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Maj Oliver Christian Bosbyshell

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Maj Oliver Christian Bosbyshell Veteran

Birth
Vicksburg, Warren County, Mississippi, USA
Death
1 Aug 1921 (aged 82)
Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania, USA
Burial
Bala Cynwyd, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, USA Add to Map
Plot
Bryn Mawr Section, Lot 154
Memorial ID
View Source
Civil War Union Army Officer. A pre-War member of the Washington Artillery militia, he was mustered into the Union Army as a Private when that unit was made into Company H, 25th Pennsylvania (Three-Month) Volunteer Infantry regiment on April 18, 1861. He accompanied the new regiment as it was hurried to man the defenses of Washington, DC, and was injured in the head by a thrown brick when it passed through Baltimore, Maryland, and was attacked by pro-Southern rioters. Company H was assigned to man Fort Washington, where it stood in garrison until they were sent back to Pennsylvania in July 1861, and was mustered out on July 29 when their term of service expired. At the time he was offered a commission in the Regular Army, but declined it.

He rejoined the Union War effort on October 1, 1861, when he was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in Company G, 48th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry. He rose steadily in rank, being promoted to 1st Lieutenant on May 5, 1862, Captain and company commander on June 2, 1862, and to Major on July 24, 1864. He served in that duty until he was honorably mustered out due to expiration by law of enlistment on October 1, 1864.

During his tenure with the 48th Pennsylvania, he fought in New Berne, North Carolina, and in the Battles of 2nd Bull Run, Chantilly, South Mountain, Antietam, and Fredericksburg. In 1863 the regiment, along with the entire Ninth Corps, was ordered west, and he was assigned as Provost Marshal of Lexington, Kentucky. In the operations in eastern Tennessee in the summer of fall of 1863 he was with his regiment as it fought at Blue Springs, Campbell's Station and Knoxville.

Spring 1864 brought the Ninth Corps back to Virginia to take part in General Ulysses S. Grant's Overland Campaign, and Captain Bosbyshell was assigned as Assistant Adjutant General of the 1st Brigade, 4th Division, Ninth Army Corps, a duty he performed until July 30. On that date the Union Army exploded a mine under Confederate positions at Petersburg, and now-Major Bosbyshell participated in the subsequent disaster that was the Battle of the Crater. After the battle, he was place in command of the regiment, and led it in the Battles of Weldon Railroad and Poplar Grove Church before his muster out.

After the war he was involved in politics, holding several local offices, and served as Director of the United States Mint in Philadelphia from 1889 to 1893. In 1893 he published "The 48th in the War: Being A Narrative of the 48th Regiment Infantry, Pennsylvania Veteran Volunteers, During the War of the Rebellion". He rose to the rank of Brigadier General in the Pennsylvania National Guard, and served as Colonel of the 19th Pennsylvania Infantry regiment during the Spanish-American War (a unit that only saw garrison duty).

Source: Officers of the Volunteer Army and Navy who served in the Civil War, published by L.R. Hamersly & Co., 1893, 419 pgs.
Civil War Union Army Officer. A pre-War member of the Washington Artillery militia, he was mustered into the Union Army as a Private when that unit was made into Company H, 25th Pennsylvania (Three-Month) Volunteer Infantry regiment on April 18, 1861. He accompanied the new regiment as it was hurried to man the defenses of Washington, DC, and was injured in the head by a thrown brick when it passed through Baltimore, Maryland, and was attacked by pro-Southern rioters. Company H was assigned to man Fort Washington, where it stood in garrison until they were sent back to Pennsylvania in July 1861, and was mustered out on July 29 when their term of service expired. At the time he was offered a commission in the Regular Army, but declined it.

He rejoined the Union War effort on October 1, 1861, when he was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in Company G, 48th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry. He rose steadily in rank, being promoted to 1st Lieutenant on May 5, 1862, Captain and company commander on June 2, 1862, and to Major on July 24, 1864. He served in that duty until he was honorably mustered out due to expiration by law of enlistment on October 1, 1864.

During his tenure with the 48th Pennsylvania, he fought in New Berne, North Carolina, and in the Battles of 2nd Bull Run, Chantilly, South Mountain, Antietam, and Fredericksburg. In 1863 the regiment, along with the entire Ninth Corps, was ordered west, and he was assigned as Provost Marshal of Lexington, Kentucky. In the operations in eastern Tennessee in the summer of fall of 1863 he was with his regiment as it fought at Blue Springs, Campbell's Station and Knoxville.

Spring 1864 brought the Ninth Corps back to Virginia to take part in General Ulysses S. Grant's Overland Campaign, and Captain Bosbyshell was assigned as Assistant Adjutant General of the 1st Brigade, 4th Division, Ninth Army Corps, a duty he performed until July 30. On that date the Union Army exploded a mine under Confederate positions at Petersburg, and now-Major Bosbyshell participated in the subsequent disaster that was the Battle of the Crater. After the battle, he was place in command of the regiment, and led it in the Battles of Weldon Railroad and Poplar Grove Church before his muster out.

After the war he was involved in politics, holding several local offices, and served as Director of the United States Mint in Philadelphia from 1889 to 1893. In 1893 he published "The 48th in the War: Being A Narrative of the 48th Regiment Infantry, Pennsylvania Veteran Volunteers, During the War of the Rebellion". He rose to the rank of Brigadier General in the Pennsylvania National Guard, and served as Colonel of the 19th Pennsylvania Infantry regiment during the Spanish-American War (a unit that only saw garrison duty).

Source: Officers of the Volunteer Army and Navy who served in the Civil War, published by L.R. Hamersly & Co., 1893, 419 pgs.


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  • Created by: RPD2
  • Added: Aug 23, 2009
  • Find a Grave Memorial ID:
  • Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/41013065/oliver_christian-bosbyshell: accessed ), memorial page for Maj Oliver Christian Bosbyshell (3 Jan 1839–1 Aug 1921), Find a Grave Memorial ID 41013065, citing West Laurel Hill Cemetery, Bala Cynwyd, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, USA; Maintained by RPD2 (contributor 309).