George R. Snowden (February 12, 1841 – April 21, 1932) was a Pennsylvania lawyer and military officer who served as commander of the organization now known as the 28th Infantry Division. Early life George Randolph Snowden was born in Franklin, Pennsylvania, on February 12, 1841. He was educated locally, studied law, and was admitted to the bar in 1862. Civil War In August 1862 Snowden enlisted in the unit which was later designated Company I, 142nd Pennsylvania Infantry. He was commissioned as a first lieutenant in September, became the company commander in 1863, and took part in the battles of Antietam, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville and Gettysburg. He was a captain when he was discharged in April 1864. Post-Civil War Snowden practiced law in Franklin until relocating to Philadelphia in 1874, and was active in local businesses including the Franklin Gas Company. He also continued his military service as a member of the Pennsylvania National Guard. He served as commander of the 3rd Infantry Regiment with the rank of colonel, and took part in the military response in Pittsburgh during the Great Railroad Strike of 1877. In 1878 he was promoted to Brigadier General as commander of the 1st Brigade. Besides practicing law, Snowden also served in appointive offices, including Assistant Customs Appraiser for the Port of Philadelphia and Chief Clerk of Philadelphia's United States Mint. When the federal government began to enact civil service reform, Snowden served on the board of examiners for the Philadelphia Customs office. In 1880 he was an unsuccessful Democratic Party candidate for Congress, and he later served on Philadelphia's Select Council. (At the time, the city's legislative functions were carried out by two bodies, the Select Council and the Common Council.) Later career In 1890 he was promoted to major general as commander of the Pennsylvania National Guard Division, succeeding John F. Hartranft. At the time, the division consisted of three brigades and various separate units. Snowden commanded the National Guard during the Homestead Strike in July, 1892. He sided with the Carnegie Steel owners over the striking union workers, saying "Pennsylvanians can hardly appreciate the actual communism of these people. They believe the works are theirs quite as much as Carnegie's." The militia's efforts to curtail the activities of striking workers enabled the owners to reopen with non-union labor. Retirement Snowden retired from the military in 1900, and was succeeded as division commander by Charles