★ Briggs, Henry Shaw

Henry Shaw Briggs​

Born: August 1, 1824

Birthplace: Lanesborough, Massachusetts

Father: U.S. Congressman George Nixon Briggs 1796 – 1861

(Buried: Pittsfield Cemetery, Pittsfield, Massachusetts)​

Mother: Harriet Hall 1794 – 1876

(Buried: Pittsfield Cemetery, Pittsfield, Massachusetts)​

Wife: Mary Elizabeth Talcott 1828 – 1883

Children:

Mary Talcott Briggs Tucker 1853 – 1895​

(Buried: Pittsfield Cemetery, Pittsfield, Massachusetts)​

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Harry A. Briggs 1856 – 1905​

(Buried: Pittsfield Cemetery, Pittsfield, Massachusetts)​

Education:

1844: Graduated from Williams College​

Occupation before War:

Attorney in Pittsfield, Massachusetts​

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Captain of Allen Guards in State Militia​

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1856: Massachusetts State Representative​

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1857: Police Justice for Pittsfield, Massachusetts​

Civil War Career:

1861: Captain of Company K, 8th​ Massachusetts Infantry Regiment​

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1861: Garrison duty at Fort McHenry Maryland​

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1861 – 1862: Colonel of 10th​ Massachusetts Infantry Regiment​

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1862: Temporary Brigade Commander at Virginia Peninsula​

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1862: Wounded thru both legs at Battle of Fair Oaks, Virginia​

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1862 – 1865: Brigadier General of Union Army Volunteers​

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1862: Union Army Commander of Camp Chase on Arlington Heights​

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1862: Assigned as Brigade Commander in Maryland unable to field​

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1863: Brigade Commander on Guard Duty in Middle Department​

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1863: Temporary Brigade Commander in 1st​ Army Corps​

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1863 – 1864: Commander of Camp of Draftees in Alexandria, Virginia​

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1864 – 1865: Served on the Court Martials in Washington, D.C.​

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1865: Resigned from the Union Army on December 4th​​

Occupation after War:

Appraiser at Boston, Massachusetts Custom House​

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1866 – 1868: Massachusetts State Auditor​

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1869 – 1873: Justice of Central Berkshire District Court​

Died: September 23, 1887

Place of Death: Pittsfield, Massachusetts

Cause of Death: Heart Disease

Age at time of Death: 63 years old

Burial Place: Pittsfield Cemetery, Pittsfield, Massachusetts

 

[Pollaco]

It was during his recovery from the Seven Pines wounding that He was promoted to brigadier. His wounds prevented strenous field duty, however he did briefly command a brigade and a division. After his wounds prevented field duty it was light duty commanding the camp for draftees.

 

[gentlemanrob]

Happy Birthday Brig. General Henry Shaw Briggs! Salutes remembering General Briggs on his birthday.

 

[Pollaco]

His father is listed as "Congressman Briggs", but wasn't he also the governor of Massachusetts as well?

 

[Pollaco]

It was his serious wounding in both legs at Fair Oaks that caused Briggs to relinquish command of the 10th Massachusetts.Was it taken over by Col. Henry L. Eustis or the regiment's Lt.Colonel at this time?Or was Eustis the Lt. Col.?

 

[gentlemanrob]

Happy (Monday) Birthday Brig. General Henry S. Briggs! Salutes remembering General Briggs on his birthday week.

 

[Pollaco]

His father is listed as "Congressman Briggs", but wasn't he also the governor of Massachusetts as well?

A biography lists his father as George Nixon Briggs, governor from 1844-1851.

 

[ErnieMac]

It was his serious wounding in both legs at Fair Oaks that caused Briggs to relinquish command of the 10th Massachusetts.Was it taken over by Col. Henry L. Eustis or the regiment's Lt.Colonel at this time?Or was Eustis the Lt. Col.?

Eustis' appointment as colonel of the 10th Massachusetts was his first CW commission. The regiment's lieutenant colonel J. M. Decker had previously been discharged for medical reasons.