George W. Maxwell, 72nd Pennsylvania, Company A

On October 8, Elizabeth Maxwell wrote to Lieutenant Commanding John Holahan of the 72nd Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry inquiring about her son George W. Maxwell's death at Antietam on September 17. George served in Company A and like many in that company came from the 19th Ward on Philadelphia. His company, part of Baxter's Fire Zouaves of the 72nd Regiment, formed in Philadelphia in August and September 1861. Here is Lt. Holahan's reply to her letter.

Head Quarters 72nd Regt P.V.

Bolivar Heights

October 11, 1862

Mrs. Elizabeth Maxwell

Madam

I received your letter of the 8th inst. Inquiring the Particulars of your Sons Death. All that I can say is that he fell at his Post while the regiment was advancing in line of Battle to meet the Enemy on the Morning of the 17th of Sept. 1862 at the Battle of Antietam. He received a Ball through the Heart and Expired a few moments afterwards. If you should wish to get his Body, you can do so. His gave is marked with his name & Regt. It is on the Sharpsburg Turnpike about one mile this side of Sharpsburg. The easiest way of getting his Pay is by applying to Jos. Devitt & Co.[1] Walnut St. bet. 4th St. Philad. He was Paid up to the 30th April 1862,

Respectfully yours,

Jno. Holahan

Lieut. Coming. Co. N 72 P.V.

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John A. Holahan (aka Hollahan) is 1st Lieutenant of Company N. The regimental report filed from Bolivar Heights post battle shows its captain, Joseph Ellis, absent since August 14 and 2d Lieutenant James M. Sunderland on recruiting service.  

As for Maxwell, the "Brief in Case" signed by James Morgan, Examining Clerk, assigned to the Maxwell application lists him as a member of Company A.  But Elizabeth's Maxwell's declaration and assignment-of-attorney on February 25, 1863 places him in Company N "commanded by Captain Ellis." Her printed pension application form also shows him in Company N.  

National Archives RG 94, Records of the Adjutant General's Office, Book Records of Volunteer Union Organizations, 72nd Pennsylvania Infantry, Descriptive Book, Companies A and L, E112-115, PI-17, Vol. 1 of 1, Return of the Seventy Second Regiment of Pennsylvania Volunteers, Army of the Potomac, Bolivar Heights [Virginia]; RG 94, Indexes to the Carded Records of Soldiers Who Served in Volunteer Organizations During the Civil War, compiled 1899 - 1927, documenting the period 1861 - 1866.

[1]  Joseph Devitt headed "The Military and Naval Agency" of the Joseph E. Devitt & Co. in Philadelphia. He identified himself as a "Late Pension Agent for U.S. Government."