales

Father: David Owen 1782 – 1852
(Buried: Laurel Hill Cemetery, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)​

Mother: Jane Thomas 1777 – 1858
(Buried: Laurel Hill Cemetery, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)​

Wife: Annie J. Sheridan 1836 – 1895
(Buried: Laurel Hill Cemetery, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)​

Children:

Robert J. Owen 1858 – 1884​
(Buried: Laurel Hill Cemetery, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)​

Occupation before War:

1830: Immigrated to the United States from Wales​
Professor at Chestnut Hill Academy in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania​
1857 – 1869: Pennsylvania State Representative​

Civil War Career:

1861: Served in 25th Pennsylvania Volunteers Infantry Regiment​
1861 – 1862: Colonel of 69th Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment​
1862: Served in the Second Battle of Bull Run, Virginia​
1862: Served in the Battle of Antietam, Maryland​
1862 – 1863: Brigadier General, Union Army Volunteers, Infantry​
1863: His Brigadier Generalship expired in March​
1863 – 1864: Brigadier General, Union Army Volunteers, Infantry​
1863: Served in the Battle of Chancellorsville, Virginia​
1863: Arrested and relieved of command of his brigade​
1864: Commander of the Philadelphia Union Infantry Brigade​
1864: Brigade Commander at the Battle of the Wilderness, Virginia​
1864: Brigade Commander at the Battle of Spotsylvania, Virginia​
1864: Brigade Commander at the Battle of Cold Harbor, Virginia​
1864: Mustered out of Service as Brigadier General in July​

Occupation after War:

1871 – 1887: Founder and Owner The New York Daily Register​

Died: November 7, 1887

Place of Death: Chestnut Hill, Pennsylvania

Cause of Death: Typhoid Fever

Age at time of Death: 66 years old

Burial Place: Laurel Hill Cemetery, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
 
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Owen ran afoul of his division commander, John Gibbon, in the spring of 1863. Owen had allowed discipline to become so lax in his brigade that Gibbon would eventually place him under arrest for his men's excessive straggling (an officer in Hall's Brigade said the entire brigade had become stragglers). Gibbon relieved Owen of command and replaced him with Alexander Webb, a professional soldier who had served with Gibbon in the pre-war artillery and was a strict discipline, just like Gibbon. Owen remained with the army in a supernumerary role (not unlike Isaac Trimble) and took command of George Willard's Brigade shortly after Gettysburg. By the time of the Overland Campaign, Owen was back in command of his old brigade with Gibbon as division commander. Gibbon repeatedly criticized Owen's conduct in writing which culminated in Owen's request to transfer or resign with Gibbon bringing him up on charges. This is an ugly example of personal antagonisms that could have reduced the effectiveness of an entire division.

Ryan
 
Other than Gettysburg Owen served in all the major battles of the Army of the Potomac from 7 Pines to Cold Harbor. He was under arrest at the time and his brigade was commanded by Alexander S.Webb. The brigade being the Philadelphia Brigade.
 
A brief biography of Owen found on the Nation Cymru website.
 
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