Henry Warner Birge Explained

Henry Warner Birge
Birth Date:25 August 1825
Birth Place:Hartford, Connecticut
Death Place:New York, New York
Placeofburial:Yantic Cemetery, Norwich, Connecticut
Allegiance:United States of America
Union
Branch:United States Army
Union Army
Serviceyears:1861–1865
Rank: Brigadier General
Brevet Major General
Unit:13th Connecticut Volunteer Infantry
Commands:2nd Division, XIX Corps
District of Savannah
Battles:American Civil War
Laterwork:Banker, businessman

Henry Warner Birge (August 25, 1825 – June 1, 1888) was a Union Army general during the American Civil War.

Biography

Birge was born in Hartford, Connecticut.

At the opening of the Civil War Birge organized the first state regiment of three-year troops, the 4th Connecticut Infantry, in which he was appointed major. After service in Maryland and Virginia he was commissioned colonel of the 13th Connecticut Infantry in February 1862 and was placed in command of the defenses of New Orleans. In December of the latter year he was appointed to the command of a brigade, which he retained through the first Red River Campaign and at the siege of Port Hudson. He was raised to the rank of brigadier general in September 1863, served in the second Red River expedition, and subsequently commanded at Baton Rouge. In 1864 he was assigned to the command of the second division of the XIX Corps. He participated in the battles of General Sheridan's campaign in the Shenandoah valley, and in February and March 1865, was appointed to the command of the defenses of Savannah. His brigade fought in the Carolinas Campaign. After General Joseph E. Johnston surrendered, Birge again commanded the district of Savannah.[1]

On February 25, 1865, President Abraham Lincoln nominated Birge for the award of the brevet major general, to rank from February 25, 1865, and the U.S. Senate confirmed the award on March 3, 1865.[2] Birge resigned from the army on October 18, 1865.[3]

See also

Sources

Notes and References

  1. Warner, Ezra J. Generals in Blue: Lives of the Union Commanders. Baton Rouge: Louisiana State University Press, 1964. . pp. 33-34
  2. Eicher, John H., and David J. Eicher, Civil War High Commands. Stanford: Stanford University Press, 2001. . p. 710
  3. Eicher, 2001, p. 131