Notes for: Robert Lewis Bodine, Gen.
The picture I have of him comes from Find A Grave and was added by Gregory Speciale.
This is the Robert Bodine mentioned several times in the "War of the Rebellion." He was an officer from Philadephia who fought in many battles with the 26th Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment.
The following comes from "Three Year Regiments - Part I: Taylor's Philadelphia in the Civil War," 1861-1865: PA. It was contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Val.
TWENTY-SIXTH REGIMENT INFANTRY
Colonel William F. Small to June 30, 1862
Colonel Benjamin C. Tilghman to July 26, 1863
Lieut.-Col. Robert L. Bodine to June 18, 1864
Total Enrollment: 1,523 Officers and Men
This regiment, recruited by Col. William F. Small, late commander of the Washington Brigade, was the first of the three years' regiments of Pennsylvania. It was mustered in to date from May 5th, 1861. With the exception of a part of Company K it was composed of Philadelphia volunteers.[43a] The regiment moved to Washington upon June 17th, where Company B, Capt. John B. Adams, was detached for special duty at headquarters of Gen George B. McClellan. This company rejoined the regiment in February, 1863. The 26th was attached to Grover's Brigade, Hooker's Division, Third Corps, and wintered in camp at Budd's Ferry, Maryland. In April, 1862, the 26th was engaged upon the Virginia Peninsula, sharing in the actions of Yorktown and Williamsburg. At the latter battle Col. Small was wounded, necessitating his retirement from the service. Lieut.-Col. Benjamin C. Tilghman succeeded to the colonelcy. The regiment participated in the battles of Fair Oaks, Seven Pines and Malvern Hill, and in the movements leading to Harrison's Landing, on the James river. Leaving Yorktown by steamer for Alexandria, Va., the Third Corps was advanced to the Rappahannock river, met the enemy at Bristoe Station, and on August 29th, 1862, lost heavily at the second battle of Bull Run. In December, 1862, the 26th was engaged in the attack upon Fredericksburg. At the battle of Chancellorsville it was again severely depleted. In this battle Col. Tilghman was wounded, and, later, resigned. Lieut.-Col. Robert L. Bodine assumed command. Early in June, 1863, the regiment was detailed to guard the wagon train of the
Third Corps upon a march which finally led to South Mountain and Gettysburg. The Third Corps was engaged in the great battle at this historic field upon the second and third days. The 26th went into the fight with three hundred and sixty-four rank and file, losing two hundred and thirteen killed and wounded. Of the eighteen officers, two were killed and nine severely wounded. Three color bearers were killed. At Beverly Ford, in August, 1863, the regiment was reinforced by one hundred and ninety-two recruits from Philadelphia. A series of marches and skirmishes kept the regiment fully occupied through the autumn, and the winter was spent in road construction and camp routine. At this time the Third Corps was disbanded and the 26th became a part of the Second Brigade, Third Division, Second Corps. On May 4th, 1864, the regiment, under Major Samuel G. Moffitt (Col. Bodine having been promoted Bvt.-Brig.-General) was again on the march, and in the thick of the fight at the "Wilderness," losing twelve killed and twenty-seven wounded. On the 10th the 26th charged the enemy at Spotsylvania, and two days later shared in a greater charge upon the same ground, capturing two Napoleon guns. Here the regiment lost twenty killed and forty-five wounded. Many of the casualties were inflicted by an attack upon the left flank of the army by Rosser's cavalry. At North Anna River a week later, the 26th fought its last battle, and, its term of service having expired, was
sent to Philadelphia, arriving upon June 5th, 1864. The men whose enlistments had not ended were transferred to the 99th Regiment, Penna. Infantry. After a splendid reception by the people of Philadelphia, the regiment was mustered out June 18th, 1864.
[43a] Col. Small had served in the Mexican War as Captain of the Monroe Guards. Lieut.-Col. Rush Van Dyke had also served in Mexico as captain of the Montgomery Guards. Both of these companies were from Philadelphia and numbers of their members were enrolled in the 26th Regiment.
TOTAL LOSSES
Killed in action - 5 officers; 77 men
Died of wounds - 1 officer; 63 men
Died of disease or other causes - 2 officers; 73 men
Wounded, not mortally - 22 officers; 398 men
Captured or missing - 65 men
BATTLES
Yorktown, Williamsburg, Oak Grove, Seven Days' Battles, Manassas, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Mine Run, Wilderness, Spotsylvania and also present at Savage Station, White Oak Swamp, Glendale, Malvern Hill, Chantilly, Kelly's Ford, North Anna and Totopotomoy.
Frank Embon from Allentown, Pennsylvania (fcembon at erols.com) said that he is a descendant of Robert L. Bodine. He said that he enlisted in the Federal Army in Pennsylvania during the Civil War and had become a general by the end of the conflict. Frank said that Robert Bodine married a Katherine (Kate) Burn, not Bunn.
Here is some more on Robert L. Bodine. It comes from Martial Deeds of Pennsylvania, Samuel P. Bates, 1876 - Part 2, Chapter 6, 590- 627 Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Judy Banja jbanja at msn.com and transcribed by Judy Banja, Judith Bookwalter, Cyndie Enfinger, Linda Horn, Margaret Long, Patricia Martz, Barbara Milhalcik, Leah Waring and Marjorie B. Winter.
ROBERT L. BODINE - 609 buried with military honors at Woodlands Cemetery, beside his brother-in-law, Lieutenant John T. Greble, United States Army, who was killed at Big Bethel. ROBERT L. BODINE was born on the 30th of May, 1832, in Northampton, Bucks county, Pennsylvania. His father, John R. Bodine, and his mother, Sarah Lewis, were both of American origin. The son during boyhood was engaged in the usual labors of his father's farm, and in attending the district school. He afterwards spent some time at the Doylestown Academy. As his mind became developed, he manifested a strong liking for mechanical studies, and the science of military operations. A fondness was also exhibited for the study of history, especially the valorous deeds of the great men of past time. His tastes naturally led him to seek some opportunity for military training, and he joined a volunteer company then existing in Bucks county, known as the Pennsylvania Blues. In this he served for several years, rising to the position of a commissioned officer. At the opening of the Rebellion, he made haste to enroll himself as a private in the Twenty-sixth Pennsylvania regiment, among the very first to be organized in the State for the three years' service. The date of his entrance to duty was the 5th of May, 1861. He commenced at the lowest round in the ladder; but his ability and worth soon found him out, and his advancement was rapid. On the 30th of the same month he was promoted to Commissary Sergeant; on the 25th of August following, to Second Lieutenant of Company K; on the 15th of January, 1862, to Captain, and on the 10th of July to Major of the regiment. During all this period, he was in constant service with his command, bearing a conspicuous part in the battle of Williamsburg with General Small, and at Fair Oaks, Seven Pines, Glendale, and Malvern Hill. When the remnants of McClellan's army, spared by the bullets of the enemy and the no less deadly and destructive miasms of the Chickahominy, retired from the Peninsula, and proceeded to the support of Pope on the Rappahannock, this regiment, forming part of Hooker's division, was prompt to move. When it was ascertained that MARTIAL DEEDS OF PENNSYLVANIA - 610 Stonewall Jackson had come in upon the rear of Pope's army and was at Manassas Junction, Hooker was ordered to move back upon the railroad to meet him. Major Bodine was now in command of the regiment, and took the lead of the brigade in that march. A sharp encounter resulted in the triumph of Hooker, and he moved on to the Second Bull Run battle-ground. The regiment was here put to severe service, at one time being led with the brigade upon an old railroad grading, behind which the enemy was concealed, and from whom it received a deadly fire; and at others supporting artillery in different parts of the field that was hotly engaged, sustaining throughout severe losses and acquitting itself worthily. After the battle of Fredericksburg, in which the Twenty-sixth participated, the whole army was reorganized under that gallant leader, General Joseph Hooker; and here the early tastes of reading of Major Bodine proved of great service. He opened a school for the instruction of the officers of the regiment, in which the elementary and necessary principles of military duty were studied and explained with great acceptance and signal usefulness. The battle of Chancellorsville disclosed the value of the instructions which had been give, the regiment being manoeuvred in the most trying situations with great ease and success. After this battle, the Colonel being obliged to retire from service on account of wounds received at Chancellorsville, and its Lieutenant-Colonel being permanently on detached service, the entire command devolved on Major Bodine, and he was soon after advanced to the grades of Lieutenant-Colonel and Colonel. Few commanders of regiments were placed in more trying circumstances than was Colonel Bodine at the battle of Gettysburg. Carr's brigade of Humphreys' division was posted on the right of Sickles' corps, on depressed, open ground where the enemy from all sides, from commanding positions, could sweep it with his artillery, his sharpshooters and line of battle, with terrible effect. And here, with nothing to shield it from the deadly fire, it was compelled to stand through the long hours of that terrible day and submit to swift destruction. The regiment went into position with 364 enlisted men, of whom 213 were either killed or wounded. Of eighteen officers two were killed ELISHA B. HARVEY - 611 and nine severely wounded. Two of the nine died of their wounds, and five were disabled and made cripples for life. Three color-bearers were killed. With the Army of the Potomac, Colonel Bodine continued to lead his regiment in all the hard marches and desperate fighting of that heroic organization, until the expiration of his term in June, 1864, when with his regiment he was mustered out of service. In March previous he was brevetted Brigadier-General for meritorious conduct. At Gettysburg he received special commendation from General Carr; and early in the war, when with four cavalrymen and a negro guide he proceeded eighteen miles down the Potomac and captured five of the enemy, with large quantities of contraband goods ready for transfer to the rebel army then lying opposite, and brought them all to General Hooker's head-quarters, he received the warm approval of that intrepid soldier. General Bodine was appointed, in July, 1866, Consul to Cape Town, Africa; but resigned in September, on account of differences in political sentiments between himself and the President, Andres Johnson, and took an active part in the canvass for Governor during that year. He was appointed Flour Inspector of Philadelphia, in March, 1867, by Governor Geary, which office he held until March 1st, 1873. He was married on the 10th of July, 1856, to Miss Kate Y. Burn. He died at his residence in Philadelphia, on the 16th of January, 1874, universally esteemed for his nobility of nature and kindness of heart.
From Ronny Bodine:
In 1860, Robert and Kate Bodine and their 2 children lived with Robert's father in Doylestown Township, Bucks County where Robert worked as a liquor agent. On 1 June 1861, he enlisted for 3 years in Company D, 26th Pennsylvania Regiment and was promoted to Commissary Sergeant 3 June 1861. On 21 Aug 1861, he was promoted to 2nd Lieutenant with Company K, 26th Pennsylvania Regiment, promoted to Captain 14 Jan 1862, to Major 15 July 1862, to Lieutenant Colonel 28 Oct 1863, to Colonel 20 Feb 1864 and to Brevet Brigadier General on 14 March 1864. He was mustered out with his regiment on 18 June 1864. (Bates, Samuel P., "History of Pennsylvania Volunteers," vol. 1, Harrisburg, 1869) He had fought at the battles of Williamsburg, Second Bull Run, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville and Gettysburg. He was appointed, in July 1866, Consul to Cape Town, Africa; but resigned in Sept. on account of differences in political sentiments between himself and the President, Andres Johnson. He was appointed Flour Inspector of Philadelphia, in March 1867, by Governor Geary, which office he held until 1 March 1873. See Bates, Samuel P., "Martial Deeds of Pennsylvania," Philadelphia: T. H. Davis & Co., 1876, p. 609-613. In 1880, Kate Bodine, now a widow, was living in Philadelphia with her 2 children. In 1910, Catherine Bodine, age 74, was living with her daughter and son-in-law, Jeannette and George Costello in Philadelphia. She reported having borne 4 children, all of who were then living. The death of Kate Bodine was reported in the "Bucks County Intelligencer" of 9 Nov 1922. Robert and Kate Bodine were buried in Doylestown Cemetery, Bucks County.
From New York City Death Records:
Katherine Y. Bodine died 6 Nov 1922 in Kings County aged 87 years.
Death Notice, Philadelphia Inquirer of Thursday, 9 Nov 1922.
DIED. BODINE--Mon., Nov. 6, at Brooklyn, N.Y., Catherine Yager Bodine, aged 87. Funeral services and int. in Doylestown Cem., Doylestown, Thurs., 2.30 P.M.