James Birdseye McPherson
James Birdseye McPherson was an Ohio born, 1st in his class, West Point Graduate in 1853, U.S. Army officer. McPherson served on Gen. Henry Halleck's staff and later, was part of Ulysses S. Grant's staff and was with Grant at the Battle of Shiloh. At the Battle of Atlanta, while facing the army of his old classmate John Bell Hood from West Point, McPherson's military career was cut short. He was shot attempting to escape a line of confederate skirmishers he'd accidentally rode into. He was the second-highest-ranking Union officer killed in action during the war.
Born: November 14, 1828
Birthplace: Clyde, Ohio
Father: William R. McPherson 1796 – 1847
(Buried: McPherson Cemetery, Clyde, Ohio)
Mother: Cynthia Russell 1805 – 1883
(Buried: McPherson Cemetery, Clyde, Ohio)
Fiancée: Emily Hoffman - 1891
Education:
1853: Graduated from West Point Military Academy – (1st in class)
Occupation before War:
1853 – 1854: Brevet 2nd Lt. United States Army Engineers
1853 – 1854: Assistant Instructor at West Point Military Academy
1854 – 1858: 2nd Lt. United States Army Engineers
1854 – 1857: Assistant Engineer for Defenses of New York Harbor
1857: Superintendent Engineer of the building of Fort Delaware
1857 – 1861: Superintendent Engineer Defenses of Alcatraz Island
1858 – 1861: 1st Lt. United States Army Engineers
Civil War Career:
1861: Declined Captain of United States Army 19th Infantry Regt.
1861: Captain of United States Army Engineers
1861 – 1862: Aide to Major General Henry W. Halleck
1861 – 1862: Lt. Colonel and Aide de camp United States Army
1862: Chief Engineer on General Grant’s Staff in Tennessee
1862: Colonel and Aide in the Union Army
1862: Assistant Engineer for Siege of Corinth, Mississippi
1862: Brigadier General of Union Army Volunteers
1862: Superintendent of Railroads in Western Tennessee
1862: Chief Engineer to General Grant at Battle of Iuka
1862 – 1864: Major General of Union Army Volunteers
1862: Commander of Bolivar, Tennessee
1862: Commander 2nd Division Department of Tennessee
1862: Commander of 2nd Division Thirteenth Army Corps
1862 – 1863: Served in the Vicksburg Mississippi Campaign
1863 – 1864: Brigadier General of United States Army
1863: Engaged in surprise of Confederates at Canton, Mississippi
1863: Served in General Sherman’s raid on Meridian
1864: Commander of Union Army of the Tennessee
1864: Requested leave to visit his fiancé in Baltimore, Maryland
1864: General Sherman revoked his leave to visit in Baltimore
1864: Participated in the Battle of Resaca, Georgia
1864: Participated in the Battle of Dallas, Georgia
1864: Participated in the Battle of Kennesaw Mountain, Georgia
1864: Killed during the Battle of Atlanta, Georgia
Died: July 22, 1864
Place of Death: Atlanta, Georgia
Cause of Death: Killed in Battle
Age at time of Death: 35 years old
Burial Place: McPherson Cemetery, Clyde, Ohio
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