Valor Friday

If there’s a more Civil War-era name than Galusha Pennypacker, it’s his given name of Uriah Galusha Pennypacker. He was born somewhere in the vicinity of 1840-1844, the dates are uncertain. His gravestone lists 1 June 1842 as a birth year. His family had deep roots in his native Pennsylvania. His great-great-grandfather had immigrated from Germany in the 17th Century. The family name was originally Pannebakker (Dutch for “maker of tiles”), which was Americanized to “Pennybacker” and morphed into Pennypacker over the generations.

Pennypacker lost his mother Tamson Amelia to smallpox when he was a small child (and she only 21 or 22 years old). His father remarried when Galusha. Galusha had two younger half-sisters, both born during the Civil War, when he was an adult. His father was a veteran of the Mexican-American War. His grandfather was also said to be a Revolutionary War veteran, though I can’t confirm that.

Pennypacker’s maternal great-grandfather Christian Workizer had also immigrated from Germany, and was a colonel in the Revolutionary War (as a militia officer). Pennypacker was a fifth cousin of George Armstrong Custer, both of them having descended from Paulus Kuster (1643–1707).

Pennypacker had been scheduled to attend West Point, but the start of the Civil War derailed those plans. He instead enlisted into the Army as a quartermaster in the 9th Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment in 1861. Though he was only somewhere in the age of 16-18, he helped to raise a company of men for the 97th Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment. He refused a lieutenant’s commission, was instead made an NCO in the new company, but by August 1861 he was in command of Company A with the rank of captain. A month later he was made a major.

His regiment saw action at Fort Pulaski, Georgia and Charleston. In 1864 they were transferred to Virginia. Serving under General Benjamin Butler, they participated in the Bermuda Hundred Campaign. At the Battle of Ware Bottom Church, Pennypacker was wounded in action.

After the Battle of Cold Harbor Pennypacker was made a colonel and assumed command of the 97th Pennsylvania Infantry. He was respected and well-liked by his men, despite being too young to even vote for the President. He commanded the 2nd Brigade, 2nd Division, X Corps of the Army of the James, and led his brigade into action at the Battle of New Market Heights, where he was again wounded in action.

At the Second Battle of Fort Fisher, on January 15, 1865, Pennypacker was called “the real hero of Fort Fisher” in the aftermath of the battle. He was wounded during the battle while crossing enemy lines. Then Pennypacker led the charge over a traverse (despite his already being injured) and planted his regimental colors thereupon. In doing so, as he was a very visible target for the enemy, he was wounded again, this time severely

His wounds were considered fatal, and General Alfred Terry (commander of the Fort Fisher Expedition) promised him a brevet promotion for his bravery. At the time, a brevet promotion was the second highest award for bravery (and the most common for officers) behind only the Medal of Honor. His brevet brigadier commission came with the date of 15 January, and in April he received a full promotion to brigadier general of volunteers. This promotion was backdated to February, making him just 20 years old when he made general, making him one of the youngest (if not the youngest) general officer in American history.

Though expected to perish from his battle wounds, Pennypacker left the hospital after 10 months. He was made a brevet major general in March 1865. In 1891 Pennypacker would receive the Medal of Honor for his actions at Fort Fisher.

Post-war, Pennypacker remained in the Army. A testament to his reputation and track record, he was commissioned a colonel and given command of the 34th U.S. Infantry. He received a brevet promotion in the regular Army to major general in 1867. In 1869 his regiment merged with the 11th U.S. Infantry to form the 16th U.S. Infantry, which Pennypacker subsequently commanded. He held that position until he retired from the service in 1883. He was only about 40.

In 1904, Pennypacker received his final promotion, to the substantive rank of regular Army brigadier general on the retired list. After the Army, Pennypacker returned to his Pennsylvania. He died there, in 1916, at the age of 74 (give or take a year or few) from complications related to his war injuries. He had no children and doesn’t appear to have ever married.

Category: Army, Historical, Medal of Honor, Valor, We Remember