George H. Covode

George Hay Covode
Col. George H. Covode
Born	(1835-08-19)August 19, 1835 Covodesville, Pennsylvania
Died	June 24, 1864(1864-06-24)(aged 28) Virginia
Buried	West Fairfield Cemetery,Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania
Allegiance	United States of America Union
Service/branch	Union Army
Years of service	1861 - 1864
Rank	Colonel
Unit	4th Pennsylvania Cavalry
Wars	American Civil War Battle of Malvern Hill Second Battle of Bull Run Battle of Antietam Battle of Fredericksburg Battle of Chancellorsville Battle of Gettysburg
Relations	John Covode(father)

George Hay Covode(August 19, 1835 – June 25, 1864) was aPennsylvaniamerchant and acolonelofcavalryin theUnion Armyduring theAmerican Civil War.

Early life

Born in Covodesville, Pennsylvania, Covode was the oldest son ofJohn Covode,aU.S. congressmanand staunchabolitionist.In his youth, George Covode was noted for his athletic proportions, being tall and well built and peculiarly fitted for the hardships of military life. He was educated in Ligonier Academy and Elders Ridge. After he left school, he engaged inmercantilepursuits for some years, but not with much success. In 1858, he married Annie Earl ofSomerset County, Pennsylvania,who died a few months after their marriage. He remarried a few years afterwards to Bettie St. Clair Robb, a granddaughter ofArthur St. Clair,amajor generalin theContinental Armyand the ninthPresident of the Continental Congress.The two had one child, Sarah.

Civil War

Col. James H. Childs and officers of the4th Pennsylvania CavalryatAntietam,with Covode at left (1862)

At the start of the Civil War in 1861, Covode enlisted as aprivatein Company D of the 4th Pennsylvania Volunteer Cavalry, raised inLigonier Valley, Pennsylvania.During the election of officers, he was chosen asfirst lieutenant.The company was soon transferred to Camp Campbell nearSoldiers' HomeinWashington, D.C.Covode was later promoted tocaptainof the company, and on March 12, 1862, tomajoras the 4th Pennsylvania was moved rapidly to the front.

Covode and his men marched toYorktown, Virginia,and soon saw action in the battles ofMalvern Hilland theSecond Bull Run.During the fall of 1862, the regiment was encamped on the north bank of thePotomac RivernearHancock, Maryland,but soon participated in the fighting atAntietam,and later atFredericksburg.

In 1863, Covode fought atChancellorsville,Gettysburgand others. On one occasion inFalls Church, Virginia,Covode and his troops were entirely surrounded by theConfederatetroops, 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 tolieutenant colonelon December 8, 1863, and was made a fullcolonelon May 28, 1864.

Death

Covode was known to be verynear-sighted,which caused trouble for him in identifying people at a far distance. On June 24, 1864, while in command of a brigade inVirginia,he mistook some Confederateskirmishersfor his own troops and rode toward them. He discovered his mistake too late and, as he was turning to ride away, he was shot in the arm and stomach by an enemy volley. In the retreat, he was left within the enemy lines and died a few hours later.

He was interred in West Fairfield Cemetery inWestmoreland County, Pennsylvania.