★ Pennypacker, Galusha

Galusha Pennypacker​

Born: June 1, 1844

Birthplace: Valley Forge, Pennsylvania

Father: Joseph Judson Pennypacker 1814 – 1894

(Buried: Saint Mary's Cemetery, Oakland, California)​

Mother: Tamson Amelia Workheiser 1824 – 1846

(Buried: Unknown Burial Place)​

Wife: None

Civil War Career:

1861: Served at age 16 Quartermaster Sgt. 9th​ Pennsylvania Infantry​

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1861: Recruiter for 97th​ Pennsylvania Volunteers Infantry Regiment​

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1861: Captain in 97th​ Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment​

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1861 – 1864: Major of 97th​ Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment

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1862: Served in the Siege of Fort Pulaski, Georgia​

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1862 – 1864: Served in the fighting around Charleston, South Carolina​

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1864: Wounded at the Battle of Ware Bottom Church​

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1864: Served in the Battle of Cold Harbor, Virginia​

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1864: Served in the Siege of Petersburg, Virginia​

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1864 – 1865: Colonel of 97th​ Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment​

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1864: Brigade Commander during Battle of New Market Heights​

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1864: Wounded during Battle of Fort Gilmer, Virginia​

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1864: Served in the Fort Fisher Expedition in North Carolina

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1865: Wounded during Second Battle of Fort Fisher​

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1865: Brevetted Brig. General for Gallantry at 2nd​ Battle of Fort Fisher​

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1865: Survived his wounds after 10 months in a hospital​

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1865: Brigadier General of Union Army Volunteers​

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1865: Brevetted Major General for his role in the Civil War​

Occupation after War:

1866 – 1869: Colonel of United States Army, 34th​ Infantry Regiment​

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1867: Brevetted Major General in United States Army​

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1869 – 1883: Colonel of United States Army, 16th​ Infantry Regiment​

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1883: Retired from United States Army at age 39 years old​

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1889 – 1916: Honorary Member of Pennsylvania Society of Cincinnati​

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First Class Companion of Pennsylvania, Commandry of Loyal Legion​

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1891: Recipient of the Medal of Honor for Second Battle of Fort Fisher​

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1904 – 1916: Retired Brigadier General of United States Army​

Died: October 1, 1916

Place of Death: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Cause of Death: War Wounds

Age at time of Death: 72 years old

Burial Place: Philadelphia National Cemetery, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

 

[Pollaco]

The youngest man ever to become a General officer in the United States Army.

 

[Pollaco]

The flag of his 97th Pennsylvania was the first to be planted on Fort Fisher's walls.

 

[Luke Freet]

Galusha Pennypacker:​

Born: June 1, 1844
Birthplace: Valley Forge PennsylvaniaView attachment 360816
Father: Joseph Judson Pennypacker 1814 – 1894
(Buried: Saint Mary's Cemetery Oakland California)
Mother: Tamson Amelia Workheiser 1824 – 1846
(Buried: Unknown Burial Place)
Wife: None

Civil War Career:
1861: Served at age 16 Quartermaster Sgt. 9th​ Pennsylvania Infantry
1861: Recruiter for 97th​ Pennsylvania Volunteers Infantry Regiment
1861: Captain in 97th​ Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment
1861 – 1864: Major of 97th​ Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment
1862: Served in the Siege of Fort Pulaski Georgia
1862 – 1864: Served in the fighting around Charleston South Carolina
1864: Wounded at the Battle of Ware Bottom Church
1864: Served in the Battle of Cold Harbor Virginia
1864: Served in the Siege of Petersburg Virginia
1864 – 1865: Colonel of 97th​ Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment
1864: Brigade Commander during Battle of New Market Heights
1864: Wounded during Battle of Fort Gilmer Virginia
1864: Served in the Fort Fisher Expedition in North Carolina
1865: Wounded during Second Battle of Fort Fisher
1865: Brevetted Brig. General for Gallantry at 2nd​ Battle of Fort Fisher
1865: Survived his wounds after 10 months in a hospital
1865: Brigadier General of Union Army VolunteersView attachment 360817
1865: Brevetted Major General for his role in the Civil War


Occupation after War:
1866 – 1869: Colonel of United States Army 34th​ Infantry Regiment
1867: Brevetted Major General in United States Army
1869 – 1883: Colonel of United States Army 16th​ Infantry Regiment
1883: Retired from United States Army at age 39 years old
1889 – 1916: Honorary Member of Pennsylvania Society of Cincinnati
First Class Companion of Pennsylvania Commandry of Loyal Legion
1891: Recipient of the Medal of Honor for Second Battle of Fort Fisher
1904 – 1916: Retired Brigadier General of United States Army



Died: October 1, 1916
Place of Death: Philadelphia Pennsylvania
Cause of Death: War Wounds
Age at time of Death: 72 years old
Burial Place: Philadelphia National Cemetery Philadelphia PA.

In addition to being the youngest general in American history, Pennypacker holds the distinction of being the only General in US history who was too young to vote for the president who nominated him to the rank (the voting age was 21 and would not be moved until the 1970's)

 

[gentlemanrob]

Happy Birthday Brig. General Galusha Pennypacker!

 

[Seduzal]

Galusha Pennypacker​

View attachment 360816

Born: June 1, 1844

Birthplace: Valley Forge, Pennsylvania

Father: Joseph Judson Pennypacker 1814 – 1894

(Buried: Saint Mary's Cemetery, Oakland, California)​

Mother: Tamson Amelia Workheiser 1824 – 1846

(Buried: Unknown Burial Place)​

Wife: None

Civil War Career:

1861: Served at age 16 Quartermaster Sgt. 9th​ Pennsylvania Infantry​

​

1861: Recruiter for 97th​ Pennsylvania Volunteers Infantry Regiment​

​

1861: Captain in 97th​ Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment​

​

1861 – 1864: Major of 97th​ Pennsylvania Infantry RegimentView attachment 360817​

​

1862: Served in the Siege of Fort Pulaski, Georgia​

​

1862 – 1864: Served in the fighting around Charleston, South Carolina​

​

1864: Wounded at the Battle of Ware Bottom Church​

​

1864: Served in the Battle of Cold Harbor, Virginia​

​

1864: Served in the Siege of Petersburg, Virginia​

​

1864 – 1865: Colonel of 97th​ Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment​

​

1864: Brigade Commander during Battle of New Market Heights​

​

1864: Wounded during Battle of Fort Gilmer, Virginia​

​

1864: Served in the Fort Fisher Expedition in North CarolinaView attachment 363765​

​

1865: Wounded during Second Battle of Fort Fisher​

​

1865: Brevetted Brig. General for Gallantry at 2nd​ Battle of Fort Fisher​

​

1865: Survived his wounds after 10 months in a hospital​

​

1865: Brigadier General of Union Army Volunteers​

​

1865: Brevetted Major General for his role in the Civil War​

Occupation after War:

1866 – 1869: Colonel of United States Army, 34th​ Infantry Regiment​

​

1867: Brevetted Major General in United States Army​

​

1869 – 1883: Colonel of United States Army, 16th​ Infantry Regiment​

​

1883: Retired from United States Army at age 39 years old​

​

1889 – 1916: Honorary Member of Pennsylvania Society of Cincinnati​

​

First Class Companion of Pennsylvania, Commandry of Loyal Legion​

​

1891: Recipient of the Medal of Honor for Second Battle of Fort Fisher​

​

1904 – 1916: Retired Brigadier General of United States Army​

Died: October 1, 1916

Place of Death: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Cause of Death: War Wounds

Age at time of Death: 72 years old

Burial Place: Philadelphia National Cemetery, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Wow. Thanks for sharing this awesome biographical profile. He has an amazing military career. But just one question: What was his education? That s not listed here.

 

[Pollaco]

Appropriately born in George Washington's old Valley Forge headquarters.

 

[Pollaco]

I knew who he was but was never a big "follower" and was not aware that he was also a recipient of the Medal of Honor ( and Wounded) for his action at Fort Fisher.

 

[Cavalier]

Well, with a name like that he will be hard to forget.

John

 

[Pollaco]

I did at one time wonder how the troops felt about being ordered about and commanded by a young man. But from what I have discovered he never actually commanded a unit after being promoted to brigadier general.. His wounds prevented his returning to field duty. He very well may have commanded troops after the War and just before his April 30, 1866 resignation but I have so far been unable to discover if he did or didn't. Any one know about this?

 

[American87]

One of my hometown heroes.

This reminds me, I have a copy of Generals in Blue I might want to break out and read....

 

[gentlemanrob]

Happy (Wednesday) Birthday Brig. General Galusha Pennypacker! Salutes remembering General Pennypacker on his birthday week.

 

[Pollaco]

The accompanying newspaper article states he retired in 1883 as a brevet major general while another biography states that he remained in the Army until 1899 and retired as a full brigadier.

 

[Cavalier]

That's quite a name to be stuck with. Don't think I ever heard of a Galusha before.

John