Evening star., 1907-08-15

man of Cincinnati. He then visited France,
where ne remained for six years, during Q
portion of which time he was professor OF
English literature In the University Of
Bourges.
Upon returning to the United States in
the early fifties he became editor-in-chief ef
Of a daily newspaper in Philadelphia, but
later In the same decade he returned to the
practice of law. and in this profession he
was engaged at the outbreak OF the civil
war.
Coming of a family of pronounced MIL
1tary inclinations, the call To arms found
young Mr.. Birney in the field, and imme-
diately after enlistment in the Union army
he was elected captain OF one of the compa-
MES in his regiment. Altogether the record
Of the Birney family in the stirring days of
1851 was an exceptional one, because
every adult member OF the family, save one,
espouSed the cause of the Union and saw
active service in the field David B Bir-
ney OF Pennsylvania, a brother of William
Birney, became 4 general of the line, and
he was in charge of the forces at one of
The hardost-fought points at Gettysburg.
Maj. fitzhuSh Brney. another brother, was
in the Signal Corps. James, a third brother
was lieutenant governor of Michigan in
war times and he afterward became min
lister TO The Hague In President Grants 8
administration. His son. James G. Birney.
was "A mere lad In the sixties, bu; he en-
listed, and he too participated In the Get
tysbur2 fight. After the war James G. Bir-
ney became captain IN the regular army
and he held that rank al the time of his
death.
Promotion Came Rapidly.
From the captaincy, which came to him
by election nj the beginning of the war
William Birney rose steadily and hy rare
bravery In action and by demonstration of
his ability to lead men, he received promo
ton after promotion until the termination
of the great conflict which came with Lees
surrender AT Appomattox found him a
III lStultF general and bTpNpf a iDr pp0
eral.
Capt Birney was captured with his
regiment At the battle of Gaines Mil and
held prisoner in Libby prison for seven
weeks. At the battles Of Groveton and
Second Bull Run he commanded the 57th
Pennsylvania Volunteers. At the battIe of
fredericksburg he commanded the 3Sth and
%oth New York Infantry. In this battle he
protected the retreat OF Gen. Burnside and
was wounded twice.
IN May, 1868 ne was detailed as INSPECTOR
Tor the organization of colored troops in
Maryland. He set free many hundreds of
slaves In the performance OF this duty.
June OF the same year he was made colo
mel OF the I'd United States Colored Troops
and later in the same month he was made
brigadier general.
In the asst year of the war he had com
mand OF the district of Florida. was with
Grant IN Virginia, in command of brigade
was present AT the sieges OF Richmond and
PetersbuTs and participated in the pursuit
OF Lees troops 20 Appomattox
hcsulneS Law Practice.
At the close Of the war Cen Rirncy tried
farming in Illinois and cotton planting in
Florida In turn, but in 1874 he again re-
sunled the practice of law and came to
Washington to engage in the profession be-
fore the local bar. From that time for
ward Gen. Birney Resided IN tho District
of Columbia and ne took 4 Keen interest
IN the affairs OF the municipality. which
then passing through AL the trials
and shifting scenes incident to changes IN
the form OF government.
When the nrst board OF Commissioners
waS appointed Gen. FirnCy was mad. as
sistant District attorney. and subscquently
became District attorney. in which capacity
he acted as confidential legal adviser to the
commissioners. Among Gen, Brney's most
distinguished services TO the municipaIity J
al that time was the writing of n mono.
graph favoring an equal division of the
expenses Of government Of the District OF
Columbia between the citizens Of The Dis
trict and the United States.
On the School Board.
Later he Was president OF the board o
school trustees, and took an active part Il
reorganizing the public school system. Fo
the th,rty-three years preceding his deatl
he was counsel for the Washington Marke
Company.
lie is survived 5y his wife formerly Mis-:
Matte Ashby. whom he married in 1921
and thlce sons and q daughter children b.
hts first wife, namely, Arthur y. Bnney Q
the law hrm Of BiTney Woodward OF thi
oity, W. Vsrbanck Birney, the New YOrl
artist: Dr. Herman II. Birney OF Philade'
phia snd Mrs. Albert n. Scip Of this city.
-A----
Edward Berkheimer. a wellknown resi-
dent OF Frederick county. Va. died at nj
ut Il. -.