Civil War U.S. Officer. Born in Todd's Mill, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania to John and Elizabeth McFarland, the 5th of 6 children. He started working at the age of 15 as a boatman of the Susquehanna Canal. The next year he began piloting boats on the Susquehanna River with his father. That same year, he began working as a teacher in the Harrisburg area due to his high intelligence. He obviously excelled in his teaching career. Just after McFarland attended Freeburg Academy to further enhance his brilliant mind in 1856, he became an assistant teacher there, until in the spring when negotiated with the trustees of the school, he became principal of the Academy. Years later he bought the McAlisterville Academy in Juniata County.
In 1862, a year after the American Civil War broke out, George McFarland read about the Rebel cause in the south and immediatly sided with the Union. For a few months, he mustered in a company of men from Juniata County. Then, on October 24th, 1862 the company of men from Juniata County was mustered into the Army of the Potomac as Company D of the 151st Pennsylvania Voluntary Infantry Regiment in the First Brigade of the Third Division of Abner Doubleday's I Corps at Camp Curtin near Harrisburg. McFarland was then made the Lieutenant Colonel of the entire regiment under Colonel Harrison Allen.
After being mustered in and being given supplies, McFarland and the 151st Pennsylvania were stationed at Union Mills, Virginia near Bull Run where one of the first battles of the Civil War was fought. McFarland and his troops were stuck at Union Mills over the winter and into late Spring, constantly being forced to do guard duty.
In May, 1863 the 151st PA was in the PA reserves in the Battle of Chancellorsville, taking only a few casualties. In the middle of June, 1863 the leaders of the Army of the Potomac recieved reports that General Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia was attempting to invade Pennsylvania. So McFarland, now Colonel since Harrison Allen was promoted, moved his troops out. By chance, the two massive armies met in a small town in southern Pennsylvania called Gettysburg on June 30th. The battle began the next day, July 1st, 1863 with fierce fighting north of town. Later in the day, the Union position began to crumble, so the Yankees (including the 151st PA) retreated back through town in mass confusion to Seminary Ridge where the Lutheran Theological Seminary, which was converted into a hospital when the battle began, stood. Union forces along with George McFarland's Pennsylvania regiment formed lines around the ridge. The rebels then launched an attack on the Union position. Although the attack failed, the 151st Pennsylvania took very heavy casualties, along with McFarland himself who's right leg was hit so badly it had to be amputated and left leg was hit and left him with constant pain for the rest of his life.
After the war, George McFarland returned to his wife and his job as a school teacher and began owning a fruit farm. He also has been rumored to have been the original person to come come up with the idea for the huge Pickett's Charge Cyclorama, a huge painting that encircles a room depicting the scene of Pickett's Charge that was painted by Paul Phillipotaeux. The painting now lies on display in the Cyclorama Museum in Gettysburg. In the late 1880's McFarland became very ill due to infection in his left leg. George and his wife Addie left for Tallapoosa, Georgia, hoping George would get better. Unfortunatly near Christmas 1891, McFarland died in Georgia and was sent back to Harrisburg for burial. He had three children and three grandchildren before he died and is now buried in Harrisburg Cemetery.
In 1862, a year after the American Civil War broke out, George McFarland read about the Rebel cause in the south and immediatly sided with the Union. For a few months, he mustered in a company of men from Juniata County. Then, on October 24th, 1862 the company of men from Juniata County was mustered into the Army of the Potomac as Company D of the 151st Pennsylvania Voluntary Infantry Regiment in the First Brigade of the Third Division of Abner Doubleday's I Corps at Camp Curtin near Harrisburg. McFarland was then made the Lieutenant Colonel of the entire regiment under Colonel Harrison Allen.
After being mustered in and being given supplies, McFarland and the 151st Pennsylvania were stationed at Union Mills, Virginia near Bull Run where one of the first battles of the Civil War was fought. McFarland and his troops were stuck at Union Mills over the winter and into late Spring, constantly being forced to do guard duty.
In May, 1863 the 151st PA was in the PA reserves in the Battle of Chancellorsville, taking only a few casualties. In the middle of June, 1863 the leaders of the Army of the Potomac recieved reports that General Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia was attempting to invade Pennsylvania. So McFarland, now Colonel since Harrison Allen was promoted, moved his troops out. By chance, the two massive armies met in a small town in southern Pennsylvania called Gettysburg on June 30th. The battle began the next day, July 1st, 1863 with fierce fighting north of town. Later in the day, the Union position began to crumble, so the Yankees (including the 151st PA) retreated back through town in mass confusion to Seminary Ridge where the Lutheran Theological Seminary, which was converted into a hospital when the battle began, stood. Union forces along with George McFarland's Pennsylvania regiment formed lines around the ridge. The rebels then launched an attack on the Union position. Although the attack failed, the 151st Pennsylvania took very heavy casualties, along with McFarland himself who's right leg was hit so badly it had to be amputated and left leg was hit and left him with constant pain for the rest of his life.
After the war, George McFarland returned to his wife and his job as a school teacher and began owning a fruit farm. He also has been rumored to have been the original person to come come up with the idea for the huge Pickett's Charge Cyclorama, a huge painting that encircles a room depicting the scene of Pickett's Charge that was painted by Paul Phillipotaeux. The painting now lies on display in the Cyclorama Museum in Gettysburg. In the late 1880's McFarland became very ill due to infection in his left leg. George and his wife Addie left for Tallapoosa, Georgia, hoping George would get better. Unfortunatly near Christmas 1891, McFarland died in Georgia and was sent back to Harrisburg for burial. He had three children and three grandchildren before he died and is now buried in Harrisburg Cemetery.
Civil War U.S. Officer. Born in Todd's Mill, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania to John and Elizabeth McFarland, the 5th of 6 children. He started working at the age of 15 as a boatman of the Susquehanna Canal. The next year he began piloting boats on the Susquehanna River with his father. That same year, he began working as a teacher in the Harrisburg area due to his high intelligence. He obviously excelled in his teaching career. Just after McFarland attended Freeburg Academy to further enhance his brilliant mind in 1856, he became an assistant teacher there, until in the spring when negotiated with the trustees of the school, he became principal of the Academy. Years later he bought the McAlisterville Academy in Juniata County.
In 1862, a year after the American Civil War broke out, George McFarland read about the Rebel cause in the south and immediatly sided with the Union. For a few months, he mustered in a company of men from Juniata County. Then, on October 24th, 1862 the company of men from Juniata County was mustered into the Army of the Potomac as Company D of the 151st Pennsylvania Voluntary Infantry Regiment in the First Brigade of the Third Division of Abner Doubleday's I Corps at Camp Curtin near Harrisburg. McFarland was then made the Lieutenant Colonel of the entire regiment under Colonel Harrison Allen.
After being mustered in and being given supplies, McFarland and the 151st Pennsylvania were stationed at Union Mills, Virginia near Bull Run where one of the first battles of the Civil War was fought. McFarland and his troops were stuck at Union Mills over the winter and into late Spring, constantly being forced to do guard duty.
In May, 1863 the 151st PA was in the PA reserves in the Battle of Chancellorsville, taking only a few casualties. In the middle of June, 1863 the leaders of the Army of the Potomac recieved reports that General Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia was attempting to invade Pennsylvania. So McFarland, now Colonel since Harrison Allen was promoted, moved his troops out. By chance, the two massive armies met in a small town in southern Pennsylvania called Gettysburg on June 30th. The battle began the next day, July 1st, 1863 with fierce fighting north of town. Later in the day, the Union position began to crumble, so the Yankees (including the 151st PA) retreated back through town in mass confusion to Seminary Ridge where the Lutheran Theological Seminary, which was converted into a hospital when the battle began, stood. Union forces along with George McFarland's Pennsylvania regiment formed lines around the ridge. The rebels then launched an attack on the Union position. Although the attack failed, the 151st Pennsylvania took very heavy casualties, along with McFarland himself who's right leg was hit so badly it had to be amputated and left leg was hit and left him with constant pain for the rest of his life.
After the war, George McFarland returned to his wife and his job as a school teacher and began owning a fruit farm. He also has been rumored to have been the original person to come come up with the idea for the huge Pickett's Charge Cyclorama, a huge painting that encircles a room depicting the scene of Pickett's Charge that was painted by Paul Phillipotaeux. The painting now lies on display in the Cyclorama Museum in Gettysburg. In the late 1880's McFarland became very ill due to infection in his left leg. George and his wife Addie left for Tallapoosa, Georgia, hoping George would get better. Unfortunatly near Christmas 1891, McFarland died in Georgia and was sent back to Harrisburg for burial. He had three children and three grandchildren before he died and is now buried in Harrisburg Cemetery.
In 1862, a year after the American Civil War broke out, George McFarland read about the Rebel cause in the south and immediatly sided with the Union. For a few months, he mustered in a company of men from Juniata County. Then, on October 24th, 1862 the company of men from Juniata County was mustered into the Army of the Potomac as Company D of the 151st Pennsylvania Voluntary Infantry Regiment in the First Brigade of the Third Division of Abner Doubleday's I Corps at Camp Curtin near Harrisburg. McFarland was then made the Lieutenant Colonel of the entire regiment under Colonel Harrison Allen.
After being mustered in and being given supplies, McFarland and the 151st Pennsylvania were stationed at Union Mills, Virginia near Bull Run where one of the first battles of the Civil War was fought. McFarland and his troops were stuck at Union Mills over the winter and into late Spring, constantly being forced to do guard duty.
In May, 1863 the 151st PA was in the PA reserves in the Battle of Chancellorsville, taking only a few casualties. In the middle of June, 1863 the leaders of the Army of the Potomac recieved reports that General Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia was attempting to invade Pennsylvania. So McFarland, now Colonel since Harrison Allen was promoted, moved his troops out. By chance, the two massive armies met in a small town in southern Pennsylvania called Gettysburg on June 30th. The battle began the next day, July 1st, 1863 with fierce fighting north of town. Later in the day, the Union position began to crumble, so the Yankees (including the 151st PA) retreated back through town in mass confusion to Seminary Ridge where the Lutheran Theological Seminary, which was converted into a hospital when the battle began, stood. Union forces along with George McFarland's Pennsylvania regiment formed lines around the ridge. The rebels then launched an attack on the Union position. Although the attack failed, the 151st Pennsylvania took very heavy casualties, along with McFarland himself who's right leg was hit so badly it had to be amputated and left leg was hit and left him with constant pain for the rest of his life.
After the war, George McFarland returned to his wife and his job as a school teacher and began owning a fruit farm. He also has been rumored to have been the original person to come come up with the idea for the huge Pickett's Charge Cyclorama, a huge painting that encircles a room depicting the scene of Pickett's Charge that was painted by Paul Phillipotaeux. The painting now lies on display in the Cyclorama Museum in Gettysburg. In the late 1880's McFarland became very ill due to infection in his left leg. George and his wife Addie left for Tallapoosa, Georgia, hoping George would get better. Unfortunatly near Christmas 1891, McFarland died in Georgia and was sent back to Harrisburg for burial. He had three children and three grandchildren before he died and is now buried in Harrisburg Cemetery.
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