Birney, William, 1819-1907
Name Entries
person
Birney, William, 1819-1907
Name Components
Surname :
Birney
Forename :
William
Date :
1819-1907
eng
Latn
authorizedForm
rda
Genders
Male
Exist Dates
Biographical History
William Birney was born May 28, 1819 on his father's plantation near Huntsville, Alabama. He grew up there and in Danville, Kentucky. Birney was educated at Centre College and Yale University and he practiced law in Cincinnati, Ohio. He then lived for five years in Europe, primarily on the Continent and in England. For two years, he was a professor of English literature at the college in Bourges. He took an active part in the revolutionary movement in France in 1848. He later wrote numerous articles for English and American newspapers. Returning to the United States in 1853, Birney established a newspaper, the Daily Register, in Philadelphia.
At the outbreak of the Civil War, Birney entered the Union Army on May 22, 1861 as a captain in the 1st New Jersey Infantry Regiment. He first saw combat in the First Battle of Bull Run. Promoted to major of the 4th New Jersey Volunteer Infantry, he participated in the battles of Second Bull Run, Chantilly, Fredericksburg, and, as a colonel, the Chancellorsville. In 1863–64, he was appointed as one of three superintendents in charge of enlisting colored troops into the Union army, and in that capacity organized seven regiments. He was named Colonel of the 22nd U.S. Colored Troops. On June 9, 1863, he was commissioned as a brigadier general of volunteers, to rank from May 22, 1863, and assigned to Maryland to recruit more black troops. In 1864, he marched his regiments to fight in South Carolina as a part of the Department of the South. They fared poorly, but did much better work in campaigns in Florida, including the Battle of Olustee.
Birney's brigade was transferred to Virginia and joined other black regiments to form the Third Division of the X Corps under the command of Maj. Gen. Benjamin F. Butler. They suffered a serious defeat at the Battle of Chaffin's Farm, but were instrumental in several fights along the defenses of Richmond. In December 1864, the X Corps black regiments were combined with those of the XVIII Corps in the new all-black XXV Corps under Maj. Gen. Godfrey Weitzel. Birney's regiments became the 2nd Division of the XXV Corps, and participated in the last assaults during the Siege of Petersburg in early 1865. He then led his division in the pursuit of Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia during the Appomattox Campaign. Birney was mustered out of the volunteer army on August 24, 1865.
On July 20, 1866, President of the United States Andrew Johnson nominated Birney for appointment to the grade of brevet major general of volunteers to rank from March 13, 1865 and the United States Senate confirmed the appointment on July 26, 1866.
Birney resided in Florida for several years after the war before moving north in 1874 to establish a law practice in Washington, D.C. He served as U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia and as a school board trustee until 1886. He wrote profusely on the subjects of religion and history and authored a biography of his father, James G. Birney and His Times; the Genesis of the Republican Party, in 1890.
Birney died at his home in Forest Glen, Maryland on August 14, 1907, and was buried in the Oak Hill Cemetery in Georgetown (Washington, D.C.).
eng
Latn
External Related CPF
https://viaf.org/viaf/53188158
https://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q2578049
https://www.worldcat.org/identities/lccn-n86835664
https://id.loc.gov/authorities/n86835664
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/5886841/william-birney
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Languages Used
eng
Latn
Subjects
Appomattox Campaign, 1865
Bull Run, 1st Battle of, Va., 1861
Bull Run, 2nd Battle of, Va., 1862
Chancellorsville, Battle of, Chancellorsville, Va., 1863
Chantilly, Battle of, Va., 1862
Civil War, 1861-1865
Educational institutions
Fredericksburg, Battle of, Fredericksburg, Va., 1862
Olustee, Battle of, Olustee, Fla., 1864
Petersburg, Siege of, 1864-1865
Nationalities
Americans
Activities
Occupations
Authors
Journalism
Lawyers
Professors (teacher)
Soldiers
Legal Statuses
Places
Cincinnati
AssociatedPlace
Residence
William Birney practiced law in Cincinnati, Ohio.
Danville
AssociatedPlace
Residence
William Birney grew up in Danville, Kentucky. William Birney also attended Centre College.
Philadelphia
AssociatedPlace
Residence
William Birney established the “Daily Register” in Philadelphia.
Florida
AssociatedPlace
Work
William Birney was at the Battle of Olustee.
Republic of France
AssociatedPlace
Residence
William Birney was a professor of English literature at the College in Bourges.
Washington City
AssociatedPlace
Residence
William Birney practiced law in Washington, DC.
Huntsville
AssociatedPlace
Birth
William Birney was born on May 28, 1819.
Virginia
AssociatedPlace
Work
William Birney served a portion of his Civil War Service in Virginia.
Petersburg
AssociatedPlace
Work
William Birney was part of the Siege of Petersburg.
New Haven
AssociatedPlace
Residence
William Birney attended Yale University.
Montgomery County
AssociatedPlace
Death
William Birney died in Forest Glen, Maryland on August 14, 1907.
South Carolina
AssociatedPlace
William Birney served a portion of his Civil War Service in South Carolina.
Convention Declarations
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