★ Birney, William

William Birney​

Born: May 28, 1819

Birthplace: Huntsville, Alabama

Father: James Gillespie Birney Jr. 1792 – 1857

(Buried: Williamsburg Cemetery, Groveland, New York)​

Mother: Elizabeth Potts Fitzhugh 1802 – 1869

(Buried: Williamsburg Cemetery, Groveland, New York)​

Wife: Catherine "Kate" Hoffman 1825 – 1891

(Buried: Oak Hill Cemetery, Washington, D.C.)​

Children:

Ulrich Hoffman Birney 1850 – 1880​

(Buried: Oak Hill Cemetery, Washington, D.C.)​

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Arthur Alexis Birney 1852 – 1916​

(Buried: Rock Creek Cemetery, Washington, D.C.)​

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Kathrine Birney Seip 1856 – 1936​

(Buried: Oak Hill Cemetery, Washington, D.C.)​

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William Verplanck Birney 1858 – 1909​

(Cremated)​

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Theodore Weld Birney 1864 – 1897​

(Buried: Oak Hill Cemetery, Washington, D.C.)​

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Captain Herman Hoffman Birney Sr. 1866 – 1926​

(Buried: Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia)​

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Elizabeth "Bessie" Birney 1868 – 1872​

(Buried: Oak Hill Cemetery, Washington, D.C.)​

Education:

Attended Centre College​

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Graduated from Yale University​

Occupation before War:

Attorney in Cincinnati, Ohio​

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Lived in Europe in England​

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English Literature Professor at College of Bourges​

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1848: Active member of the French Revolution​

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Owner and Editor of The Daily Register Newspaper​

Civil War Career:

1861: Captain in 1st​ New Jersey Infantry Regiment​

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1861: Served in the First Battle of Bull Run, Virginia​

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1861 – 1863: Major of 4th​ New Jersey Infantry Regiment​

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1862: Served in the Second Battle of Bull Run, Virginia​

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1862: Served in the Battle of Chantilly, Virginia​

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1862: Hit Twice but stayed on the field​

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1862: Served in the Battle of Fredericksburg, Virginia​

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1863: Colonel of 4th​ New Jersey Infantry Regiment​

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1863: Served in the Battle of Chancellorsville, Virginia​

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1863: Organizer of Seven Regiments of African American troops​

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1863 – 1865: Brigadier General of Union Army infantry​

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Colonel of 22nd​ United States Colored Troops Regiment​

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1863: Assigned to Maryland to recruit more African American troops​

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1864: Marched his regiments to South Carolina​

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1864: Served in the Battle of Olustee, Florida​

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1864: Served in the Battle of Chaffin's Farm, Virginia​

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1865: Participated in the last assault at Siege of Petersburg, Virginia​

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1865: Brevetted Major General in the Union Army​

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1865: Served in Pursuit of Lee's Army to Appomattox, Virginia​

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1865: Mustered out of the Union Army on August 24th​​

Occupation after War:

1865 – 1874: Lived in Florida​

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Attorney in Washington, D.C.​

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United States Attorney for District of Columbia​

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Trustee of School Board in Washington, D.C.​

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Author of James G. Birney and his times ​

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Author of The Genesis of The Republican Party​

Died: August 14, 1907

Place of Death: Forest Glen, Maryland

Cause of Death: Old Age

Age at time of Death: 88 years old

Burial Place: Oak Hill Cemetery, Washington, D.C.

 

[Pollaco]

He and his younger brother David were both Union Generals.That recruitment of colored troops was a volunteer move on Birney's part. By the war's end He led a division of black troops. Leading this colored division led to his being breveted a major general.

 

[gentlemanrob]

Happy Birthday Brig. General William Birney!

 

[Pollaco]

His brother David replaced Kearny when Kearny was killed at Chantilly.

 

[Pollaco]

He didn't just organize colored troops he volunteered for the job and engaged in that duty for two years.At War's end he was leading a division of colored soldiers.

 

[gentlemanrob]

Happy Birthday Brig. General William Birney! Salutes remembering General Birney on his birthday weekend.

 

[Pollaco]

He was briefly(Sept.1-Oct. 5, 1864) a divisional commander in the 10th Corps of the Army of the James which was led by his brother, David.It was about this time that David was sent home due to illness and soon afterwards passed away.