Civil War Union Army Officer. A 1857 graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York, he served as a 1st Lieutenant in the 7th United States Regular Infantry in the early days of the war. Promoted to Captain in July 1862, he served as acting Adjutant General on the staff of Major General George Sykes from December 1862 to June 1863, and as acting Adjutant General and Chief of Staff to Brigadier General Romeyn B. Ayers from June 1863 to July 1863 (both officers had commanded the V Corps division that contained the brigades of Regular Army infanty regiments). On July 17, 1863 he was commissioned Colonel, US Volunteers, and was mustered in as commander of the 140th New York Volunteer Infantry, which had lost it's leader, Colonel Patrick O'Rorke, during it's celebrated defense of Little Round Top on the second day of the July 1863 Battle of Gettysburg. Colonel Ryan led his men during the fall 1863 Mine Run Campaign, and twice briefly commanded his brigade during the Winter 1864 inactivity. He comanded his troopers in the May 1864 Battle of the Wilderness, and the race to capture the crossroads of Spotsylvania Court House. On May 8, 1864, at Laurel Hill, Virginia, while leading his men in assaults on Confederate positions, he was shot in the breast and killed. His remains were eventually brought to Rochester, New York, where they rest next to the grave of his 140th New York predecessor, Colonel O'Rorke.
Civil War Union Army Officer. A 1857 graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York, he served as a 1st Lieutenant in the 7th United States Regular Infantry in the early days of the war. Promoted to Captain in July 1862, he served as acting Adjutant General on the staff of Major General George Sykes from December 1862 to June 1863, and as acting Adjutant General and Chief of Staff to Brigadier General Romeyn B. Ayers from June 1863 to July 1863 (both officers had commanded the V Corps division that contained the brigades of Regular Army infanty regiments). On July 17, 1863 he was commissioned Colonel, US Volunteers, and was mustered in as commander of the 140th New York Volunteer Infantry, which had lost it's leader, Colonel Patrick O'Rorke, during it's celebrated defense of Little Round Top on the second day of the July 1863 Battle of Gettysburg. Colonel Ryan led his men during the fall 1863 Mine Run Campaign, and twice briefly commanded his brigade during the Winter 1864 inactivity. He comanded his troopers in the May 1864 Battle of the Wilderness, and the race to capture the crossroads of Spotsylvania Court House. On May 8, 1864, at Laurel Hill, Virginia, while leading his men in assaults on Confederate positions, he was shot in the breast and killed. His remains were eventually brought to Rochester, New York, where they rest next to the grave of his 140th New York predecessor, Colonel O'Rorke.
Bio by: Kristen Conrad
Inscription
OUR COLONEL
REQUIESCAT IN PACE.
GEORGE RYAN
KILLED NEAR SPOTTSYLVANIA, VA.
MAY 8, 1864
140TH REG'T N. Y. VOL.
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