Lieutenany Colonel John W. Crosby.

The following is from the Sixty-First Regimental History. 

 

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Page 105.  Major Crosby of the 6 Corps, wounded in the Wilderness, was in a hospital in Washington, and when he heard the 6th Corps was coming, applied for leave to join his regiment.  His application was refused on the ground that his wound in the head was not sufficiently healed to permit wearing a hat or going where there was dust, and over heating would be dangerous.

 

Nevertheless, he went to a livery stable, hired a horse and joined the regiment, taking command, as he was the ranking officer.  When nearing the regiment at Fort Stevens, having his horse, a fellow officer met Crosby, who was then on foot, and begged him to return because of his feeble condition.  This he refused to saying "I must go to my boys.."

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Page 107.  Major Crosby commanding the sixty-First Pennsylvania, who had but just recovered from the bad wound he received in the Wildness, was taken to the hospital were the surgeons removed his left arm from the shoulder.

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Page 137.  Lieutenant Colonel John W. Crosby of the 61st, an old resident of Philadelphia, was mortally wounded.  He was carried to the rear as soon as he was stricken down, and died in a few minutes.  It was the fourth wound he had received in the service of his country, by one of which, received in front of Washington on July 12, 1864, he had lost an arm.  Gallant, high spirited, generous to a fault and more then brave, his name was added to the list of "Officer Killed."

 

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Page 147.  John W. Crosby, Lt. Col., 61st., Pennsylvania, Field & Staff, mustered in September 2, 1861, for 3 years.  Promoted from Captain, Co. G., to Major April 22, 1864; wounded at Wilderness May 6, 1864; wounded at Fort Stevens July 12, 1864; mustered out December 15, 11864, re-commissioned  Lt. Col. February 22, 1865; killed at Petersburg April 2, 1865.