Henry Linn

Henry Linn was born on August 1, 1836 in Union County, Pennsylvania. He was the third of ten children born to Simon and Rebecca Linn. On April 22, 1861 Henry joined Company A "Iron Guard" of the 6th Pennsylvania Reserves (35th Regiment) in Bloomsburg, Columbia County, Pennsylvania. At the time of his enlistment Henry was 24 years old, 6' 2" tall, and was described as having a light complexion, gray eyes and brown hair. Henry listed his occupation as Laborer. Per his discharge paperwork Henry was officially mustered into service in Washington D.C. on the 27th of July, 1861 for a 3 year service. Henry saw action in numerous battles including Antietam (September 17, 1862) where he was severely wounded by a gunshot. Henry was moved to a military hospital in Frederick, Maryland where he remained until succumbing to his wounds on March 31, 1863. Per records from the General Hospital in Frederick, Henry died from complications stemming from a compound fracture of his leg which was amputated; therefore he most likely died from an infection caused by the amputation. Henry was first buried in Frederick and then reinterred at the Antietam National Cemetery in Sharpsburg, Maryland. His older brother William Simon Linn, born in 1834, named his first born son William Henry, born September 16, 1862; ironically William Henry was born just the day before his uncle Henry Linn was mortally wounded at Antietam battlefield. William Henry Linn worked for many years on the Reading Railroad. Henry Linn's great-great-great-great nephew Kirby Roy Blass also named his first born son Henry in honor of his service and sacrifice for his country.

Praise be to the Lord my Rock, who trains my hands for war, my fingers for battle. Psalm 144.

The following is an excerpt from Pennsylvania Governor Andrew Gregg Curtin's speech during the presentation of colors to the newly formed 6th Pennsylvania Reserve / 35th Regiment at Camp Curtin, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, in the Summer of 1861:

"It is the flag of your fathers and your country. It will be yours to bear in the thickest of the fight and defend it to the last. Upon its return, it will have inscribed upon it the record of those battles through which you have carried it, and will become a part of the archives of Pennsylvania; and there it will remain, through all coming time, a witness to your children and your children's children of the valor of their fathers. With a full confidence that in your hands this banner will never be disgraced, I entrust it to your care and for the last time bid your farewell!".

6th Regiment, Pennsylvania Reserve Infantry (35th Volunteers)

Overview: Organized at Harrisburg June, 1861. At Camp Biddie, Greencastle, Pa., July 12-22, 1861. Moved to Washington, D. C., July 22. Mustered into United States service July 27, 1861. Attached to 3rd Brigade, McCall's Pennsylvania Reserves Division, Army of the Potomac, to March, 1862. 3rd Brigade, 2nd Division, 1st Army Corps, Army of the Potomac, to April, 1862. 3rd Brigade, McCall's Division, Dept. of the Rappahannock, to June, 1862. 3rd Brigade, 3rd Division, 5th Army Corps, Army of the Potomac, to July, 1862. 1st Brigade, 3rd Division, 5th Army Corps, to August, 1862. 1st Brigade, 3rd Division, 3rd Army Corps, Army of Virginia, to September, 1862. 1st Brigade, 3rd Division, 1st Army Corps, Army of the Potomac, to February, 1863. 1st Brigade, Pennsylvania Reserve Division, 22nd Corps, Dept, of Washington, to June, 1863. 1st Brigade, 3rd Division, 5th Army Corps, Army of the Potomac, to June, 1864.

Service:Duty at Tennallytown, Md., July 27 to October 10, 1861, and at Camp Pierpont, near Langley, Va., till March, 1862. Expedition to Grinnell's Farm December 6, 1861. Action at Dranesville December 20. Advance on Manassas, Va,, March 10-15, 1862. McDowell's advance on Falmouth, Va., April 9-19. Duty at Fredericksburg, Va., till June. Moved to White House June 11-13. Seven days before Richmond June 25-July 1. Guarding supplies at Tunstall's Station and White House June 26-July 2. At Harrison's Landing till August 16. Movement to join Pope August 16-26. Battles of Gainesville August 28; Groveton August 29; Bull Run August 30. Maryland Campaign September 6-24. Battles of South Mountain September 14; Antietam September 16-17. Near Sharpsburg till September 26. Movement to Falmouth, Va., September 26-November 19. Battle of Fredericksburg December 12-15, "Mud March" January 20-24, 1863. Ordered to Washington, D. C., February 6, and duty there and at Alexandria till June 25, 1863. Rejoined Army of the Potomac in the field. Battle of Gettysburg, Pa., July 1-3. Pursuit of Lee July 5-24. Bristoe Campaign October 9-22. Advance to line of the Rappahannock November 7-8. Rappahannock Station November 7. Mine Run Campaign November 26-December 2, Bristoe Station February 1, 1864. Rapidan Campaign May. Battles of the Wilderness May 5-7; Laurel Hill May 8; Spottsylvania May 8-12; Spottsylvania Court House May 12-21. Assault on the Salient May 12. Harris Farm May 19, North Anna River May 23-26. Jericho Ford May 25. Line of the Pamunkey May 26-28. Totopotomoy May 28-31. Mustered out June 11, 1864.

Regiment lost during service 3 Officers and 107 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 73 Enlisted men by disease. Total 183.

Henry Linn is buried at the Antietam National Battlefield in Sharpsburg, Maryand. His grave marker is #4078.

"Not for themselves, but for their country"