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Honoring American TroopsMedal of Honor Archive

Colonel · U.S. Army

Galusha Pennypacker

Colonel Galusha Pennypacker, Army, received the Medal of Honor for actions on January 15, 1865 at Fort Fisher, North Carolina during the Civil War.

U.S. Civil War January 15, 1865

Serving as a soldier in the U.S. Army, Colonel Galusha Pennypacker received the Medal of Honor for his actions on January 15, 1865 at Fort Fisher, North Carolina during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with 97th Pennsylvania Infantry. Pennypacker was 20 years old.

30 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on August 17, 1891, 26 years after the action. He later rose to the rank of Major General U.S.A..

Pennypacker was born on June 1, 1844 in Near Valley Forge, Chester County, Pennsylvania. His Medal of Honor is credited to West Chester, Chester County, Pennsylvania. Pennypacker died on October 1, 1916 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, at the age of 72. He is buried at Philadelphia National Cemetery in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Pennypacker is one of 1,525 Medal of Honor recipients from the Civil War and one of 380 credited to Pennsylvania.

★ Flags & Colors

Official Medal of Honor citation

Gallantly led the charge over a traverse and planted the colors of one of his regiments thereon; was severely wounded.

Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.

Battles and campaigns

Also served in: American Civil War.

Places

  • Born: Valley Forge — map
  • Died: Philadelphia — map
  • Buried: Philadelphia National Cemetery — map

Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Pennsylvania →

Timeline

  1. June 1, 1844
    Born in Near Valley Forge, Chester County, Pennsylvania
  2. January 15, 1865
    Act of valor — Fort Fisher, North Carolina
    Age 20. 97th Pennsylvania Infantry
  3. August 17, 1891
    Medal of Honor presented
  4. October 1, 1916
    Died in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
    Age 72.
  5. Resting place
    Philadelphia National Cemetery
    Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Biography

Uriah Galusha Pennypacker (June 1, 1841/1842/1844 – October 1, 1916) was a Union general during the American Civil War. He may be the youngest person to hold the rank of brigadier general in the US Army and remains the only general too young to vote for the president who appointed him. He was awarded the Medal of Honor for his leadership at the Second Battle of Fort Fisher during the Civil War.

From the Wikipedia article “Galusha Pennypacker”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →

Also honored for actions on January 15, 1865

BA Bruce Anderson Private · Army Civil War · 1865 GB Gurdon H. Barter Landsman · Navy Civil War · 1865 DB David L. Bass Seaman · Navy Civil War · 1865 PB Philip Bazaar Ordinary Seaman · Navy Civil War · 1865 AB Albert Burton Seaman · Navy Civil War · 1865 Alaric B. Chapin Private · Army Civil War · 1865 TC Thomas Connor Ordinary Seaman · Navy Civil War · 1865 Newton Martin Curtis Brigadier General · Army Civil War · 1865 William Henry Freeman Private · Army Civil War · 1865 JG John Griffiths Captain of the Forecastle · Navy Civil War · 1865 TH Thomas Harcourt Ordinary Seaman · Navy Civil War · 1865 TK Thomas Kane Captain of the Hold · Navy Civil War · 1865

See all 31 recipients for January 15, 1865 →

More Civil War recipients from Pennsylvania

WP William H. Paul Private · Army Civil War · 1862 JL John Lafferty Fireman · Navy Civil War · 1864 JG John Galloway Commissary Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1865 JH John C. Hunterson Private · Army Civil War · 1862 Horace Porter Captain · Army Civil War · 1863 AH Amzi Davis Harmon Corporal · Army Civil War · 1865
Sources. Service and award details compiled from the recipient record of the Congressional Medal of Honor Society, Wikidata and Wikipedia. The narrative summary is generated from these records. Spotted an error? Send a correction.