George H. Covode

Col. George H. Covode

George H. Covode (August 19, 1835 – June 25, 1864) was a colonel in the Union Army during the Civil War.

Early life

Born in Covodesville, Pennsylvania, Covode was the oldest son of John Covode, a congressman and abolishionist. In his youth, he was noted for his athletic proportions, being tall and well built and peculiarly fitted for the hardships of a military life. He was educated in Ligonier Academy and Elders Ridge. After he left school, he engaged in mercantile pursuits for some years but not with much success. He married in 1858 to Annie Earl of Somerset County, Pennsylvania who died a few months after their marriage. He remarried a few years afterwards to Bettie St. Clair Robb, a granddaughter of Arthur St. Clair, a major general in the Continental Army and the ninth President of the Continental Congress. The two had one child, Sarah.

Civil War

At the start of the Civil War in 1861, Covode enlisted as a private in the Union Army in Company D of the 4th Pennsylvania Cavalry, raised in Ligonier Valley, Pennsylvania. At the election of officers, he was chosen to be first lieutenant. The company was soon transfered to Camp Campbell near Soldiers' Home in Washington, D.C.. He was later promoted to captain of the company and on March 12, 1862 to major as the 4th Pennsylvania was moved rapidly to the front. They marched to Yorktown, Virginia and soon saw action in the Battles of Malvern Hill and the Second Bull Run. During the fall of 1862, the regiment was encamped on the north bank of the Potomac River near Hancock, Maryland, but soon took place in the Battles of Antietam, Chancellorsville, Fredericksburg, Gettysburg and others. On one occasion in Falls Church, Virginia, Covode and his troops were entirely surrounded by the Confederate troops, but dashing against them he used his sword so skillfully that he opened a way for his men to follow and all escaped. His strength made him a power in hand-to-hand contests of this kind, but in addition he was almost without any personal fear. In camp life he was described as jovial and was always unusually good natured. He was promoted to lieutenant colonel on December 8, 1863 and was made a full colonel on May 28, 1864.

Death

Covode was known to be very near sighted which caused trouble for him in identifying people at a far distance. On June 24, 1863, while in command of a brigade in Virginia, he mistook some Confederate skirmishers for his own troops and rode toward them. He was shot in the arm and through the stomach by a volley which came when he had discovered his mistake and turned to ride away. In the retreat his body was left within the enemy lines and he died a few hours later. He was interned in West Fairfield Cemetery in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania.

References

• George H. Covode at Find A Grave
• 4th Cavalry Pennsylvania Volunteers: Field and Staff Officers