John Irvin

Civil War Union Army Officer. Entered the Civil War with a commission of Captain and commander of Company B, 149th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry in July 1862. After serving in garrison duty, the 149th Pennsylvania was assigned to the Army of the Potomac II Corps in Virginia. John Irvin led his company in the subsequent Battles of Chancellorsville and Gettysburg. At the Battle of Gettysburg, he was severely wounded on the first day of the engagement as his unit fought around McPherson’s Farm. After his recovery from his wounds he returned to the regiment, and was promoted to Major in February 1864, Lieutenant Colonel and commander in April 1864 (after the previous Colonel, Roy Stone, resigned due to aggravated injuries stemming from Gettysburg) and Colonel in February 1865. He led the unit from April 1864 until its muster out of service in July 1865, participating in the Battles of Spotsylvania, Weldon Railroad, and Dabney Mills and, from February 1865 until July, as guards at the Federal Prison in Elmira, New York. He himself was mustered out of service in August 1865, having served three full years.