Francis Augustus Osbourne

Francis Augustus Osbourne was born on March 1, 1845, Philadelphia; enlisted in 1861, Co. I, 20th Indiana Regt.; participated in the capture of Fort Hatteras and Roanoke Island and witnessed the sinking of the U.S.S. Cumberland and Congress by the ironclad Merrimac during the battle of Newport News, March 1862.  After the capture of Norfolk and Portsmouth, he transferred to the Army of the Potomac under Generals Kearney and Hooker; commanded a company of the 16th Regiment, Veteran Reserve Corps; and engaged at Fair Oaks and Seven Pines near Richmond, where he lost an arm.  He returned to action at Yorktown in October 1863; 2d Lt., 6th Regt., USCT; supported the cavalry raid of Gen. Kilpatrick to free federal prisoners at Libby Prison, Richmond; participated in the Siege of Petersburg and was cited for “gallant and meritorious service,” receiving the battlefield brevet rank of Captain, U.S. Volunteers, Army of the Potomac.  After the war, he studied law in Philadelphia under Charles E. Lex, was admitted to the Philadelphia bar in 1869; state House of Reps., 1876-1878; Philadelphia Asst. City Solicitor to 1884; and state Senate, except 1889, from 1885 to 1901.  Senator Osbourne died in Philadelphia on January 20, 1921.