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by Walter S. Farquhar "Military Background"
 Recently this musing carried an article regarding Brigadier General Francis M. Wynkoop, who commanded the First Pennsylvania Regiment during the Mexican War. Yet he was only one of five brothers who achieved military distinction in mid-19th Century history of the United States. The others were: John E. Wynkoop, Colonel of the 20th Pennsylvania Cavalry, in the Civil War, who lived on till the turn of the 20th Century. He was the father of Miss Marion Wynkoop, of 214 West Market Street. Charles Shippen Wynkoop was a lieutenant in an Alabama regiment in the Civil War - and died of wounds received in action. It was a case of brother against brother, then. Fourth of the brothers was Edward W. Wynkoop, a major in the First Colorado regiment, who died of wounds sustained in Civil War action. Fifth of the brothers was George C. Wynkoop, a lieutenant-colonel in the 78th Pennsylvania Infantry who died of wounds and disease in the war between the states. And that is quite a record, which sustains the belief, suggested by this musing that the oldest brother might have gone far had he not been killed accidentally a few years before the war against secession. John Estil Wynkoop was not a First Defender but was captain of the Ashland Dragoons and marched his 110 men to Harrisburg, in response to Governor Curtin's call for troops, reporting to Colonel Nagle, who was organizing the 6th Pennsylvania Regiment. He was made a major in the outfit and first saw service in the Shenandoah Valley, under Generals Patterson and Thomas. The regiment had enlisted for three months and was mustered out in July, not having been in the Bull Run disaster. Of course, he re-enlisted immediately seeing service with Young's Kentucky regiment of light cavalry, the 3rd Pennsylvania and in recruiting 130 men in Pottsville. Then, for awhile, he was in the famous Excelsior Brigade, of Dan Sicles, of later Gettysburg fame. He served in other commands and under other commanders, among them such famous military men as Generals Buell, Rosecrans, Thomas, Negley, Couch, Siegel and Hunter. He was Chief of Cavalry on the staff of General Couch, who was one of the North's best corps commanders - and who would be better known historically had he not withdrawn from the Army of the Potomac rather than serve under Joe Hooker. But it was not astonishing that so many of the Wynkoop brothers served their country - way back in their lineage was a soldier of the Revolution and member of the first Continental Congress. He was Henry Wynkoop, who had been a judge in Bucks County and who served with Alexander Hamilton, James Monroe, James Wilson, Thomas McKean, Dr. Benjamin Rush and General Anthony Wayne. He was elected to the first Congress, after the Revolution, too, which assembled in New York in 1789. Judge Wynkoop's home in Bucks County was the abode of Colonel James Monroe, afterward President, when the latter was disabled by a wound received in the historic battle of Trenton. And it was a letter from George Washington, to his friend Judge Wynkoop, that procured hospitable quarters for the future President, in whose honor the Monroe Doctrine is named. Alexander Hamilton was an intimate of the Revolutionary ancestor of the Pottsville family. When the matter of styling the President of the United States was discussed, General Muhlenberg remarked to General Washington that a title such as High Mightiness might be all right in regard to him (Washington) or to Henry Wynkoop, but that the term might provoke ridicule when applied to lesser men. So, there is the background of the five brothers who won military distinction, here. That's the kind of people we've always had - and are likely to have. Our citizenry always has had its roots in American history.
Source:
Editorial Musings by Walter S. Farquhar
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