Brevet Brigadier-General John P. S. Gobin, U.S.V:

Brevet Brigadier-General John P. S. Gobin, named for his grandfather, Rev. John Peter Shindel, was born January 26, 1837, at Sunbury, Pennsylvania. On the paternal side he descended from good old Revolutionary stock, his great-grandfather, Charles Gobin, being captain in one of the Berks County Associated Battalions during the struggle for Independence, serving in the Jersey campaign, and in the summer of 1780 on active duty on the frontiers of Pennsylvania. His grandfather, Edward Gobin, was a soldier in the War of 1812-14. General John P. S. Gobin received an academic education, learned the art of printing, and was admitted to the Northumberland County bar in 1858. When the Civil War threatened, before the firing upon Sumter, he tendered his services to Gov. Curtin, was accepted, and on returning to Sunbury commenced the organization of what eventually was Company F, Eleventh Penna., being commissioned first lieutenant. His company participated in the first fight at Falling Waters, and volunteered to remain in the service at the request of General Patterson. After the expiration of the three months' campaign he reorganized the company, and Sept. 2, 1861, was mustered in as captain of Company C, Forty-seventh Regiment. This command first served in Smith's division of the Army of the Potomac, but in January, 1862, was ordered to Florida, and the regiment garrisoned Fort Taylor on the island of Key West, and Fort Jefferson at the Dry Tortugas. Subsequently it went on an expedition up St. John's River, seizing Jacksonville and the fort at St. John's Bluff. It may be here mentioned that the Forty-seventh captured the " Governor Milton," a war steamer, near Palatka,-the only steamer taken by infantry during the Rebellion. In the summer of 1862 the regiment was sent to Hilton Head, S. C., to assist in the attack on the approaches to Charleston, and participated in the battle of Pocotaligo. In the report of Brigadier-General Brannan, commanding the Department of the South, referring to Captain Gobin and others by name, in connection with that action, occurs the following: " I have great pleasure, on the recommendation of their respective commanders, in bringing to the favorable consideration of the department the following officers and men who rendered themselves specially worthy of notice by their bravery and praiseworthy conduct during the entire expedition, and the engagements attending it."

In 1865 Hancock's Veteran Corps was organized, and the Forty-seventh was assigned to it, Major Gobin having been promoted November 4, 1864, lieutenant-colonel, and January 3, 1865, colonel of the regiment. When the spring campaign opened, Colonel Gobin, having been brevetted brigadier-general March 13, 1865, was placed in command of the Second Brigade, First Division, of the Nineteenth Army Corps, co-operating with Grant, heading for Lynchburg, where he received news of Lee's surrender, and the force returned. On the day of the assassination of President Lincoln they were ordered to Washington, and a picket, or rather skirmish-line, was thrown around the entire city. The Forty-seventh participated in the grand review, and after it was over the regiment was again sent South. Ordered at first to Savannah, subsequently to Charleston, General Gobin was placed in command of that city, and at the same time made Provost Judge. All the courts having been suspended, he was the only judicial officer in that city during the reconstruction period, and the regiment was finally discharged Jan. 9, 1866. Returning home, Gen. Gobin resumed the practice of the law at Lebanon. He is now brigadier-general of the N. G. of Penna., a member of the G. A. R., the Loyal Legion, Grand Master of the Grand Encampment of Knights Templar of the United States, and a prominent member of the State Senate.

Source: Officers of the Volunteer Army and Navy who served in the Civil War, published by L.R. Hamersly & Co., 1893, 419 pgs.

Related Links:

• Civil War Records
• Civil War Microfilm at the National Archives
• Gobin Surname