Burns, William Wallace, 1825-1892

William Wallace Burns (1825-1892) was born at Coshocton, Ohio 3 September 1825. At age17 he was appointed to the United States Military Academy from which he graduated in 1847. He was posted to the United States Army Infantry and served during the Mexican American War (1846-1848) on recruiting duty, then spent several years at various Indian posts in the West and Southwest . In 1858, he accepted a staff commission as Commissary of Subsistence with the rank of Captain .

Remaining with the U. S. Army, Burns served with the Army of the Potomac in the first months of the Civil War as General George B. McClellan's Chief Commissary in the West Virginia Campaign . Burns was appointed Brigadier General of Volunteers 28 September 1861 and, beginning the following Spring in the Peninsular Campaign (Mar.-Aug. 1862), commanded a Brigade of General John Sedwick's 2nd Divison, 2nd Corps, during which Burns was wounded and favorably mentioned by McClellan . On sick leave for some months, Burns subsequently commanded the 1st Divison, 9th Corps at the Battle of Fredericksburg (11-13 Dec. 1862).

On 20 March 1863, Burns resigned his Volunteer commission and reverted to his staff rank of Major and Commissary . He served as Chief Commissary in the Department of the Northwest until the close of the Civil War, and later discharged with distinction the same duties in various Southern departments .

Following the Civil War, Burns was promoted in the Commissary service, first to Lieutenant Colonel (1874), then to Colonel (1884). In the meantime he had been breveted Brigadier General 13 March 1865 for gallant and meritorious services in the Civil War . William Wallace Burns retired 3 Sept. 1889, and died 19 April 1892 at Beaufort, South Carolina . He was buried with full military honors in Arlington National Cemetery .

From the guide to the Inventory of the Brigadier General William Wallace Burns Papers Ragan MSS 00116., 1848-1910 (bulk: 1861-1889), (Cushing Memorial Library)