Crawford, Samuel Wylie

CRAWFORD, Samuel Wylie, soldier, was born in Franklin county, Pa., Nov. 8, 1827; son of the Rev. Dr. Samuel Wylie and Jane (Agnew) Crawford. He was graduated at the University of Pennsylvania in 1846 and from the medical department in 1850. He entered the U.S. army as assistant surgeon, serving in Texas and Mexico, 1851-57, and Kansas, 1857-60. In 1860 he was stationed in Charleston harbor and made one of the brave garrison that defended Fort Sumter, being in command of a battery during the bombardment. He was transferred to Fort Columbus, New York harbor on reaching that city in April, 1861. In August, 1861 he was commissioned major, 13th U.S. infantry, and in 1862 was made brigadier general in the volunteer army. He was conspicuous at Winchester, and at Cedar Mountain he lost one half of his brigade. At Antietam he succeeded to the command of General Mansfield's division and was severely wounded in the action of that day. He commanded the 3d division of the 5th army corps, made up of the Pennsylvania reserves, at Washington, D.C. early in 1863, and led them in the battle of Gettysburg, July 1-3, 1863. He was with the army of the Potomac in all the operations under General Grant till the surrender, and won promotions at the Wilderness, Spottsylvania, Petersburg and Five Forks for conspicuous bravery, his brevets reaching that of major general, U.S. volunteers, and brigadier general in the regular army in 1865. He was mustered out of the volunteer army in 1866 and served with his regiment. He was promoted colonel of the 16th U.S. infantry in February, 1869, and was afterward transferred to the 2d infantry. In February, 1873, he was retired with the rank of brigadier general, by reason of disability consequent to his wounds. He was made a member of the Geographical society of Mexico in 1858; a fellow of the Royal geographical society of Great Britain in 1879; a member of the Historical societies of Pennsylvania and New York, and a member of the military order of the Loyal Legion of the United States. He received from the University of Pennsylvania the degree of LL. D. in 1867. He died in Philadelphia, Pa., Nov. 3, 1892.