David B. Birney

David Bell Birney (May 29, 1825 – October 18, 1864) was a businessman, lawyer, and a Union general in the American Civil War. May 29 is the 149th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (150th in leap years). ... Events January 4 - King Ferdinand I of the Two Sicilies dies and is succeeded by his son Francis I of the Two Sicilies. ... October 18 is the 291st day of the year (292nd in Leap years). ... Events January - March January 21 - Maori Wars: The Tauranga Campaign starts. ... The Union Army refers to the United States Army during the American Civil War. ... General is a military rank, in most nations the highest rank, although some nations have the higher rank of Field Marshal. ... The American Civil War was fought in the United States from 1861 until 1865 between the United States – forces coming mostly from the 23 northern states of the Union – and the newly-formed Confederate States of America, which consisted of 11 southern states that had declared their secession. ...

Birney was born in Huntsville, Alabama, the son of an abolitionist from Kentucky, James G. Birney. His family moved to Cincinnati, where his father published a newspaper, then to Michigan, and finally to Philadelphia. After graduation from Andover Academy, Birney entered business, studied law, and was admitted to the bar. He moved back to Philadelphia, practicing law from 1856 until the outbreak of the Civil War. Huntsville is the county seat of Madison County, Alabama. ... This article is about the abolition of slavery. ... State nickname: Bluegrass State Other U.S. States Capital Frankfort Largest city Louisville Governor Ernie Fletcher Official languages English Area 104,749 km² (37th)  - Land 102,989 km²  - Water 1,760 km² (1. ... James Gillespie Birney (February 4, 1792 - November 25, 1857) was an American presidential candidate for the Liberty Party in the 1840 and 1844 elections. ... This article is about the city of Ohio. ... State nickname: Wolverine State or Great Lakes State Other U.S. States Capital Lansing Largest city Detroit Governor Jennifer Granholm Official languages English Area 250,941 km² (11th)  - Land 147,255 km²  - Water 103,687 km² (41. ... This article refers to the largest city of Pennsylvania. ... 1856 was a leap year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ...

Birney entered the Union army just after Fort Sumter as lieutenant colonel of the 23rd Pennsylvania Infantry regiment, a unit he raised largely at his own expense. Just prior to the war he had been studying military texts in preparation for such a role. He was promoted to colonel on August 31, 1861, and to brigadier general on February 17, 1862, clearly benefitting from political influences, not military merit. He commanded a brigade in Philip Kearny's division of the III Corps, which he led through the Peninsula Campaign. At the Battle of Seven Pines he was accused of disobeying an order from his corps commander, Major General Samuel P. Heintzelman, allegedly for "halting his command a mile from the enemy." But this was simply a matter of orders misunderstood. He was court-martialed, but with strong positive testimony from Kearny, was acquitted and restored to command. Before the attack Map detailing the location of Fort Sumter Fort Sumter, located in Charleston, South Carolina harbor, was named after General Thomas Sumter. ... In the U.S. Army, Air Force and Marine Corps, a lieutenant colonel is a commissioned officer superior to a major and inferior to a colonel. ... A regiment is a military unit, larger than a company and smaller than a division. ... A Colonel is also a non-military honorary title awarded by some U.S. Southern states. ... August 31 is the 243rd day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (244th in leap years), with 122 days remaining, as the final day of August. ... 1861 is a common year starting on Tuesday. ... A Brigadier General, or one-star general, is the lowest rank of general officer in the United States and some other countries, ranking just above Colonel and just below Major General. ... February 17 is the 48th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Events January-March January 10 - End of term for John Gately Downey, 7th Governor of California. ... Philip Kearny (June 2, 1815–September 1, 1862) was a United States Army officer, notably in the Mexican and Civil wars. ... A division is a large military unit or formation usually consisting of around 10,000 soldiers. ... Daniel Sickles and staff after the Battle of Gettysburg There were four formations in the Union Army designated as III Corps (or Third Corps) during the American Civil War. ... Map of the events of the campaign. ... Battle of Seven Pines Conflict American Civil War Date May 31 - June 1, 1862 Place Henrico County, Virginia Result Inconclusive The Battle of Seven Pines, also known as the Battle of Fair Oaks or Fair Oaks Station, took place from May 31 - June 1, 1862 in Henrico County, Virginia as... This article is about a military unit. ... Insignia of a United States Air Force Major General German Generalmajor Insignia Major General is a military rank used in many countries. ... A court-martial (plural courts-martial) is a military court that determines punishments for members of the military subject to military law. ...

Birney fought at the Second Battle of Bull Run in support of John Pope's Army of Virginia. When Kearny was killed in that battle, Birney took over command of his division. Stationed in Washington, D.C., he missed the Battle of Antietam, but his division returned to the Army of the Potomac to fight at Fredericksburg. There, he once again encountered military discipline problems, this time for allegedly refusing to support George G. Meade's division's attack on the left flank of the Union line. However, he was complimented in III Corps commander George Stoneman's official report for "the handsome manner in which he handled his division" on that same day. So for a second time he escaped punishment. Birney led his division in heavy fighting at Chancellorsville, where he suffered more casualties (1,607) than any other division in the army. As a result of his distinguished service at Chancellorsville, he received a promotion to major general on May 20, 1863. Second Battle of Bull Run Conflict American Civil War Date August 28–30, 1862 Place Prince William County Result Confederate victory The Second Battle of Manassas, known as the Second Battle of Bull Run in the North, was a battle during the American Civil War. ... Major General John Pope John Pope (March 18, 1822 – September 23, 1892) was a career Army officer and general in the American Civil War. ... The Army of Virginia was organized as a major unit of the Union Army and operated briefly and unsuccessfully in 1862 in the American Civil War. ... Aerial photo (looking NW) of the Washington Monument and the White House in Washington, DC. Washington, D.C., officially the District of Columbia (also known as D.C.; Washington; the Nations Capital; the District; and, historically, the Federal City) is the capital city and administrative district of the United... Battle of Antietam Conflict American Civil War Date September 17, 1862 Place Near Sharpsburg, Maryland Result (Union strategic victory) The Battle of Antietam (known as the Battle of Sharpsburg in the South), fought on September 17, 1862, near Sharpsburg, Maryland, part of the Maryland Campaign, was the first major battle... Generals Burnside, Hancock, Couch, Ferro, Patrick, Wilcox, Cochrane, Buford and others. ... The Battle of Fredericksburg, fought on December 13, 1862 between General Robert E. Lees Army of Northern Virginia and the Army of the Potomac commanded by Maj. ... George Gordon Meade (December 31, 1815 - November 6, 1872) was an American military officer during the American Civil War. ... Categories: Stub | 1822 births | 1894 deaths | Governors of California ... Battle of Chancellorsville Conflict American Civil War Date April 30 – May 6, 1863 Place Spotsylvania County Result Decisive Confederate victory The Battle of Chancellorsville was a major battle of the American Civil War in 1863. ... May 20 is the 140th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (141st in leap years). ... 1863 is a common year starting on Thursday. ...

At the Battle of Gettysburg, the III Corps commander was the notorious Daniel Sickles. On July 2, 1863, Sickles insubordinately moved his corps from its assigned defensive position on Cemetery Ridge. Birney's new position was from the Devil's Den, to the Wheatfield, to the Peach Orchard, part of a salient directly in the path of the Confederate assault, and it was too long a front for a single division to defend. Assaulted by the divisions of John Bell Hood and Lafayette McLaws, Birney's division was demolished. Army commander Meade rushed in reinforcements, but the line could not hold. His division and the entire corps were finished as a fighting force. As Birney watched the few survivors of his division gather about him on Cemetery Ridge, he whispered to one of his officers, "I wish I were already dead." Sickles was grievously wounded by a cannonball and Birney assumed temporary command of the corps, despite having received two small wounds himself. He retained command until February, 1864. Battle of Gettysburg Conflict American Civil War Date July 1–3, 1863 Place Adams County Result Union victory The Battle of Gettysburg (July 1–3, 1863), fought in and around the town of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, as part of the Gettysburg Campaign, was the largest battle ever conducted in North America... Portrait of Daniel Sickles during the Civil War Daniel Edgar Sickles (October 20, 1825–May 3, 1914) was an American soldier, statesman and diplomat. ... July 2 is the 183rd day of the year (184th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 182 days remaining. ... 1863 is a common year starting on Thursday. ... John Bell Hood John Bell Hood (June 1, 1831–August 30, 1879) was a Confederate general during the American Civil War. ... Lafayette McLaws Lafayette McLaws ( January 15, 1821 – July 24, 1897) was a U.S. Army officer and a Confederate general in the American Civil War. ... February is the second month of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... Events January - March January 21 - Maori Wars: The Tauranga Campaign starts. ...

Birney started in the Overland Campaign as a division commander in the II Corps, his III Corps having been reorganized out of existence that spring. After good service in the Wilderness, Spotsylvania Court House (where he was wounded by a shell fragment), and Cold Harbor, on July 23, 1864, Ulysses S. Grant gave Birney command of the X Corps in the Army of the James. However, during the Siege of Petersburg, Birney fell ill with malaria (some accounts say dysentery and typhoid fever). He was ordered home to Philadelphia, and died three months later. He is buried there in Woodlands Cemetery. Ulysses S. Grant Robert E. Lee The Overland Campaign, or Grants Overland Campaign, was a series of battles fought in Virginia during May and June, 1864, in the American Civil War. ... The US II Corps was the first American formation of any size to see combat in Europe or Africa during World War II. History It came to prominence in the Battle of Kasserine Pass when Field Marshal Erwin Rommel defeated the formation. ... This article is about the Battle of the Wilderness in the American Civil War. ... Battle of Spotsylvania Court House Conflict American Civil War Date May 8–21, 1864 Place Spotsylvania County Result Inconclusive (Grant continued his offensive) The Battle of Spotsylvania Court House, sometimes simply referred to as the Battle of Spotsylvania, was the second battle in Lieut. ... Battle of Cold Harbor Conflict American Civil War Date May 31 – June 12, 1864 Place Hanover County Result Confederate victory The Battle of Cold Harbor, the third and final battle of United States Lieut. ... July 23 is the 204th day (205th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 161 days remaining. ... Events January - March January 21 - Maori Wars: The Tauranga Campaign starts. ... Ulysses Simpson Grant ( April 27, 1822 – July 23, 1885) was an American Civil War general and the 18th ( 1869– 1877) president of the United States. ... The Army of the James was a Union Army that was composed of unites from the Department of Virginia and North Carolina and served along the James River during the last opperations of the Civil War in Virginia. ... Troops in the Siege of Petersburg faced the usual siege armaments — projectiles of all shapes and sizes and attacks on fortifications — but the Union added underground explosives to the mix. ... Red blood cell infected with Malaria (Italian: bad air; formerly called ague or marsh fever in English) is an infectious disease which causes about 500 million infections and 2 million deaths annually, mainly in the tropics and sub-Saharan Africa. ... Dysentery is a severe diarrhea illness often associated with blood in the feces. ... This is about the disease typhoid fever. ...

David Birney was one of the more successful "political generals" of the Civil War. Many of his colleagues resented his swift rise in the ranks and he was not a beloved figure with them or his soldiers. Theodore Lyman of Meade's staff wrote of Birney:

He was a pale, Puritanical figure, with a demeanor of unmoveable coldness; only he would smile politely when you spoke to him. He was spare in person, with a thin face, light-blue eye, and sandy hair. As a General he took very good care of his Staff and saw they got due promotion. He was a man, too, who looked out for his own interests sharply and knew the mainspring of military advancement. His unpopularity among some persons arose partly from his own promotion, which, however, he deserved, and partly from his cold covert manner.

References

• Eicher, John H., & Eicher, David J.: Civil War High Commands, Stanford University Press, 2001, ISBN 0-8047-3641-3
• Tagg, Larry: The Generals of Gettysburg, Savas Publishing, 1998, ISBN 1-882810-30-9 (http://www.rocemabra.com/~roger/tagg/generals/)