PA MAJOR GENERAL SIGNED CABINET PHOTO AS COLONEL - CIVL WAR & SPANISH AMERICAN

Description

PA MAJOR GENERAL SIGNED CABINET CARD PHOTO AS COLONEL - CIVL WAR & SPANISH AMERICAN WAR
TWO excellent cabinet card photographs (about 4.5 x 6.5") of WENDELL PHILLIPS BOWMAN as the Colonel of the 1st REGIMENT PENNSYLVANIA VOLUNTEER INFANTRY.
The first cabinet card is a Spanish American War era portrait in full uniform with three medals, and is signed on the front in dark ink. It reads:
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WENDELL PHILLIPS BOWMAN Colonel 1st Regt. Ifty. RSP 5/16/01
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THERE IS ALSO A SECOND MATCHING CABINET CARD PHOTO OF BOWMAN in civilian clothes. Both cabinet cards have a few spots and marks but are otherwise in quite good condition as shown in the scan below. There is an imprint on the front and on the reverse of both cards for the photographer -- "F. Gutekunst 712 Arch St. Philadelphia"
Bowman had an impressive military career in Pennsylvania state service which began with his serving as a drummer boy in the Civl War:
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WENDELL P. BOWMAN (1847 – 1928)
was a major general in the Pennsylvania National Guard, and served as commander of the 28th Infantry Division.
He was still a boy when the American Civil War broke out in 1861, and was too young for military service, so he became a drummer for a militia unit, the Byberry Guards.
At age 15 he joined the 44th Pennsylvania Militia, which was later mustered into federal service as a unit of the Pennsylvania Reserves. He was a participant in the 1863 Battle of Gettysburg.
In July, 1864 Bowman joined the 197th Pennsylvania Infantry, and then later, joined an Iowa regiment, in which he served until being discharged for ill health. Until 1874, Bowman was unable to walk as a result of his illness and complications caused by the harsh conditions of his service.
After the war Bowman studied law and practiced in Philadelphia. He was active in the Grand Army of the Republic, and served as Judge Advocate of the Department of Pennsylvania. He was also a sought after speech maker.
In 1877 Bowman joined the 20th Pennsylvania Regiment, which was organized to respond to labor unrest during the Great Railroad Strike of 1877.
In 1878 he received a commission as a captain in command of Company H, 1st Regiment, Pennsylvania National Guard. He advanced through the ranks and became regimental commander with the rank of colonel in 1887.
Bowman volunteered for the Spanish–American War and his regiment was mustered into federal service in 1898. He was seriously injured during training at Mount Gretna on May 2, 1898, and was unable to lead the regiment when it departed Pennsylvania.
The war ended before the 1st Pennsylvania departed for Cuba. Bowman resumed command after the regiment returned to Pennsylvania from its encampment in Tennessee.
In 1907 Bowman became commander of Pennsylvania's 1st Brigade as a brigadier general.
In 1909 he became commander of the Pennsylvania National Guard Division, the organization later known as the 28th Infantry Division, and was promoted to major general. He served until retiring in 1910. Bowman died on April 8, 1928, and was buried at Merion Friends Burial Ground.
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The scan below shows front and reverse of both cabinet card photographs and a half-tone illustration of Bowman from a book on "Notable Philadelphians."
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