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P. Frank

P. Frank

Federal (USV)

Colonel

Paul Frank

(1828 - 1875)

Home State: New York

Command Billet: Commanding Regiment

Branch of Service: Infantry

Unit: 52nd New York Infantry

 

see his Battle Report

Before Antietam

He was First Lieutenant and Adjutant of the 5th New York State Militia - the Sigel Rifles - before the war. He was commissioned Colonel of the 52nd New York Infantry and mustered into United States service with them on 25 October 1861. His was mainly a German organization, being formed by the consolidation of two skeleton regiments, the German Rangers and Sigel Rifles, both of which were recruited in New York City.

On the Campaign

While in immediate reserve near the Sunken Road about mid-day on 17 September 1862 he saw two enemy regiments on his Brigade's right flank and led the 52nd New York, with the 2nd Delaware, on an attack that pushed the enemy back. The 7th New York, another German Regiment, supported the left of the 52nd.

The rest of the War

He was at Fredericksburg (December 1862) and Chancellorsville (May 1863), where he was wounded. He returned to the Regiment shortly after Gettysburg in July 1863 and by the battle at Bristoe Station in October 1863 Colonel Frank was in command of the Brigade.

At Spotsylvania on 9 May 1864 his officers complained to General Barlow that Colonel Frank was too drunk to command. Later that day, he was relieved for drunkenness by General Hancock and command of the brigade was given to Colonel Brown, 145th Pennsylvania Infantry. He was mustered out of the service 28 October 1864 and was honored by brevet to Brigadier General in March 1865.

References & notes

His service from Heitman.1 His gravesite is on Findagrave. Personal details from his bio sketch from Green-Wood Cemetery. His picture from a photograph at the Library of Congress.

Birth

02/07/1828; Saxony, GERMANY

Death

07/07/1875; burial in Green-Wood Cemetery, Brooklyn, NY

Notes

1   Heitman, Francis Bernard, Historical Register and Dictionary of the United States Army 1789-1903, 2 volumes, Washington DC: US Government Printing Office, 1903, Vol. 1, pg. 433  [AotW citation 29409]