Monday, May 3, 2010

Orpheus Saeger Woodward.


Orpheus Saeger Woodward.

Birth: May 1, 1835, Harborcreek, Erie County, Pennsylvania.
Death: Jun. 26, 1919, Leavenworth, Leavenworth County, Kansas.

Photo provided by Thomas Fisher.

Civil War Union Brevet Brigadier General. In April of 1861, he joined the 90-day "Erie Regiment" but did not see action. When that unit was disbanded, he was commissioned a captain in the newly formed 83rd Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment. As the senior officer present, he was in command of the regiment during the Maryland Campaign that included the Battle of Antietam. He fought at Chancellorsville, and again commanded the unit at Gettysburg. He was noted for heroic action there, on Little Round Top alongside the 20th Maine. Shortly thereafter, he was promoted to full colonel. He led the regiment at Gaines's Mill and Malvern Hill, where he was slightly wounded in the arm.

He also led the unit at the Battle of the Wilderness in May of 1864. There, he was severly wounded in the right knee resulting in the amputation of his right leg ten days later. He saw no further action and was discharged for disability on September 20, 1864. On March 13, 1865, he received the brevet rank of Brigadier General "for gallant and meritorious services during the war." After the war, he returned to his northwestern Pennsylvania home and served two terms in the State Legislature. In 1868, he moved to Kansas and became involved with ranching, farming, and the hardware business in Neosho Falls. He also served two terms in the Kansas State Senate from 1889 to 1893.

Authors note. I would like to thank Thomas Fisher, for allowing me to reprint his information from the site of ( Find a grave.)

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