Major General John F. Reynolds
West Point Graduate
John Fulton Reynolds was born on September 20, 1820, in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. In 1837, he was nominated to the United States Military Academy at West Point by future President James Buchanan, a friend of Reynolds’ father.
After the Battle at Gaines’ Mill, an exhausted Reynolds was captured while attempting to get some sleep. Reynolds did not remain a prisoner for long; just weeks later he was involved in a prisoner exchange, soon after he received the command of the entire division of Pennsylvania Reserves.
He commanded at several conflicts; Seven Days Battles, Second Battle of Bull Run, Battle of Fredricksburg, Battle of Chancellorsville, and the Battle of Gettysburg.
Kate was secretly engaged to Major General Reynolds.
Reynolds was engaged to Katherine May Hewitt, they were from different religious denominations–he was Protestant, Hewitt a Catholic–so their engagement was kept a secret. Hewitt’s parents never learned about the engagement until after his death. She promised Reynolds to enter the convent should they never marry. As a result of his death she joined the Order of the Daughters of Charity. She received her habit on October 2, 1864, as Sister Hildegardis. She was sent on a mission to St. Joseph’s School in Albany, N.Y.
It was noted at her last address, St. Vincent’s home, Philadelphia, September 3, 1868 that she left the order. No further records were found.
On the morning of July 1, 1863, he was commanding, as Confederate brigades approached on the Chambersburg Pike to the town of Gettysburg, Pa., In response from General Buford for reinforcements Reynolds rode out to command the 2nd Wisconsin near Herbst’s Woods. He yelled at them, ” Forward men! For God’s sake forward!’
At that moment in time, he fell from his horse with a wound in the back of the upper neck, or lower head. and died almost instantly. His command passed to Abner Doubleday.
Today, a monument marks the spot of his death on the Battlefield at Gettysburg, Pa
Monument sits on the exact place of the General’s death. See in composite’s background.
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July 1, 1863 a fallen hero of the Civil War.