The New York herald., 1864-10-20
The Exchange or Prfgoners Rssumod
lFrnm the nchm0nd Exnnninar- Oct Ill
o R K r. gJ a y " !.
Bgntor Cencrai ID. n. u,trn-y.


Major CcEerai ID. u. ssirney.
Ths country called upcn % ,ou n .he js.,h OF
another ~ tts distinguished heroes Majo Ccpo7nl H.
b. Birnav died a, his redcune 30 Race street. Phila
dephtH. on the evening OF the 18th instant, OF fever CON-
tracted IN tho ar'iuous cau1raen agaias, Richmond.
David Bell BTncy born in Huntsville, Alabama
tho 2oth day OF Nay, 1926. He the OF the Hon.
James Birney, at one tmhc anti-slavery candidate
for tho Presidency. aud gentlcsan o prominence
the liberal OF his state When quite young the sub
ec OF the present sketch removed with his father Gin
ciDnati. OHIO He originally studied law but instead OF
entering immediately into practice engaged in
tile pusuts For several years he rcmsue the West,
and in lS48 madc his home philadelphia Pennsylvania,
where hc commcucod the prartce OF his profession
After tho fret call for TROOPS the outbreak OF the
present Mr. Birncy husiy erragod in the recruit.
ment Of the Twenty third regiment Of Pennsylvania Vol
unteers for three months. and commissioned lieu
colonel The regiment placed in the column
OF General Patterson commanding ths First division Of
Pcunsyvona State troops, and operated the Upper
Potomac, in the vicinity or Hmpers Ferry. At the
piration OF ts term Of service the Twenty.thiid re-
enlisted for three years. aud Lieutenant Colonel Birney
commissioned colonel Of tho regiment Ip August,
1861, his regiment ordered the Army Of the
Potomac, then commanded General McClel-
Ian. 10 December, I8lI, Colonel Birney = was
assigned Go the command Of oreaGe On Feb
rnary :, ls.2. he wns promoted 70 the ronk
OF tho Second brigade Third division tKca'nvj, third
army corps (Henzeman), ARMY Of tho Paomfc. On
the Penilsuia sencrm Brncy participated in MI tho bat
ties from Williamsburg tn Malvern Hill and tre-
quently mentioned fnr cons cuous scrvice A. the but
tie of Fair Oaks. in June, 1902 Ga7erd firnev
rested for disohedcncs II orders, but invcsps
ton OF the causes honorabv acquitted. IN General
Popes campaign in Northern Virginia he tons proni
pent part .and particularly distinguished himself ~ tho
acc nd batte of Bun run. At tredericEsbury IN 'e
eemoer 1852 he commanded division N General -tne
mans IHrd army corps, Army Of he totomac, and ~
February. lS6s commanded the FIRST division, Third
army corps ,Sickles), Hoogcrs army Al ChancciIors
vilie May 1, 1863, he took rroninent par and wss
promoted To general IT, date from May 20, 1887.
lp June. 1863, be temporarily commantcd the Third
army co-ps in pace OF General Sio<los, and ut
Gettysburg again took command o the corps, the
wounding of,General cklcs. shortly after tie
iieved by General Irencn resumed command his
DIVISION rlc $50 took il Ihe "rassnee the Zap
,hannOcl November Z 1893 II the reorgat iZattcn
the army bv Lieutenant GnreraI Grant In March fsat
General Rirnev assleaed The third division
army CORPS ancock) General "eadc's Army OF the io
tomac, and particpatcd in Gcner' Grants movements
towards RI hnond. ~ Jupe 1861, ne Temporarily
command % the second corps, during the sickncss 81
GenefM inuchck, ana 10 iuly upou 'he return ar ha,
officer rcsnnsd commend is dirision shortly alter.
by srec frun, General trsu. arrrovedt bv the
President General frnev sssirnod 70 the command
ot the rcnth corps Hnter's Arn,y o. The James, rcev
ing General rcrrv Tire part ,aser b- The Tenh coras
under the leadership az General Pirncy IN the severe
sou,h NJ tho James aeainst pectsburg,
nis gallant nfsans npoa the power vi WORKS q he
enemy bis splendid conduct in tue recent movements
tho north se OF the james h conduct ~ Decp Eottom
and chsntns farn are s, fresh 10 the memory and need
not be repeated here.
n mis- miitsry carear, which hnr been SO uniformly
eucccssi aul brilliant General hirney enjoyed the nd
vantage his associate general officers taken from
civil lie, in ;hat he received in his early days maorv
education the fullest extent frniehei bv ne Western
Military Ipettutr o. GEORGETOWN. KENTUCKY
n pctiics. a fed in which he never sought prom.
ccnspicutv, General Rrney never symDathZcd
with the rad cal Vows OF hs father and other meinbers
OF his amy On tho contrary up to che day OF his DEATH
he of slave properly. But this property
ne willing 10 sacrifice for his coun'rys good. With
the outbreak of the rebellion he dfoppsd all party ties
and atoms and vave hssr 10 the cause OF the
Ia cons r.
forever and did not regret the s lie never questioned
the isdosD 81 orders emanatnp from those in authority
him but true soldier obey cd without hesitaDcy
As o1mpanton and friend he war ever afable polite
md sociubi" strict discIpinatsn he was yet acccs
sib!e 70 the humblest private in his command, who
could approach him with assurlnce OF patient hear
ing ani lust determination Of his snt He was gene
be brave aud, with firm Christian principles,
always approved himself an honest ard a noble man.
In the present campaign against Richmond II was his
misortu End hs among the malarious
or the fimoos ChcLahomny. Hare, after drv
Inc the rches TIM very gates OF the rebs capital.
achieving series Of victories that had oised not Only
more extended red OF usefulness In the immediate pre-
nrat he contracted tho fatal disf,se that caused his
6ca TIE malaria mad affected him 90 seriously AZ 70
demand medical assistance, and course o. treatment
bad been commenced that promised, with lew days OF
uUet and rcuoso full restoration to health, whom on
t.r mning II the TIN the rebels made their des
poaate attslnpt TO turn our right Hank. Contrary
the advice OF his phys cians, and despite the
his horte at daylight, and, amid an UNSURPASSED storm
o bulets ard shell from which he was mracuiousy de
liveg cd unhurt be directed every movement of MS Ra
liant command. Rut the cxeron added 70 the weskeniDg
effect o his medicine, much 'os him. A. midday
he compelled to call ambulance, and reclining IN
such conveyance he continued In the bed uni night
The prnstrRtion tht followed ba ed tho skill OF the best
phvecinns. on the following dav he reluctantly con
sooed TO apply Tor leave or absence lci,
progici the Medical Director would give him ceiii'
cate oi disability that wond not sppear 20 bc bassd
ruop y childish complaint ON The ioCrnieg nj
the 9th inst he left Tor his home In Philadenhis
pros sing within en days. The pnssac h'mc
increased his ssoy ard arriving ~ Pbladei'ii re
had harey Sufficient strcEt let 10 aIigt from hi- car
rieee NJ tie ros of the wrr, N viii he resided ana
arplgf his ballot for the tnion candidates. Such
he 'ast pabic act FROM that day he sock gradually
bet Oily, despite AL The carrf nursing OF az aiec
tioUae we. the cmorts cf MOST corriotsolc end ee
cant Lone ard the skill and unrcmiitug attentions OF
~ family physicians finally efacc'uv ana quietly cx
pring. late ~ toe evening oI tho 18TH.
u Is expected That his hinerel VIII be attended from
he s;e residence Philpderhia tomorrow, though the
vgeclse hour has not vet hceu named.