The National tribune., 1885-05-07
GEN. HENRY A. BARNuM.
His Name Presented for the Commander. in. Chief
shin of the GAR.


To THE EDITOR: The State of New York
will, undoubtedly, present the winning candi-
date for the National Commandership of the
Grand Army of the Republic at the coming
annual Encampment. Fast Department Com
mauder Gen. Henry A, Barnum, of New York
City, will enter the canvass with united dele
CATION from this State. +
Comrade Barnum has been an earnest worker
and representative Grand Army msn since
the earliest days of its organization. He has
especially the interest of the rank and file of
the Grand Army at heart and is truly the SOL
ders friend regardless of position or rank.
Socially he is a prince of good fellows, and
although continually suffering from his wounds,
never grows sour or irritable, but always car
ries an air Of happiness and contentment with
him.
The following sketch by the Albany Ereaing
Journal in giving a condensed history of the
State Legislators, (Gen. Barnum being MEM
Der of that body,) covers the ground, perhaps,
of his military record rs well as your space will
allow: In April, 1861, he enlisted as private
soldier and served through the entire war, at
tanning the rank of Brigadier- General and
Brevet Major-Geperal. Entering Co. i, 18th NY,
he was elected its Captain and proceeded to the
front with his regiment, which was the first to
leave Emira, and the first under fire at Black
burns Ford in the fighting preliminary to the
first battle of Bull Run. In October, 1861, he
was promoted Major of his regiment, and in
the following year was, by his own request,
assigned to the staff of Gen. Wadsworth. When
that officer became Military Governor of Wash
ington, Maj. Barnum requested to be relieved,
and rejoined his regiment, and served through
the Peninsular Campaign, participating in the
Seven Days battles and was detailed as an Aid
to Gen. Butterfeld at Malvern HILL In this
action Maj. Barnum was almost constantly
under fire, and before its close was shot through
81 L.I, La fae IAnl. IL IL Iso
funeral sermon was even preached at his home
in Syracuse, N. Y, as a body was buried sup
posed to have been his. But he was found the
next day by the rebel troops and was taken
to Libby Prison and held as a prisoner of
war; where he suffered terribly by his
wounds. He was exchanged July 18 and
reached his home in few days. In December
following, though still feeble from his unhealed
wound, he returned to the front and took COM
mand of the l49th regiment. having been COM
missioned its Colonel, and with this regiment
participated in the battle Of Gettysburg. Sub
sequently he was transferred to Tennessee and
commanded his regiment at Lookout Noun
tain, where he was wounded in his right arm.
His command took five of the IL battle-hags
captured in that vicinity. Shortly after this
an abscess formed in his old wound, and he re-
turned TO New York for treatment. DIR. Sayre
performed an operation, aud, following the
course of the bullet, passed an oakum rope en-
tirely through his body. He has ever since
worn seton through the body, composed Of a
perforated rubber tube. After the operation he
again returned to the front, and received an
other wound during the Atlanta campaign,
but went with Sherman to the sea- While on
this campaign he was given the command of a
brigade and was the first officer to enter the
city of Savannah He led his brigade at the
grand review ut the close of the war, and on
its muster-out in May, 1865, no was given the
command of Provisional Brigade at Wash
ington, and was ordered on duty soon after
under Gen. Hooker at New York. Later he
succeeded Gen. Sickle in. command of the Dis
trict Of Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and
Vermont, with headquarters at Boston. While
holding this command he'was elected Inspector
of Prisons in this State, and was unanimously
renominated for the same position. He has
held many important civil positions among
which was Harbor Master of the Port of New
York for five years Before leaving the army
he was brevetted MaoriGenersl for gallant
conduct. and was offered the colonelcy of one
of the new regiments Of the Regular Army"
Comrades of the Grand Army, we ask your
support in behalf of Gen. Barnum, for we know
he is worthy Of it. In making him your Com
mander-in-C Chief you would not only honor the
man. but our noble organization as weli.-MI-
NARB MACDoNALD, Hudson Post, 159, Depart
ment of New York. -