Civil War Union Army Officer. Commissioned as a 1st Lieutenant in Company E, 13th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry on July 16, 1861, he fought for over a year and a half at this rank, participating in a number of battles, and receving a wound at the 2nd Battle of Bull Run. He was advanced to Captain and commander of Company E in February 1863, who he would lead until October of that year. On October 23 he was transferred to the 59th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, and was promoted to the unit's Major. In the June 1864 assualts on Petersburg by the Army of the Potomac, he was again wounded. When he returned to duty after recovering, he was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel, and assumed command fo the regiment when the 59th Massachusett's commander, Colonel Jacob Park Gould, was wounded on Juy 30, 1864. When Colonel Gould succumbed to his wounded on August 21, Joseph Colburn was appointed as the regiment's Colonel, but was never mustered in at that rank. He continued to led the 59th Massachusetts through the Petersburg seige and in the final fighting that culimated in the April 1865 surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia at Appomattox. A few weeks after the end of the fighting, he was honorably discharged on April 28 due at a medical disability that was described as "hypertrophy of the heart". After the war he moved from his native Massachusetts to Colorado, where he spent many years as a successful miner.
Civil War Union Army Officer. Commissioned as a 1st Lieutenant in Company E, 13th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry on July 16, 1861, he fought for over a year and a half at this rank, participating in a number of battles, and receving a wound at the 2nd Battle of Bull Run. He was advanced to Captain and commander of Company E in February 1863, who he would lead until October of that year. On October 23 he was transferred to the 59th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, and was promoted to the unit's Major. In the June 1864 assualts on Petersburg by the Army of the Potomac, he was again wounded. When he returned to duty after recovering, he was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel, and assumed command fo the regiment when the 59th Massachusett's commander, Colonel Jacob Park Gould, was wounded on Juy 30, 1864. When Colonel Gould succumbed to his wounded on August 21, Joseph Colburn was appointed as the regiment's Colonel, but was never mustered in at that rank. He continued to led the 59th Massachusetts through the Petersburg seige and in the final fighting that culimated in the April 1865 surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia at Appomattox. A few weeks after the end of the fighting, he was honorably discharged on April 28 due at a medical disability that was described as "hypertrophy of the heart". After the war he moved from his native Massachusetts to Colorado, where he spent many years as a successful miner.
Bio by: RPD2
Family Members
Children
Advertisement
See more Colburn memorials in:
Explore more
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
