Geety, William Wallace
Term of Service: 19 September 1861 – unknown discharge date (wounded in action during the Battle of Pocotaligo; mustered out at Berryville, Virginia upon expiration of term 18 September 1864, then commissioned as Captain)
Rank In: 1st Lieutenant, Company H
Rank Out: 1st Lieutenant (commissioned, but not mustered as Captain)
Prior Service: Private, Company E, 1st Pennsylvania Infantry (18 April 1861 – July 1861)
Honors/Service Distinctions: Promoted to the rank of 1st Lieutenant 19 September 1861. Wounded severely during the Battle of Pocotaligo, South Carolina 22 October 1862. (Struck between the eyes by a ½-inch-diameter iron ball propelled by a cannon shrapnel shell which exploded on impact in front of him while commanding his men on the field; the ball traveled upward through his head before striking the back of his skull and traveling down toward the left jaw and neck, where it lodged behind the carotid artery; his left eye was destroyed along with nerve sensation on his left neck and face, which was also disfigured; Union Army surgeons treating him opted to leave the fragment in place when it was determined the fragment could not be removed without killing him.) Following convalescence at Union Army facilities, he returned to duty. Stationed in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania in 1863 while assigned to recruiting duties for the regiment; while there, underwent further surgery which resulted in successful removal of the shrapnel. Mustered out upon expiration of his three-year term of service 18 September 1864; commissioned, but not mustered as a Captain the following day (19 September 1864)

William’s Bio        William’s Grave

William’s Letters, 47th Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteers (September 1861-September 1864)

 

Gobin, John Peter Shindel
Alternate Presentation of Name: J. P. S. Gobin
Term of Service: 2 September 1861 – 9 January 1866 (mustered out with regiment)
Rank In: Captain, Company C (the “Sunbury Guards”)
Rank Out: Colonel and Regimental Commanding Officer
Prior Service: 1st Lieutenant, Company F (the “Sunbury Guards”), 11th Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry (23 April 1861 – 1 August 1861)
Honors: Promoted from leadership of Company C to rank of Major on regimental command staff, 24 July 1864. Promoted to Lieutenant Colonel and second in command of the regiment, 4 November 1864. Promoted to Colonel and Commanding Officer of the regiment, 24 January 1865. Breveted as Brigadier-General on 13 March 1865 for meritorious service; placed in command of the 2nd Brigade, 1st Division, 19th U.S. Army Corps. In later life, elected to the Pennsylvania Senate, serving one term as President Pro Tempore. Elected as Lieutenant Governor of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

John’s Bio          John’s Grave

John’s Letters, 11th Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteers (Sunbury Guards, April-July 1861)

John’s Letters, 47th Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteers (Sunbury Guards, August 1861-January 1866)

 

Helfrich, John Gross (Alternate Spellings of Surname: Helfric, Helfrich, Helfrick)
Term of Service: 18 September 1861 – 5 August 1864 (died at New Orleans from disease-related complications)
Rank: Sergeant, Company G
Honors: Served as a hospital steward at various times throughout his military career; died from disease-related complications at the Charity Hospital in New Orleans, Louisiana 5 August 1864

John’s Bio          John’s Grave

John’s Letters, 47th Pennsylvania Volunteers (January 1862-Spring 1864; used with permission of Colin Cofield)

 

Hornbeck, Henry Jacob (“H. J.”)
Term of Service: 18 September 1862 – 1 June 1865 (honorably discharged by General Order No. 53)
Rank In: Private, Company G
Rank Out: Regimental Quartermaster Sergeant
Honors: Promoted from service as a Private with Company G to Quartermaster Sergeant on central regimental staff 15 April 1864. Honorably discharged 1 June 1865 per General Order No. 53, issued by Headquarters of the U.S. Army’s Middle Military Division. Veteran Volunteer (re-enlisted at Fort Taylor, Key West, Florida 22 February 1864)

Henry’s Bio       Henry’s Grave

Henry’s Diary, 47th Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteers (excerpts, 1862-1863)

 

Rodrock, Rev. William Dewitt Clinton (“W.D.C.”)
Term of Service: 14 August 1861 – 25 December 1865 (mustered out with regiment)
Rank: Regimental Chaplain
Honors: Commissioned as Chaplain 31 October 1861. Veteran Volunteer (re-enlisted 18 September 1864)

Rev. Rodrock’s Bio       Rev. Rodrock’s Grave

Rev. Rodrock’s Civil War Letters and Reports (1862-1865)

 

Wharton, Henry D. (aka “H.D.W.”)
Term of Service: 2 September 1861 – October 1865 (expiration of term)
Rank In: Musician, Company C
Rank Out: Commissary Sergeant
Honors: Promoted to Commissary Sergeant of the entire 47th Regiment on 1 July 1865
Prior Service: Musician, Company F, 11th Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry (23 April 1861 – 31 July 1861)

Henry’s Bio       Henry’s Grave

Henry’s Letters, 11th Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteers (Sunbury Guards, April-July, 1861)

Henry’s Letters, 47th Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteers (Sunbury Guards, August 1861-October 1865)