Jacob B . Sweitzer Jacob Bowman Sweitzer ( July 4 , 1821 – November 9 , 1888 ) was a Pennsylvania lawyer and soldier who commanded a regiment and then a brigade in the Army of the Potomac in the American Civil War . He and his men were significantly engaged at the 1863 Battle of Gettysburg , where they reinforced and helped temporarily stabilize the Union defensive line on the second day of fighting . Early life . Jacob Bowman Sweitzer was born July 4 , 1821 , in Brownsville , Fayette County , PA . He was the son of Henry Sweitzer 1780 - 1852 , and Ann Elliott Bowman 1790 - 1876 . His Paternal ancestors were George Ludwig " Lewis " Sweitzer 1740 - 1795 , and Conrad Sweitzer / Schweitzer 1706 - 1770 , who arrived in Philadelphia in 1749 , from Germany . His brother , Nelson Bowman Sweitzer , who became a career army officer , was born in Brownsville seven years later . Jacob Sweitzer studied at Jefferson College , graduating in 1843 . He later studied law , passed the bar exam , and established a legal practice . Civil War . Sweitzer was named major of the 62nd Pennsylvania Infantry on July 4 , 1861 . He became lieutenant colonel on November 17 of that year and colonel on June 27 , 1862 . Sweitzer served in the Seven Days Battles , being wounded and captured at the Battle of Gaines Mill . After being exchanged on August 15 , 1862 , he led his regiment in the First Division , V Corps at the Second Battle of Bull Run and at Antietam in the brigade of Brig . Gen . Charles Griffin . When Griffin became commander of the First Division , Sweitzer was temporarily his successor in brigade command , including at the Battle of Fredericksburg . Subsequently , Sweitzer returned to his regimental role . He resumed command of the brigade at the Battle of Chancellorsville , succeeding Col . James McQuade . ( McQuade was senior to Sweitzer , but he had missed Fredericksburg . ) Gettysburg . At the Battle of Gettysburg , the V Corps arrived early on July 2 , 1863 , after a hard march from Unionville , Maryland . The First Division , temporarily led by Brig . Gen . James Barnes , was sent to the left flank to aid III Corps . Sweitzer ’ s brigade and that of Col . William S . Tilton went into action between the Wheatfield and the Peach Orchard . ( The Third Brigade , under Col . Strong Vincent was detached and sent to Little Round Top . ) The two brigades were deployed at a perpendicular angle to one another , which made their position hard to maintain under attack . After enduring Confederate assaults , General Barnes decided to withdraw from an exposed position . Sweitzer ’ s report describes the order to withdraw as “ peremptory . ” Sweitzer ’ s command , however , was sent back into the fight , entering the Wheatfield . It was flanked , however , by Confederate Brig . Gen . William T . Wofford ’ s brigade , suffering serious losses . Col . Harrison Jeffords of the 4th Michigan Infantry was killed when Confederate soldiers tried to capture his regiment ’ s flag . The brigade withdrew toward Little Round Top and was positioned in that vicinity for the remainder of the battle . It later participated in the retreat of the Confederate army . Sweitzer had only three regiments present , one — the 9th Massachusetts Regiment — being on detached duty . He reported that his regiments lost 466 out of 1 , 010 present on the field . Sweitzer retained his brigade in the autumn of 1863 , participating in the earlier stages of Bristoe Campaign and in the Mine Run Campaign . After Gettysburg . When the Army of the Potomac was reorganized preceding Lt . Gen . Ulysses S . Grant ’ s Overland Campaign , Sweitzer retained brigade command in Griffin ’ s First Division . His brigade absorbed Tilton ’ s 22nd Regiment Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry . Sweitzer led the brigade at the Battle of the Wilderness and the Battle of Spotsylvania . Sweitzer distinguished himself at the Battle of North Anna , holding the exposed right flank of V Corps during a Confederate attack near Jericho Mills . He also commanded these troops at the Battle of Cold Harbor and the early stages of the Siege of Petersburg . Sweitzer was mustered out with his regiment on July 13 , 1864 . He received a brevet promotion to the rank of brigadier general for “ war service ” on March 13 , 1865 . Postbellum activities . After leaving the army , Sweitzer settled in Pittsburgh , Pennsylvania . He resumed legal practice in Pittsburgh . Sweitzer died on November 9 , 1888 , and was buried at Allegheney Cemetery .