John R. Brooke
| John Rutter Brooke | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Born |
July 21, 1838 Pottstown, Pennsylvania |
| Died | September 5, 1926 (aged 88) Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
| Buried at | Arlington National Cemetery |
| Allegiance |
United States of America Union |
| Service/branch |
United States Army Union Army |
| Years of service | 1861–1902 |
| Rank |
 Major General
|
| Battles/wars |
American Civil War Indian Wars Spanish–American War |
| Awards |
Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States Military Order of Foreign Wars Society of Colonial Wars |
John Rutter Brooke (July 21, 1838 – September 5, 1926) was one of the last surviving Union generals of the American Civil War when he died at the age of 88.
Brooke was born in Pottstown, Pennsylvania, and was educated in nearby Collegeville and West Chester.
Brooke's military career began when he joined the 4th Pennsylvania Infantry with the rank of captain in April 1861. In August, he became colonel of the newly raised 53rd Pennsylvania Infantry and served in the 1862 Peninsula Campaign.
He temporarily commanded a brigade during the Battle of Antietam in September of that year. In May 1863, he was given permanent command of a brigade of the 1st Division of the II Corps, which he led in the Battle of Chancellorsville and during the Gettysburg Campaign.
On the second day of the Battle of Gettysburg, July 2, 1863, Brooke found himself in the thick of the action when Confederate lieutenant general James Longstreet launched his assault against the Union lines south of Gettysburg. Rushed into action as reinforcements by Maj. Gen. Winfield Hancock, Colonel Brooke launched a limited counterattack against oncoming Confederate forces with his brigade in the Wheatfield. Although he was knocked out of action with a severe wound, his men temporarily stopped the Confederates and stabilized the Union line long enough to prevent a breakthrough.
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Wikipedia