Joseph W. Fisher

= Joseph W. Fisher =

Joseph Fisher commanded a brigade of the Pennsylvania Reserves in some of the most important battles of the Army of the Potomac in the American Civil War.

Joseph Washington Fisher was born in Northumberland County, Pennsylvania on October 16, 1814. He became a lawyer in that region of Pennsylvania. When war broke out and the Pennsylvania reserves were organized, Fisher became lieutenant colonel of the 5th Pennsylvania Reserves. He was promoted to the rank of colonel on July 1, 1862, after Col Seneca G. Simmons was killed in battle. Fisher led the 5th Reserves at the Battle of Antietam and the Battle of Fredericksburg in the Reserves division under the command of MG George G. Meade. At the latter battle, Fisher succeeded to command of third brigade, third division, I Corps, when BG Conrad Feger Jackson was killed during Meade’s assault on the Confederate right flank. The Reserves were removed from the field to recover from hard service in 1862, and Fisher commanded the brigade in XXII Corps, Department of Washington.

When two brigades of the Reserves returned to the field in 1863, commanded by BG Samuel W. Crawford, Col William McCandless and Colonel Fisher led these units in V Corps. They fought at the Battle of Gettysburg on the left flank of the army. Fisher’s service in that battle is controversial. Col Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain reported that his 20th Maine and Fisher’s brigade were sent to occupy Big Round Top late on July 2, 1863. Chamberlain claimed that Fisher was unwilling to advance against unknown odds and that his unit, battle worn as it was, had to lead the way. Fisher’s report shows no evidence of such hesitation. He credit’s 20th Maine with leading as the skirmish line because of better weapons. [http://www.civilwarhome.com/fishergettysburgor.htm]

Fisher continued in command of his brigade well into 1864. He fought in the Battle of the Wilderness and the Battle of Spotsylvania Court House. His last action as brigade commander was the Battle of Cold Harbor. Fisher was mustered out with his regiment on June 15, 1864. He later served as colonel of the 195th Pennsylvania Infantry. Fisher was mustered out with that regiment on January 31, 1866. He received a brevet promotion to the rank of brigadier general on November 4, 1865.

After the war, Joseph Fisher moved to the Wyoming Territory. He served as chief justice of the territorial courts from 1871 to 1879. Fisher died in Cheyenne, Wyoming on October 18, 1900. He was buried at Lakeview Cemetery in Cheyenne.

Sources

* Eicher, John H., and Eicher, David J., "Civil War High Commands", Stanford University Press, 2001, ISBN 0-8047-3641-3.

* Pfanz, Harry W., "Gettysburg the Second Day", Chapel Hill, University of North Carolina Press, 1987.

* Rable, George C., "Fredericksburg! Fredericksburg!", Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Press, 2002.

* Sypher, J. R., "History of the Pennsylvania Reserve Corps", Lancaster, PA: Elias Barr & Co., 1865.

* Walton, Thomas Beck, "A Pennsylvanian in Blue: the Civil War Diary of Thomas Beck Walton", edited by Robert A. Taylor, Shippensburg, PA: Burd Street Press, 1995.