★  MOH Hartranft, John F.

John Frederick Hartranft

General Hartranft.jpg
Born:
December 16, 1830

Birthplace:
New Hanover Township, Pennsylvania

Father: Samuel Engle Hartranft 1806 – 1880
(Buried: Montgomery Cemetery, Norristown, Pennsylvania)​

Mother: Mary Lydia Bucher 1804 – 1890
(Buried: Montgomery Cemetery, Norristown, Pennsylvania)​

Wife: Sallie Douglas Sebring 1835 – 1914
(Buried: Montgomery Cemetery, Norristown, Pennsylvania)​

Children:

Samuel Sebring Hartranft 1855 – 1921​
(Buried: Montgomery Cemetery, Norristown, Pennsylvania)​
Ada Hartranft 1858 – 1862​
(Buried: Montgomery Cemetery, Norristown, Pennsylvania)​
Wilson Hartranft 1859 – 1862​
(Buried: Montgomery Cemetery, Norristown, Pennsylvania)​
Linn Hartranft 1862 – 1903​
(Buried: Montgomery Cemetery, Norristown, Pennsylvania)​
Marion Hartranft Stockham 1865 – 1935​
(Buried: Montgomery Cemetery, Norristown, Pennsylvania)​
Annie Hartranft 1867 – 1915​
(Buried: Montgomery Cemetery, Norristown, Pennsylvania)​

Education:

Attended Marshall College​
1853: Graduated from Union College Civil Engineering Degree​

Occupation before War:

Worked for two railroad companies in Eastern Pennsylvania​
Assisted his father with real estate and stage line businesses​
Montgomery County Pennsylvania Deputy Sheriff​
Served in the Pennsylvania State Militia rising to rank of Colonel​

Civil War Career:
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1861: Colonel of 4th Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment​
1861: Served in the First Battle of Bull Run, Virginia
1861: Helped rally several regiments at the First Battle of Bull Run​
1861 – 1864: Colonel of 51st Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment​
1862: Served in the Burnside Expedition in North Carolina​
1862: Led his regiment at the Battle of Roanoke Island, North Carolina​
1862: Led his regiment at the Battle of New Bern, North Carolina​
1862: Led his regiment at the Second Battle of Bull Run, Virginia​
1862: Led his regiment at the Battle of South Mountain, Maryland​
1862: Led the famous charge of Burnside’s Bridge Battle of Antietam​
1862: Led his regiment at the Battle of Fredericksburg, Virginia​
1863: Participated in the Siege of Vicksburg, Mississippi​
1863: Division Commander at Battle of Campbell’s Station, Tennessee​
1863: Division Commander at Battle of Knoxville, Tennessee​
1864: Served in the Battle of the Wilderness, Virginia​
1864: Served in the Battle of Spotsylvania, Virginia​
1864 – 1865: Brigadier General of Union Army Volunteers Infantry​
1864: Distinguished himself at Battle of Peebles Farm, Virginia​
1865: Helped defeat the Confederate Army Battle of Fort Stedman​
1865: Brevetted Major General by Lt. General Ulysses S. Grant
JohnFHartranft.jpg
1865: Commanding Officer of Old Capitol Prison in Washington, D.C.​
1865: Special Provost Marshal during trial of Lincoln Assassinators​
1865: Led the four convicted assassinators to the gallows​
1865: Read the order of the U.S. War Department for execution​

Occupation after War:

1867 – 1873: Pennsylvania State Auditor General​
1873 – 1879: Governor of Pennsylvania​
1875 – 1877: Commander – in – chief of Grand Army of the Republic​
1879 – 1881: United States Postmaster in Montgomery Co., PA.​
1881 – 1885: Port Collector for the City of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania​
1886: Recipient of the Medal of Honor for his duty at First Bull Run​

Died:
October 17, 1889

Place of Death:
Norristown, Pennsylvania

Age at time of Death: 58 years old

Burial Place:
Montgomery Cemetery, Norristown, Pennsylvania
 
Last edited by a moderator:
At Burnside's Bridge, Hartranft's 51st Pennsylvania and the 51st New York were the first Union regiments to cross the bridge after several attempts by other regiments. It was said that these regiments had their whiskey rations cut due to misbehavior and that they were promised their rations would be restored if they made it across the bridge.
 
Not real sure of the details at Bull Run but his regiment's (4th Pennsylvannia) three month enlistment had just expired. The regiment marched to the rear for mustering out but Hartranft stayed by joining the staff of Gen.William B. Franklin.
 
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Bump for Antietam.
Hartranft was the Colonel of the 51st Pennsylvania. He and Colonel Robert Potter's 51st New York were responsible for their charge across Burnside Bridge.
When the "Twin 51st" reached the East bank of Antietam Creek, they were pinned down by rebel fire. Colonel Potter, junior to Hartranft, suggested to the Pennsylvanian that the two regiments launch a coordinated assault across the bridge. Hartranft at first declined, allowing Potter to launch the assault on his own. However, as the New Yorkers rose to formation, the Pennsylvanians did likewise, and the two regiments charged across the bridge, both flags at the forefront side by side, and broke the rebel position, opening Lee's right flank.
 
Not real sure of the details at Bull Run but his regiment's (4th Pennsylvannia) three month enlistment had just expired. The regiment marched to the rear for mustering out but Hartranft stayed by joining the staff of Gen.William B. Franklin.
Hartranft stayed with Franklin and Captain Walter H. Cooke of Co. K went with David Hunter. They both served as staff members and distinquished themselves at 1st Manassas. Both would be recipients of the Medal of Honor for this distinguished service.
 
Not real sure of the details at Bull Run but his regiment's (4th Pennsylvannia) three month enlistment had just expired. The regiment marched to the rear for mustering out but Hartranft stayed by joining the staff of Gen.William B. Franklin.
Col. Hartranft's 4th Pennsylvannia was formed from a militia unit and enlisted in April 1861 for 3 months.It is the only regiment to refuse to fight at Bull Run due to the expiration of it's term.It was the "staying" that earned Hartranft the Medal of Honor.
 
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