Orpheus S. Woodward Explained

Orpheus Saeger Woodward
Birth Date:1 May 1835
Birth Place:Erie County, Pennsylvania
Death Place:Neosho Falls, Kansas
Allegiance:United States of America
Union
Branch:United States Army
Union Army
Rank:Colonel
Brevet Brigadier General
Commands:83rd Pennsylvania Infantry
Battles:American Civil War

Orpheus Saeger Woodward (May 1, 1835 – June 26, 1919) was a Union Army officer during American Civil War.

Woodward was born in Harbor Creek, Pennsylvania, May 1, 1835.[1] He was a farmer and hardware merchant before the Civil War.[1] He started his Civil War service as a private in the Erie Pennsylvania Infantry.[1] On September 13, 1861, he was appointed captain of the 83rd Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment.[1]

Woodward was wounded at Battle of Malvern Hill.[2] He served in the Antietam Campaign and fought at the Battle of Chancellorsville and at Little Round Top during the Battle of Gettysburg.[2] He was promoted to colonel of the 83rd Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment on March 28, 1864.[1] Woodward was severely wounded at the Battle of the Wilderness on May 5, 1864 which resulted in his right leg being amputated.[1] He was mustered out of the volunteers on September 20, 1864.[1] [2]

On February 24, 1866, President Andrew Johnson nominated Woodward for appointment to the grade of brevet brigadier general of volunteers, to rank from March 13, 1865, and the United States Senate confirmed the appointment on April 10, 1866.[3]

Orpheus Saeger Woodward died at Leavenworth, Kansas, June 26, 1919.[1] He was buried at Cedar Vale Cemetery, Neosho Falls, Kansas.[1]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Eicher, John H., and David J. Eicher, Civil War High Commands. Stanford: Stanford University Press, 2001. . p. 581.
  2. Web site: Federal (USV) Captain Orpheus Saeger Woodward . 2012-04-15.
  3. Eicher, 2001, p. 762.