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Civil War Soldiers - Birney
| Birney, David B., major-general, U.S. Army, was born
in Huntsville, Ala., May 29, 1825, being a son of James G. Birney, the
abolition leader. He studied law in Cincinnati, O., where his father
published a newspaper, then moved with his parents to Bay City, Mich.,
and later to Philadelphia, where he was practicing law at the outbreak
of the Civil war. Giving up his profession, he recruited, largely at
his own expense, the 23d Penn. volunteer regiment, of which he was
made at first lieutenant-colonel and afterwards colonel, being
promoted from this rank to brigadier-general and major-general of
volunteers. He fought bravely at Yorktown, Williamsburg, Manassas,
Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville, and, upon the death of Gen.
Berry, succeeded him as commander of the division. In the battle of
Gettysburg he commanded the 3d corps after Gen. Sickles was wounded,
and on July 23, 1864, was made commander of the 10th corps. He
returned home with greatly impaired health, and on Oct. 18, 1864, died
of disease contracted while in the service.
Source: The Union Army: A History of Military Affairs in the Loyal
States 1861-1865, Volume 8 Biographical, 1908
|
| Birney, William, brigadier-general, U.S. Army, was
born in Huntsville, Ala., in 1819, the second son of James G. Birney,
and was like his father a strong abolitionist. He was educated at
Centre and Yale colleges, and spent five years in study in Europe.
While in France, in 1848, he took an active part in the revolution and
was appointed, on competitive examination, professor of English
literature in the college at Bourges. Entering the military service of
the United States as captain, in 1861, he rose through all the grades
to the brevet rank of major-general of volunteers, and during the last
two years of the war commanded a division. In 1863, having been
commissioned by the war department to organize colored troops, he
enlisted, equipped, and sent to the field, seven regiments of colored
troops, in doing which, he liberated the slaves from the slave prisons
in Baltimore, thus freeing a large number of slaves belonging to
Confederate officers. The result of his operations was to hasten the
abolition of slavery in Maryland. After the defeat of the Union troops
at Olustee, Fla., being placed in command of that district, he
succeeded in regaining possession of the principal parts of the state
and of several Confederate strongholds. He took part in numerous
skirmishes and the principal battles in Virginia, including the first
and second Bull Run, Petersburg, Fredericksburg, Chantilly and
Chancellorsville. After the war he spent four years in Florida, and
then removed to Washington where he practiced his profession, becoming
attorney for the District of Columbia.
Source: The Union Army: A History of Military Affairs in the Loyal
States 1861-1865, Volume 8 Biographical, 1908 |
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