John Reynolds graduated in the middle of his West Point class of 1841. He first achieved recognition serving under Gen. Zachary Taylor in the Mexican War. His artillery battery played a key role in the victory at Buena Vista. He started the Civil War as a Brigadier General and was captured during the Seven Days’ Battles outside Richmond. Soon exchanged for a Confederate general, his division fought a rearguard action during the retreat from Second Bull Run. He missed Antietam as the Governor of Pennsylvania recalled him to head the state militia to face Lee’s first invasion of the North. He distinguished himself at Fredericksburg. After, he joined other generals in urging the removal of Burnsides. At Chancellorsville, his I Corps did not see much action. He met with Lincoln, who had great respect for his abilities, and may have been offered command of the Army of the Potomac. If so, he declined because he insisted on independence from the political interference that he constantly criticized. Apparently, Lincoln would not grant that autonomy. Meade got command instead. For the Gettysburg campaign, he led the vanguard when it arrived at the battlefield. He began the process of defending the hills outside the town. However, he did not participate in that storied defense because soon after his arrival, he was shot in the head by a Rebel sharpshooter and died instantly. Thus died one of the top five Union generals. Reynolds was one of 124 generals killed in the war (46 Union and 78 Confederate). Your chances of being killed were higher if you were a general than if you were a private.
https://www.thoughtco.com/major-general-john-f-reynolds-2360431
John Reynolds shot by a sharpshooter
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