Harry C. Egbert

Who was Harry C. Egbert?

Harry Clay Egbert was an officer in the United States Army who served in the American Civil War, the Spanish-American War, and the Philippine-American War.

Born in Philadelphia, Egbert joined the 12th Infantry Regiment of the Army of the Potomac as a first lieutenant on September 23, 1861. During the American Civil War, Egbert participated in the Battles of Gaines Mills and Malvern Hills. He was taken prisoner twice, during the Battles of Cedar Mountain and Gettysburg, being exchanged once and escaping during Lee's retreat from Gettysburg. He was wounded in the Battle of Bethesda Church. He was promoted to captain on April 1, 1865.

After the Civil War, he remained in the army. It would be 25 years before his next promotion, to major on April 23, 1890.

Egbert was a lieutenant colonel at the start of the Spanish-American War. He commanded the 6th United States Infantry in the Santiago campaign until he was wounded in the Battle of El Caney on July 1, 1898. While still recovering, he was promoted to colonel of the 22nd United States Infantry. On October 1, 1898, he was made a Brigadier General of U.S. Volunteers.

He was then sent to the Philippines for the Philippine-American War, arriving in Manila on March 4, 1899. He was killed in action leading a charge against insurgents in Manila on March 23.