The Capture of Petersburg, by Alfred Waud
"Petersburg," concluded Bosbyshell, "so long invested, so hotly contested, and so stubbornly defended," had finally fallen into Union hands.
The final assault on Petersburg was the last battle of the Civil War in which the 48th Pennsylvania participated. The regiment spent the next week guarding railroad cars near Farmville, where they received word of Lee's surrender on April 9, 1865. The casualties during the attack were severe. In addition to losing Colonel Gowen, the regiment lost 11 men killed, another 55 wounded (of which 3 proved to be mortal), and 22 missing. Most of the missing would rejoin the regiment in the ensuing days.
Colonel George Washington Gowen
In describing the death of Gowen, Bosbyshell wrote: "So fell one greatly beloved--gloriously at the moment of victory, honored as few have been, mourned sadly by his men; indeed, all who knew his splendid worth and promising future were grieved." And on April 15, one week after guns had fallen silent in Virginia, the 48th Pennsylvania passed the following resolutions:
"Resolved,That although we bow with submission to the Divine will, which has taken him from amongst us, yet we cannot restrain an expression of the feeling of deep regret entertained by this Regiment at his death," and
"Resolved, That in the death of Colonel Gowen, this Regiment has sustained a loss which can never be repaired, inasmuch, that he possessed the rare qualities of the perfect gentleman united with those of the brave and efficient officer. Ever attentive to the innumerable wants of his command, courteous to those with whom he had intercourse, and displaying to all a kindness of heart seldom to be met with in the army."
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Casualties: 4/2/1865
Killed: Colonel George W. Gowen; Sgt. John Homer (Company B); Daniel D. Barnett (Company E); David McCloir (Company F); James King, William Donnelly, George Uhl (Company H); Albert Mack, Albert Zimmerman, Wesley Boyer, Jacob Reichwine (Company I); Simon W. Hoffman (Company K)
Mortally Wounded: Nicholas Stephens (Company B); Corporal James Nicholas (Company C); Aaron Wagner (Company D)
Wounded: John Adams (Company A); 1st Sgt. John Watkins, Sgt. Robert Campbell, Sgt. William H. Ward, Robert Jones (Company B); George Seibert, Casper Groduvarant, Albert Kurtz, James T. Martin, Paul Dehne (Company C); Sgt. Henry Rothenberger, Cpl. Levi Derr, Jacob Schmidt, Edward McGuire, Joseph Buddinger, Chester Phillips, Thomas Whiscke (Company D); Cpl. William D. Morgan, William C. James, Robert Meredith, Frederick Godwin, Thomas Hayes (Comapny E); 2nd Lt. Henry "Snapper" Reese, Sgt. William J. Wells, Cpl. John Devlin, James Dempsey, John Crawford (Company F); Peter Bailey, John Droble, Patrick Daley, Nicholas Fers, Thomas Howell, Thomas Smith, John Wright, George Kane, 1st Lt. William Auman (Company G); Sgt. Peter Radelberger, Willoughby Lintz, George E. Lewis, Benjamin Koller, Cpl. Henry Matthews, 2nd Lt. Thomas Sillyman (Company H); Jonathan Mowery, Charles C. Wagner, Joseph Shoener, John Road, Henry Goodman (Company I); Benjamin Kline, Paul Snyder, Jacob Erbert, David Phillips, Jno. Williams, John Windenmuth (Company K)
Missing: Sgt. Isaac Fritz, William Reppert, Michael Kingsley, Lewis Kleckner, Henry Rinker, Daniel Hurley (Company B); Cpl. James Hanan (Company C); Cpl. Samuel Kessler (Company D); 1st Sgt. John McElrath, Cpl. George W. James, David McGeary, John O'Neil (Company E); Albert Fisher (Company F); Patrick Galligan (Company G); Sgt. James McReynolds, James Mullen, Theodore Rett, John Oats, Thomas J. Reed (Company I); William Pelton, John Marshall, George Showers (Company K)
7 comments:
John,
I recently learned that my Great-Grandfather, John B. Smeltzer, was a private in the 205th PA. On April 2, 1865 he was wounded during the breakthrough at Petersburg, I believe during the assault on Battery 30. I hope to learn more once I get his records from NARA.
Harry
Hi Harry~
I hope all is well. The final assault on Petersburg, 4/2/1865, has been overlooked a little bit in the vast annals of Civil War historiography. Good luck finding info on your great-grandfather. Was the 205th with the 9th Corps, under Hartranft?
John Hoptak
John,
Yep.
Harry
If my research has been correct I'm am related to Sgt. Isaac Fritz Co.B 48th PVI. Never knew he was listed as missing after the last engagement. I'm still in early stages of researching my ancestory though. :) Thanks for the great info!
I am glad this site is available for us! My GGG Grandfather James E. Sennett was with the Pa 48th Co. G. I have in my possession letters from him on and around this date depicting goings on at Ft. Sedgwick and the mines the 48th dug under the Rebel Fort. Amazing stuff!
I am glad websites like this one are available to us all. I have in my possession letter written by my GGG Grandfather Pa. 48th Co. G. to his mother with much mention about the goings on around Petersburg, Ft. Sedgwick, and the mines they dug under the Fort. Amazing stuff!
That's excellent, GatorZap. If you ever feel like sharing, I would love to see the contents of those letters, especially the digging of the mine!
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