Civil War Medal of Honor Recipient. Entered Civil War service with a commission of Captain in the 150th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry. Rising to Lieutenant Colonel and commander of the unit, he was awarded the CMOH for his bravery on the First Day of the Battle of Gettysburg (July 1, 1863). His citation reads “While engaged in repelling an attack of the enemy, received a severe wound of the right arm, but instead of retiring remained at the front in command of the regiment”. He had commanded a portion of the 150th Pennsylvania in the initial heavy fighting around McPherson’s Farm northwest of the town. When the 150th’s Colonel, Langhorne Wister, took over command of the brigade, Lt. Colonel Huidekoper assumed command of the regiment. He then sustained the serious arm wound that eventually cost him his arm. He continued to direct his regiment despite the wound until the loss of blood forced him to retire; his remaining in the battle proved invaluable since every officer of the regiment had been killed or wounded. His wounds in the battle incapacitated him until September 1863, when he rejoined his men. He was promoted to Colonel; however, further field service aggravated his partially healed wounds to the point he was forced to resign his commission in 1864. After the war he served as a Major General of the Pennsylvania National Guard, and was active in suppressing the 1877 Labor Riots. He also served as Postmaster of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania from 1880 to 1885, and as responsible for increasing the standard weight for letter from a half-ounce to an ounce. His Medal was awarded to him on May 27, 1905. He was one of two 150th Pennsylvania soldiers to be awarded the Medal of Honor for bravery during the Civil War (the other being Corporal J. Monroe Reisinger).
Civil War Medal of Honor Recipient. Entered Civil War service with a commission of Captain in the 150th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry. Rising to Lieutenant Colonel and commander of the unit, he was awarded the CMOH for his bravery on the First Day of the Battle of Gettysburg (July 1, 1863). His citation reads “While engaged in repelling an attack of the enemy, received a severe wound of the right arm, but instead of retiring remained at the front in command of the regiment”. He had commanded a portion of the 150th Pennsylvania in the initial heavy fighting around McPherson’s Farm northwest of the town. When the 150th’s Colonel, Langhorne Wister, took over command of the brigade, Lt. Colonel Huidekoper assumed command of the regiment. He then sustained the serious arm wound that eventually cost him his arm. He continued to direct his regiment despite the wound until the loss of blood forced him to retire; his remaining in the battle proved invaluable since every officer of the regiment had been killed or wounded. His wounds in the battle incapacitated him until September 1863, when he rejoined his men. He was promoted to Colonel; however, further field service aggravated his partially healed wounds to the point he was forced to resign his commission in 1864. After the war he served as a Major General of the Pennsylvania National Guard, and was active in suppressing the 1877 Labor Riots. He also served as Postmaster of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania from 1880 to 1885, and as responsible for increasing the standard weight for letter from a half-ounce to an ounce. His Medal was awarded to him on May 27, 1905. He was one of two 150th Pennsylvania soldiers to be awarded the Medal of Honor for bravery during the Civil War (the other being Corporal J. Monroe Reisinger).
Bio by: RPD2
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