Galusha Pennypacker

Galusha Pennypacker
Lithograph of Galusha Pennypacker
Born	(1844-06-01)June 1, 1844 Valley Forge, Pennsylvania
Died	October 1, 1916(1916-10-01) (aged 72) Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Place of burial	Philadelphia National Cemetery, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Allegiance	United States of America Union
Service/branch	United States Army Union Army
Years of service	1861 - 1883
Rank	Brigadier General Brevet Major General
Commands held	97th Pennsylvania Infantry 34th U.S. Infantry 16th U.S. Infantry
Battles/wars	American Civil War
Awards	Medal of Honor
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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.S. Army; at the age of 20, he remains the only general too young to vote for the president who appointed him.

Pennypacker was born June 1, 1844 in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, to a family who had a long history of service in the military. He was raised without having any memory of his parents, Joseph Judson Pennypacker (1814-1845) and Tamson A. 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, two of the youngest generals in the Civil War, were 5th cousins, both being descendents of Paulus Kuster (1643–1707). He was also cousin to General Benjamin Prentiss through the Pennypacker family.

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 the following October. Pennypacker and his regiment saw action in Georgia at Fort Pulaski and in the battles around Charleston. In 1864, his regiment was transferred to Virginia, where he was engaged in the Bermuda Hundred Campaign under Maj. Gen. Benjamin Butler, in which he was wounded at the Battle of Ware Bottom Church. After the Battle of Cold Harbor and during the siege of Petersburg, he was appointed Colonel 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.