George A. Brooks

A printer by trade, from Harrisburg, he enrolled in the three-month 25th Pennsylvania Infantry as Sergeant, Company F in May 1861. After service among the very first troops in the defenses of Washington, he was discharged with the Company on July 26 at the expiration of their term of service. On 1 September he enrolled in the new 46th Infantry, and mustered in October as Captain, Company D.

Til the end of the year, the regiment was posted along the upper Potomac River and at Harpers Ferry, and first saw action in the Shenandoah Valley in February and March 1862. Their most significant combat experience prior to the Maryland Campaign was at Cedar Mountain on 9 August, when the unit suffered 30 killed, 34 wounded, and lost six prisoners. Among the injured was Captain Brooks.

Apparently sufficiently recovered, Brooks was with his Company at Antietam, where he was one of six men of the 46th killed in action in or near the East Woods on the morning of 17 September 1862.

Details of Brooks' military service from the Card File1 and Bates2. Thanks to Jeremy Easton for bringing the Captain to our attention, and for the location of his burial. Thanks to Scott for the photo here from a fine CDV in the Scott D. Hann Collection.

The Pennsylvania State Archives have posted images of his cards for service in the 25th and 46th regiments online. A copy of his diary covering the period 1 January - 6 August 1862 is in the collection of the Library of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill [finding aid].

Benjamin E. Myers puplished Brooks' wrtinig as American Citizen: The Civil War Writings of Captain George A. Brooks, 46th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry in 2019.

c. 1836 in PA

09/17/1862; Sharpsburg, MD; burial in Harrisburg Cemetery, Harrisburg, PA