Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-03-22
GEN. CHARLES BIRD
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in the fourth regiment of Light Dragons
Continental troops. He was born ~,
Quincy Place, Wilmington. June ~, 1890,
and was educated at Newark, MI. Jolly,
N. j., and Lawrenceville, N. J. AZ the
time Of the beginning of the Civil war ne
was about to enter the University oil
Pennsylvania to pursue his medical tram
ing.
On the call Of President Lincoln for
troops to put down the rebellion. Gen
Birds name according to lists now on ME
in the archives of the Historical Society,
appears as the seventh Dolawarean To
volunteer his services His military rec
ord in the volunteer service is as follows:
First lieutenant First Delaware Volunteer
First Lieutenant Aide-de-Camp; Second |
Lieutenant to Captain, Second Delaware
Volunteers! organizer and Lieutenant
Colonel of Ninth Delaware Volunteers;
Lieutenant Colonel and Colonel, Han
cocks Veteran Corps.
General Birds services during the civil
War embraced a wide range, and chrono-
logically may be summarized as follows
While in the First Delaware Volunteers,
1861, guarding railroad between Havre
de Grace and Baltimore. From Septern-
Der. 1861, to April, 1862, was First Lieu
tenant and Aide-de-C Camp, Volunteers, TO
,tien II. G.. Lockwood His servicein the
Second Delaware Volunteers was for
few months, from April, 1862. in Balt,--
more: the remainder of the time until
mustered out of this regiment, IN the
Army Of the Potomac attached TO the
First Division of the Second Army Corps.
On the staff of Gen +. c. Barlow, FIRST
Division Second Army Corps, from
January to June, 1864.
4 the. Nn n
o AXIS. Gaines Mill, Peach Orchard, Savage
Station. White Oak Swamp, First and
second Malvern Hill, Fredericksburg
at which battle he was wounded IN the
face: Charlottesville, Culpeppcr Court,
House. Brandy Station, actions of Auburn,
Bristoe Station Kelly's Ford, operations
at Mine Run, Va, action at Mortons
Ford. battle of the Wilderness, actions at
Todd's Tavern, Po River, Battle OF
Spottsylvania North Anna River, action
at Hawes Shop, battles of Tolopotomy,
Cold Harbor and Petersburg, Va, Mt which
battle, on June is, 1864, he was shot
through the groin, the bullet passing
entirely through his body While this
wound was still open the Governor OF
Delaware insisted on Gen. Bird organizing
and commanding the Ninth Delaware
Regiment.
ORGANIZES HANcoCK's VETERANS.
At the request Of Gen. Hancock he
resigned his position in the Ninth Della
ware To organize the First Regiment
Hancock's Veteran Corps, of which he
was the Lieutenant Colonel and Colonel.
This regiment did active service IN the
Shenandoah Valley in operation against
Mosby's command and guarding Ashby s
and Snicker's gaps TO prevent any portion
of Gen Lees army from entering the
Shenandoah Valley During ali tins
active service Gen. Bird was still suffering
from the open wound through his body
After Gen. Lees surrender, Gen. Birds
regiment was on duty IN Washington ana
Baltimore under Gen. Hancock. Ills
regiment was selected by Gen. Hancock
TO guard the scaffold on which Mrs. Sur
ratt was hanged While on duty IN Baitl-
more he was IN commando of Fort Mct1en-
~. The wound from which Gen. Bird
was suffering did not heal until 1866,
after an operation at the Massachusetts
General Hospital.
In the regular service Gen. Bird held at
vsrious times the ranks OF Second Ileuten-
ant Fourteenth Infantry; transferred 10
Twenty-third Infantry, in which he be-
came First Lieutenant and Adlutant;
appointed captain Quartermaster Corps;
served on the staff of Gen. Hancock and
Gen. Terry. While in the Quartermaster
Department he built the post Fort Spo-
kane. Wash: was Depot Quartermaster
at Helena. Mont; Construction Quarter
master at Fortress Monroe, Depot Quar-
ternaster at Omaha, and Construction
Q1arterrnaster at Columbus, o.; on duty
in the Quartermaster Generals office
at Washington In charge OF transportation
and supplies.
SERVED IN SPANISH WAR.
On the breaking out of the Spanish
War, General Bird was put IN charge of
the division OF rail and water trans
portation, and organized the transport
service. being responsible for the moving
of troops bv rail and transport TO the
various island possessions. This transport
service was so complete and efficient that
it surprised the other nations Of tho
world. Up to the time General Bird re-
tired the records show that not one had
been injured on account of navigation or
owing to faulty construction.
During the Spanish War the ranks
held by him were varlously lieutenant
colonel and chief quartermster and bnga-
dier-general. He was commissioned heu
tenant-colonel and department quarter
IIldSLef-gtDefat III bLt regular army anu
brigader-general in the United States
army. In the regular army he was
brevetted first lieutenant and brevet
captain for gallant and meritorious service
In the battle of Fredericksburg; brevet
major for gallant and meritorous service
in the battle of Spottsylvania; brevet
colonel for gallant and meritorious service
in the battle of Petersburg.
General Bird was retired by operation
of law as brigadier-general, u. S. Army,
on June IL, 1902 He was honorary mem
Der of the Society of Cincinnati of Della
ware, a companion of the military order Of
the Loyal Legion, member of the Society
of the Second Army Corps, Society Of the
Sons of the American Revolution and
Spanish and Philippine war.
During his service In the army, General
Bird was deeply interested in the spiritual
and moral welfare of the men of the
army, and made an effort to establish re-
hgious work in the garrisons where he
served where there Was no chaplain.
AIDS WV. c. A.
On his retirement from the army
General Bird made this city, his birth
place, his home, and took deep and active
interest in all civic and religious affairs
affecting the city and community. At
that time the Young Mems Christian
Association was almost extinct. Through
the influence of General Bird a number of
EanuyV,sa