Richard Wagner

For Honor, Flag, and Family: Civil War Major General Samuel W. Crawford, 1827-1892 Richard Wagner

General Samuel Wylie Crawford served in the United States Army from Fort Sumter through Appomattox, fighting in the major battles in the Eastern Theater of the war. Born in Fayetteville, Pennsylvania, Crawford graduated from the University of Pennsylvania medical school in 1850. Enlisting in the United States Army, he served as an assistant surgeon in the Southwest until 1860. In addition to his medical duties at Fort Sumter, Crawford also commanded a battery. He was promoted to brigadier general in 1862; his brigade was heavily engaged at Cedar Mountain, losing almost 50 percent of its strength. Although severely wounded at Antietam, Crawford recovered to lead the Pennsylvania Reserves at the Battle of Gettysburg. Fighting until the surrender at Appomattox, Crawford remained in the United States Army until retiring to Philadelphia in 1873.

For Honor, Flag, and Family shows the depth of compassion and the complexity of character that led to the prominence of Franklin County?s highest-ranking officer, Samuel Crawford. While serving at Fort Sumter, he eloquently delivered his lifelong motto: "I must sustain with honor my flag and the reputation of the name I bear."