William Birney

William Birney
William Birney c. 1863
Born(1819-05-28)May 28, 1819
Huntsville, Alabama, U.S.
DiedAugust 14, 1907(1907-08-14) (aged 88)
Forest Glen, Maryland, U.S.
Place of burial
AllegianceUnited States of America
Union
Service/branchUnited States Army
Union Army
Years of service1861–1865
Rank Brigadier General
Brevet Major General
Battles/warsAmerican Civil War

William Birney (May 28, 1819 – August 14, 1907) was an American professor, Union Army general during the American Civil War, attorney and author. An ardent abolitionist, he was noted for encouraging thousands of free black men to join the Union army.

Birney was a son of prominent Southern abolitionist leader James G. Birney and the older brother of Civil War general David B. Birney. Another brother, James M. Birney, served as Lieutenant Governor of Michigan in 1860. A cousin, Humphrey Marshall, was a U.S. Congressman and a general in the Confederate States Army.[1]

  1. ^ Eicher, John H., and David J. Eicher, Civil War High Commands. Stanford: Stanford University Press, 2001. ISBN 978-0-8047-3641-1. p. 132.

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