Harry Clay Egbert – Brigadier General, United States Army

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Born at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on January 3, 1839, he joined the 12th United States Infantry on September 23, 1861 (where he served with his brother-in-law, William A. Dove) and served with distinction in actions at Gaines Mills, Malvern Hill, Cedar Mountain, Gettysburg, etc. He was taken prisoner at Cedar Mountain and at Gettysburg, and was seriously wounded at Bethesda Church.

He remained in the Army following the Civil War and when the Spanish-American War broke out, he was Lieutenant Colonel of the 6th United States Infantry, which he commanded in the Santiago Campaign until he was shot through the body at El Canay, Cuba, on July 1, 1898.

He was promoted to Colonel, 22nd United States Infantry, and before his wound was completely healed, he sailed for the Philippines. He arrived at Manila with his command on March 4, 1899, and while leading a charge against Insurgents received a wound from which he died on March 26, 1899.

He is buried in Section 1 of Arlington National Cemetery, adjacent to his brother-in-law and sister, William A. and Julia Dove.

His wife, Ellen Young Egbert (1843-1913) is buried with him.

Ellen Young Egbert (1843-1913) was the wife of General Harry Clay Egbert who was mortally wounded while leading 
 a charge against Insurgents in 1899 in the Philippines. She accompanied her husband throughout his service from the time of their marriage throughout his career except in the Sioux wars of 1890-91 and Cuba where he was dangerously wounded at San Juan Hill. 

Choosing to remain in the Philippines after his death, she organized the American Circulating Library in March 1900 “to create a source of instruction and profitable entertainment for the American soldiers and sailors in the Philippines and for the American residents” in Manila. She was the first librarian.

A warm friend of Governor William Howard Taft, appointed during the unrest that followed the War that claimed her husband, within a year he made the government responsible for the library’s operation. Over time Mrs. Egbert began to circulate ten traveling libraries among the enlisted men of the Army and to found a few permanent ones at certain 
 posts. By 1912 when she resigned her position, the Circulating Library had become the Circulating Division of the Philippines Library.

  • Harry Clay Egbert of Pennsylvania
  • First Lieutenant, 12th U. S. Infantry, 23 September 1861
  • Captain 1 April 1865
  • Major, 17th U. S. Infantry, 23 April 1890
  • Lieutenant Colonel, 6th U. S. Infantry, 18 May 1893
  • Colonel, 22nd U. S. Infantry, 1 July 1898
  • Brigadier General of U. S. Volunteers, 1 October 1898
  • Honorably discharged from Volunteer Service, 1 December 1898
  • Breveted Captain, 1 August 1864 for gallant service in the battle of North Anna, Virginia, and Major, 1 August 1864,  for gallant service in the battle of Bethesda Church, Virginia
  • Killed 26 March 1899 in action at Malinta Philippine Islands

Henry Clay Egbert, Brigadier General, United States Army, 2nd United States Infantry. Born at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, January 3, 1839. He was killed in action while leading his regiment at Malinta, Philippines, March 26, 1899.

Egbert joined the 12th United States Infantry, September 23, 1861 and served with distinction in actions of Gaines Mills, Malvern Hill, Cedar Mountain, Gettysburg, etc. He was taken prisoner at Cedar Mountain and at Gettysburg, and seriously wounded at Bethesda Church.

When the Spanish-American War broke out he was Lieutenant Colonel of the 6th United States Infantry, which he commanded in the Santiago campaign in Cuba until he was shot through the body, at El Caney, July 1, 1898.

He was promoted to Colonel, 22nd United States Infantry, and before his wound completely healed, he sailed for the Philippines. He arrived at Manila with his command, March 4, 1899, and while leading charge against Malinta received a wound from which he died Mar 26, 1899.

EGBERT Avenue in San Francisco is named  for Colonel Egbert, United States army, killed in the Philippines.

  • Harry Clay Egbert of Pennslvania
  • Appointed First Lieutenant, 12th United States Infantry, 23 September 1861
  • Captain, 1 April 1865
  • Major, 17th United States Infantry, 23 April 1890
  • Lieuenant Colonel, 6th United States Infantry, 18 May 1893
  • Colonel, 22nd United States Infantry, 1 July 1898
  • Brigadier General, United States Volunteers, 1 October 1898
  • Honorably discharged from Volunteer Service, 1 December 1898
  • Breveted Captain, 1 August 1864 for gallant service in the Battle of North Anna, Virginia, and Major, 1 August 1864, for gallant service in the Battle
  • of Bethesda Church, Virginia
  • Killed 26 March 1899 in action at Malinta, Philippine Islands

From Spanish-American War Report:

Lieutenant Colonel Harry C. Egbert of the Sixth Infantry, who was amongt he wounded (at battle of Santiago, Cuba), was born in Pennsylvania and was appointed from that State First Lieutenant in the Twelfth  Infantry September 21, 1861.  He reached the rank of Captain April 1, 1865, was promoted to be Major of the Seventeenth Infantry in April 1890 and on May 18, 1893, was made Lieutenant Colonel of the Sixth Infantry.

  • EGBERT, ELLEN YOUNG WIDOW OF HARRY C
  • DATE OF DEATH: 06/01/1913
  • DATE OF INTERMENT: Unknown
  • BURIED AT: SECTION OS/WS  SITE LOT 280
  • ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY
  • WIFE OF HC EGBERT – COL 22ND US INF

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