november july officer union_army american_civil_war immigrated young age ireland initially working philadelphia later clerk new_york_city onset war enlisted commissioned captain 23rd assumed command course war led regiment recorded battles including engagements wounded battle wilderness returned service command eventually second brigades corps brigadier general president abraham_lincoln major general president service men described handsome accomplished officer bold aggressive leader war returned philadelphia later moving new_york resumed business dealings died july honored military funeral buried philadelphia early life born ireland november children raised protestant household brother later serve major 23rd adjutant general lived rural irish city enrolled like irish 1840s left ireland united_states great famine boarded ship liverpool bound new_york_city november arrived america port new york days 18th birthday immigration papers list arriving united_states immigrants way philadelphia noted emigration officer money recent arrivals america passage central link philadelphia august took residence owned house married pennsylvania native february worked clerk 1850s later formed dried goods business called purchased square feet plot october records april james lady philadelphia visited july wife gave birth child december second daughter january military service 23rd enlisted 23rd april week american_civil_war began served company july transferred resumed duty new company august served 23rd volunteers year time took led 23rd aiding union companies collecting escaped resigned 23rd volunteers july accepted promotion lieutenant colonel new regiment lieutenant colonel joined july commissioned years service gathered recruits philadelphia area august 30th officially mustered service august time known corn regiment funds raising regiment furnished having gathered volunteers week period corn regiment left washington assigned position union_army september regiment embedded brigade division regiment command colonel brigade commander colonel moved rest marching maryland reaching maryland rest involved battle known day american history casualties involved lines instead assisted artillery returned battle days taking regiment took heavy casualties battle suffering deaths wounded captured suffered heavy losses approximately casualties battle union wounded colonel shot shoulder day battle resigned active duty second command took regiment acting commander courage battle praised colonel barnes brigade commander letter written days battle ended september sent letter colonel barnes stating provide philadelphia information paper publish map report incident days later issued report battle noting efforts rally troops fight confederate troops efforts vain colonel barnes ordered regiment fall returned lines december barnes formed brigade division 22nd massachusetts 25th new_york 13th new_york 1st michigan 2nd maine regiments recorded incident battle house discovered hidden tobacco soldiers raided sharply criticized men breaking rank enthusiasm following unsuccessful mud march january regiment went winter quarters june resumed activity june began travel northward enemy territory skirmishes frequently occurring travels ultimately led pennsylvania july arrived aid union_army battle acting commander regiment given orders position hold position afternoon regiment ordered assist left flank day july second day battle led little round held position days union forces achieved albeit costly victory following moved state positions august regiment stationed virginia received new recruits september september officially retired promoted colonel commanding officer time stationed commandant military prison new_york colonel autumn winter regiment engaged fighting served command ensuing months notable confrontations battle wilderness day battle shot thigh commission month receive promotion colonel actions wilderness injury unable lead multiple conflicts including battle north anna having returned active duty time led siege richmond campaign lasted june march exact date orders received commission commander brigade unknown subsequent documents reporting headquarters brigade commander august led brigade railroad met brigade ordered new_york_city special order ordered command absence col day combined union troops moved forward railroad joined led brigade remained station days submitting report headquarters division concerning days recorded time regiment suffered heavy losses according grant wearing besieged enemy regiments accorded share work particular morning september later farm capture 16th michigan direct line artillery guns church fired special severity road junction afternoon near leg severely wounded horse fell permanently lead captain wilson second command assumed command pressed offensive eventually led union victory late evening brigadier general brigade service siege noted commanding officer division corps general examples gallantry bravery informed receive rank brigadier general possible rank approved idea issued special order october awarded grade brigadier general volunteers rank september president abraham_lincoln formally nominated president lincoln december appointment confirmed february division received word promotion october passed 17th letter griffin wrote promotion evidence gallantry little command appreciated continued military duties service near city point virginia feeling ill returned philadelphia october diagnosed malaria fever prescribed seven day break rest recover leave approved november permitted recover week resuming duty november return special orders assigned division brigade major general november transferred division command general ordered command brigade november days later notified absent days fulfilling role acting commander december sent report praising prompt efficient service august led brigade problems december informed leave absence days lead return took control soon went leave absence january days day service assignment january february led brigade run february engaged union army brigade engaged rebels eventually overwhelmed forced retreat assistant adjutant ordered reform brigade maryland regiments fighting continued day february union forces near run retreated february highlighted leadership run stating zeal energy days later wrote letter names soldiers thought merit exceptional service run end civil war brigade fell month engaging skirmishes run halifax road richmond campaign major operations resumed march led brigade eventually virginia brigade took april charge led resulted capture strategic positions large number prisoners later appointed major general efforts battle january president nominated appointment grade major general volunteers rank april confirmed appointment february pushed onwards pressing retreating confederate troops major battles civil war april surrendered ending civil war present witness surrender escorted confederate soldier carried flag truce hostilities subsided filed report concerning skirmish white oak road april weeks later april advocated receive promotion account zeal good conduct march april year led brigade washington took place arrived washington early attend roll rest according new_york_times listed brigade commanding pennsylvania col pennsylvania major 4th delaware delaware 8th delaware col june officially mustered service june large banquet prepared honor bank offered initial payments recruits join years street hall members returned philadelphia according obituary offered position lieutenant regular army president instead chose return civilian life post civil war following conclusion civil war resumed life left returned home wife margaret daughters elizabeth years older time saw applied military pension october served positions difficulty high major general payment received reduced level highest non rank colonel position effectively gave october wife gave birth daughter margaret december family later moved philadelphia home new_york_city connected house returned business later new job clerk new_york daughter margaret married moved brooklyn area grove street new_york middle daughter married moved away brooklyn area house death died late evening july visited daughter margaret home new_york news death reported new_york_times washington_post far away salt_lake_city news body taken philadelphia interred following military funeral july buried cemetery plot section lot bought years earlier
James Gwyn