Civil War Union Army Officer. He was mustered into service in the Union Army on April 21,1861 as part of a three months enlistment regiment 23rd Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry. This group of men, better known as "Birney's Zouaves" after their commander Colonel David Bell Birney, was the first regiment to leave the city of Philadelphia in uniform. When the three month enlistments ran out, George C. Spear signed up again and was mustered into three years service on August 2, 1861 as Major of the 23rd Pennsylvania. He served there until March of 1862 when the War Department transferred four companies of 23rd into the 61st Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry. He became the Lieutenant Colonel of his new regiment, and rose to the rank of Colonel and commander. On May 3,1863, during the Battle of Chancellorsville, he was shot and killed while leading his men in the storming Marye's Heights in Fredericksburg. His body was taken and buried at a temporary location and then disinterred and buried at Mount Moriah Cemetery on June 2, 1863.
Civil War Union Army Officer. He was mustered into service in the Union Army on April 21,1861 as part of a three months enlistment regiment 23rd Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry. This group of men, better known as "Birney's Zouaves" after their commander Colonel David Bell Birney, was the first regiment to leave the city of Philadelphia in uniform. When the three month enlistments ran out, George C. Spear signed up again and was mustered into three years service on August 2, 1861 as Major of the 23rd Pennsylvania. He served there until March of 1862 when the War Department transferred four companies of 23rd into the 61st Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry. He became the Lieutenant Colonel of his new regiment, and rose to the rank of Colonel and commander. On May 3,1863, during the Battle of Chancellorsville, he was shot and killed while leading his men in the storming Marye's Heights in Fredericksburg. His body was taken and buried at a temporary location and then disinterred and buried at Mount Moriah Cemetery on June 2, 1863.
Bio by: Frank P. Marrone Jr.
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