Please note that the content of this book primarily consists of articles available from Wikipedia or other free sources online. John Irvin Curtin was a cousin of Pennsylvania governor Andrew Gregg Curtin. He led a regiment and then a brigade in the American Civil War.Curtin was born at Eagle Forge, Pennsylvania. He was educated at Dickinson Seminary, later Lycoming College and became a civil engineer. In 1861, Curtin served as a private in the 2nd Pennsylvania Infantry. On September 9, 1861, he was commissioned a captain in the 45th Pennsylvania Infantry. Curtin was promoted to the rank of major on July 30, 1862, and lieutenant colonel on September 4 of the same year. He became the regiment's colonel on April 13, 1863. In the Army of the Potomac, Curtin served in IX Corps. He led the regiment at the Battle of South Mountain and the Battle of Antietam in the place of Col. Thomas Welsh, who was holding brigade command. Welsh return to command of the regiment for the Battle of Fredericksburg. When Welsh was promoted to the rank of brigadier general, Curtin became the regiment's commander. After IX Corps was transferred west, Curtin led the 45th Pennsylvania in the Siege of Vicksburg. He was absent, however, from the Knoxville Campaign
