Henry S. Huidekoper | |
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Birth name | Henry Shippen Huidekoper |
Born | Meadville, Pennsylvania, U.S. | July 17, 1839
Died | November 9, 1918 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. | (aged 79)
Place of burial | |
Allegiance | United States of America Union |
Service | Union Army Pennsylvania National Guard |
Years of service | 1862–1864 (Army) 1870–1880 (National Guard) |
Rank | Lieutenant Colonel (Army) Major General (National Guard) |
Unit | 150th Pennsylvania Infantry |
Battles / wars | American Civil War Battle of Gettysburg |
Awards | Medal of Honor |
Other work | author, postmaster, and businessman |
Signature |
Henry Shippen Huidekoper (July 17, 1839 – November 9, 1918) was a Union Army lieutenant colonel from Pennsylvania who received the United States military's highest decorations for bravery, the Medal of Honor, for his actions at the Battle of Gettysburg during the American Civil War.
After graduating from Harvard, he accepted a commission as an officer in the Union Army. While fighting at the Battle of Gettysburg, he was wounded twice and had to have his arm amputated due to the wounds. For his actions during the battle, he received the Medal of Honor. He attempted to rejoin the Union Army, but was forced to resign due to his injuries. In 1870, he accepted an appointment as a major general in the Pennsylvania National Guard.
In 1877 Huidekoper was sent to help put an end to a severe railroad strike in Pennsylvania. He accepted a job as the postmaster of Philadelphia and worked for a few years in the telephone industry before becoming an overseer at Harvard College. He died in 1918 and is buried in Meadville, Pennsylvania.