CIVIL WAR MEDAL OF HONOR MG Galusha Pennypacker ORIGINAL PHOTOGRAPH & BONUS

  

AN ORIGINAL 1880s CABINET PHOTOGRAPH OF MAJOR GENERAL GALUSHA PENNYPACKER AWARDED MEDAL OF HONOR FOR HEROISM AT FORT FISHER, NC AND BONUS. The Cabinet Card measures 4 1/4" x 5 1/2". June 1, 1844 Valley Forge. October 1, 1916 (aged 72) Philadelphia. 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. Army; at the age of 20. He remains the only general too young to vote for the.

Pennypacker was born June 1, 1844 in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania. To a family who had a long history of service in the military. Workheiser, after his mother died when he was still a baby and his father, who had taken part in the Mexican-American War. Later became an adventurer in California. His grandfather also served in the military, fighting in the American Revolutionary War. Galusha and George Armstrong Custer. He was also cousin to General Benjamin Prentiss.

At the age of 16, Pennypacker enlisted as a quartermaster sergeant. In the 9th Pennsylvania Infantry from West Chester, Pennsylvania.

In August 1861, he helped recruit a company of men for the 97th Pennsylvania Infantry. And was appointed as their Captain. He was promoted to major. Pennypacker and his regiment saw action in Georgia. And in the battles around Charleston. In 1864, his regiment was transferred to Virginia. Where he was engaged in the Bermuda Hundred Campaign. In which he was wounded at the Battle of Ware Bottom Church. After the Battle of Cold Harbor.

And during the siege of Petersburg. 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. The Galusha Pennypacker Statue located off the north east side of Logan Square, Philadelphia, PA.

Created by Charles Grafly, Albert Laessle, in 1934. 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 wound was considered fatal and General Terry promised the young officer that he would receive a brevet.

Promotion for his conduct that day. 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 Medal of Honor.

With a citation reading, Gallantly led the charge over a traverse and planted the colors of one of his regiments thereon, was severely wounded. He received a brevet promotion to brigadier general. He survived his wounds after 10 months in the hospital and on April 28, 1865, he received a full promotion to brigadier general of volunteers. At age 20 (backdated to February 18), making him the youngest officer to hold the rank of general to this day in the United States Army. (though Marquis de LaFayette was just 19 when he received his Major General's commission in the Continental Army on 31 July 1777).

He was appointed a brevet major general. Of volunteers on March 13, 1865. Pennypacker stayed in the Army after the Civil War, being commissioned as Colonel of the 34th U. He received a brevet promotion to major general in the regular army. His regiment merged with the 11th U.

In 1869 to become the 16th U. Which he commanded until his retirement in July 1883 at the age of 39.

In 1889 Pennypacker became an honorary member of the Pennsylvania Society of the Cincinnati. He also was a first class companion of the Pennsylvania Commandery of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States. Nearly fifty-two years after the Civil War, Pennypacker died from complications of his Civil War injuries. On October 1, 1916, and is buried in Philadelphia National Cemetery. He died less than a month after the death of his noted cousin, former Pennsylvania Governor Samuel W.

His grave can be found in the officers section, grave 175.