History of Manheim, (Lancaster County) Pennsylvania United States of America

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Samuel Peter Heintzelman, soldier, was born in Manheim, Pa., Sept. 30, 1805. He was graduated at the U.S military academy in 1826, He served as lieutenant of infantry in the west and in Florida 1826-47, and was promoted captain in 1847, serving in the Mexican war, 1847-48. He was brevetted major, Oct. 9. 1847, for gallantry at Huamantla. He was in California, 1849-55, where he fought the Coyote and Yuma Indians and established Fort Yuma, on the Columbia river.He was promoted major in 1855 and operated against Mexican marauders on the Rio Grande, and was brevetted lieutenant-colonel in May, 1861, for meritorious services against the Indians in California. He was made brigadier-general of volunteers and inspector-general of troops at Washington, D.C., in May, 1861, and was commissioned colonel of the 17th U.S. infantry. He commanded the forces that captured Alexandria, Va., May 24, 1861, and was wounded in the battle of Bull Run. July 21, 1861, where he commanded the 3d division, McDowell's army, composed of the brigades of Franklin, Willcox and Howard. and opposed the brigades of Evans, Bee and Bartow and drove them back to the Henry House plateau. He commanded the 3d corps made up of the divisions of Kearny and Hooker in the army of the Potomac in March, 1862, before Yorktown and at Malvern Hill, Beaver Dam, Oak Grove, Savage's Station and Fraser's Farm and in the peninsular campaign. For his action at the battle of Williamsburg, Va., May 5, 1862, he was made major-general of volunteers, and at Seven Pines (Fair Oaks), Va., May 31 and June 1, 1862, he commanded the 3d and 4th corps combined and for his gallantry in both days' fights was brevetted britadier-general in the regular army. He led his 3d corps in the seven days' fight before Richmond, June 25-July 1, 1862. At the second battle of Bull Run his corps formed the right wing of the army under Gen. John Pope, and when he reached Warrenton Junction, before taking part in the battle his corps numbered less than 8000 men and he had no wagons, artillery, horses or even mounts for the field officers and only about forty rounds of ammunition to the man. His corps opposed Jackson on Aug. 29, 1862, at Sudley Mountain near Groveton and on the 30th retreated over the stone bridge making the next stand at Chantlilly, Sept. 1, 1862, and then fell back upon Washington. He commanded the department of Washington and the 22d corps during the Maryland and Pennsylvania campaign, 1862-63, being relieved of his command in October, 1863. He commanded the northern department including the states of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and Michigan from January, 1864, to October, 1864, when he was placed upon court-martial duty. He was brevetted major-general in the regular army in March, 1865, and was mustered out of the volunteer service in August, 1865. In September he resumed command of his regiment and was stationed first in New York harbor and subsequently in Texas. He was retired with the rank of colonel, Feb. 22, 1869, and on April 29, 1869, was placed upon the retired list by special act of congress with the full rank of major-general to date from his retirement. He died, in Washington, D.C., May 1, 1880.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

History of Manheim, (Lancaster County) Pennsylvania

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