JOHN BUTLER CONYNGHAM

September 29, 1827  ~  May 27, 1871

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From the 25th Anniversary publication 

of the Yale College Class of 1846

~ Published 1871 ~

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BRIEF BIO

John Butler Conyngham was born September 29, 1827. 

He graduated from Yale College in 1846, subsequently studied law, and practiced in Wilkes Barre 

and St. Louis.  At the first call for troops in 1861, he volunteered in the three-months' service, and 

on his return joined the 52nd Pennsylvania volunteers, of which he was appointed major on 

November 5, 1861. 

He participated in the peninsular campaign of 1862, and in the winter of 1863 was sent with his 

regiment to Port Royal, South Carolina, was present at the naval...attack on Fort Sumter in April, 

1863, and participated in the subsequent assault and siege operations against Fort Wagner. Upon 

the reduction of that fort, Major Conyngham was placed in command of the defenses of Morris island. 

He was detailed by General Terry to make a night reconnaissance of Sumter, and subsequently engaged 

in the night assault on Fort Johnson, across Charleston harbor. In this assault he was captured and 

detained as prisoner for several months. While a prisoner at Charleston he was one of the number 

selected as hostages to be shot in case of a bombardment of the City by our forces. In November, 1863, 

he was promoted to the lieutenant colonelcy, and in March, 1865, to the colonelcy of his regiment. In 

March, 1867, Col. Conyngham was appointed captain in the 38th infantry, United States Army, and 

transferred to the 24th infantry, November, 1869. In 1871 he was brevetted major and lieutenant 

colonel for gallant service in the field. During his term of service in the regular army he was mostly 

employed on the Indian frontier.

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Colonel of the Fifty-second regiment, John Butler Conyngham was born at Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania, 

September 29, 1827.  

His father, John N. Conyngham, a native of Philadelphia, was President Judge of the Eleventh Judicial District 

of the State.  His mother, Ruth Ann Butler, was a granddaughter of Captain Zebulon Butler, a Revolutionary 

officer who commanded the patriots in the battle of Wyoming, on July 3, 1779.  

Conyngham was educated at the Wilkes Barre Academy, at St. Paul's College, Long Island, and finally at 

Yale College, New Haven, where he graduated.  He was admitted to the bar of Luzerne County at the August 

term, 1849, and afterwards practiced at St. Louis, Missouri, for five years.  

Returning to Wilkes Barre, he resumed business there, which he followed successfully until the opening of 

the Civil War.  He had been connected with the militia, as a member of the Wyoming Light Dragoons, and 

when the Eighth Regiment was formed he entered it as Lieutenant.  He assisted in recruiting the Fifty-second, 

a veteran regiment, of which he was commissioned Major.  

Early in the year 1863, the Fifty-second was sent to the Department of the South, and here he was engaged 

in all the operations undertaken for the reduction of Fort Wagner.  The siege was especially severe, and the 

labor in making regular approaches, under a sun in a southern clime, was very wearing.  Its fall was a subject 

of great rejoicing.  

In January, 1864, he was promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel, and, in March, 1865, to Colonel.  He went with 

his command to the Peninsula, and in the battle of Fair Oaks won the warm commendation of General 

Naglee, for his courage and skill displayed in a pressing emergency.

In June, 1864, a scheme was formed for the reduction of Charleston, which involved the capture of Fort

Johnson.  The advance was to be made in three columns embarked in boats.  One o'clock, on the morning 

of July 3, was fixed for the embarkation.  It was low-tide at that hour, and the party which the Fifty-second 

headed had difficulty in crossing the bar which lay in the way; but that was passed, and when nearing the shore 

they were discovered, and the alarm was given.  Without quailing before the fire that was opened upon them, 

they landed, captured a two gun battery, driving out the foe, and, charging the main work 200 yards on, 

crossed the side of the fort and gained the coveted position, when it was found that the supporting columns 

had failed to follow.  No alternative but surrender remained, and the entire party fell into the enemy's hands.  

The advance upon the main work was made in the face of a terrible fire, in which Colonel Conyngham 

received a buckshot wound in the cheek.  "The boats," says General Foster, in orders, "commanded by 

Colonel Hoyt, Lieutenant-Colonel Conyngham, Captain Camp, and Lieutenants Stevens and Evans, all 

of the Fifty-second, rowed rapidly to the shore, and these officers, with Adjutant Bunyan (afterwards killed), 

and 135 men, landed and drove the enemy; but, deserted by their supports, were obliged to surrender to 

superior numbers.  They deserve great credit for their energy in urging their boats forward, and bringing 

them through the narrow channel, and the feeling which led them to land at the head of their men was the 

prompting of a gallant spirit, which deserves to find more imitators."  

Colonel Conyngham, with the officers of the party, was confined at Macon, and was afterwards placed under 

the fire of the Union guns in the city of Charleston.  He was mustered out of service with his regiment 

on July 12, 1865, and was appointed Captain in the Thirty-eight infantry of the regular army.  He died in 

May 27, 1871, of disease contracted in the service while stationed in Texas.