Evening journal., 1920-03-22
GENERAL BIRD
dies; Was in
MANY BATTLES
continued from FIRST pass

LQuIuuCU lIuiu rAAoh EoeS
airy operation about two weeks ago
After the serious operation Of last
Monday, General Bird rallied wonder
fully, and his condition Thursday
morning was regarded as normal. Late
on Thursday, however. he was seized
with chills, and his condition gradually
became more serious. He lapsed into q
comatose condition In which he re-
mained until death came.
General Bird was man OF many
achievements. beloved by those who
knew him because OF his genial man
ner. He had an extensive circle OF
friends. and was an ardent worker in
religious and Humanitarian causes up
TO the time his health began to decline.
making necessary surgical operation.
Funeral arrangements have not been
made He IS survived by his wife, who
lives at the Bird residence. No. 1900
Delaware avenue. and by two sons,
Peter Bowman Bird and Charles Bird,
Jr., both OF whom live near New York.
General Bird was a brother OF the late
Levi c. Bird, who was famed as a law
yer.
He took part IN 26 battles OF the
Civil War, being promoted on the field
several times for merltorlous service.
He was at the head OF the transport
service IN the Spanish-American War.
General Bird was a son OF James T.
and Elizabeth Bird and great-grandson
OF William Bird, who was a captain In
the 4th Regiment Of Light Dragons,
Continental Troops. He was born at
Quincy Place. Wilmington. June ~, 1888.
He was educated at Newark, Delaware,
Mt. Holly, n. j., and Lawrenceville, N.
]. At the time OF the breaking out OF
the Civil War he was about entering
the University Of Pennsylvania TO pur-
sue his medical training On the call OF
the President for troops 10 crush the
rebellion, according 70 the list now on
file IN the Historical Society, General
Birds name appears as the seventh
person from Delaware 10 offer his ser
vices.
His military record in the volunteer
service ls as follows ist lieut ist Del
aware Volunteers: ist. lieut.. aide de
camp; 2nd lieut.. TO captain. 2nd Della
ware Volunteers: organizer and Lieut..
col. OF 9th Delaware Volunteers; Lieut..
Col and Col. Hancock's Veteran Corps.
HIS service rendered during the
Civil War. including battles In which
engaged and wounds received. was as
follows:
While in the ist Delaware volun-
teers. 1861. guarding the railroad be-
tween Havre de Grace and Baltimore,
from September 1861 TO April 1862 he
was ist lieutenant and aide de camp,
Volunteers. 10 General H. C. Lockwood.
His service In the Dsaware Volun-
ieers was for few months from April
1862 IN Baltimore and for the remain
der OF the time until mustered out
June 30 1864. In the Army OF the
Potomac. attached TO the First NJ
vision OF the Second Army Corps. He
was on the stan OF General F. C. Bar
low. First DivlsNn. Second Army
COrps. from January 10 June 1854
General Bird was engaged I'm the foll
lowing battles Fair Oaks, Gaines Mil,
Peach Orchard, SAVAGE Station, White
oak Swamp. First and Second Malvern
Hnn, Fredericksburg, at which battle
he was wounded In the face Chancel-
lorsville, Culpepper Court House,
Brandy Station, actions OF Auburn,
Bristoe Station, Kelly's Ford opera
tions al Mine Run. Virginia; action OF
Morton's Ford. battle OF the Wilder
ness. action OF Todd's Tavern Po
River battles OF Spottsylvanla, North
Anna River. action OF Hawes Shop, bat ,
ties Of TOlopoiomy, Cold Harb0r and
Petersburg, Va, at which battle on ,
June ts, 1864 ne was sho' through The :
groin, the bullet passing entirely /
through his body
While this wound was stlll open. the :
Governor Of Delaware insisted upon
General Bird organizing ana command !
ing the 9th Delaware Regiment At I
the request OF General Hancock he re-
signed his position IN the 9th Delaware y
10 organize the First Regiment, Han !
cocks Veteran Corps, OF which he
was the colonel and Lieutenant colonel. I
This regiment did active service In the +
Shenandoah Valley In operation against )
Mosbys command and guarding Ash /
Dy's and Smokers Gaps to prevent any I
portion Of General Lees army from !
sntering the Shenandoah Valley. Dur I
ng all this active service General Bird 4
vas still suffering with the open 4
wound through his body. After Cen O
raj Lees surrender, General Birds a
egiment was on duty In Washington a
nd Baltimore under General Hancock o
iis regiment was selected by General 4
Hancock TO guard the scaffold on b
which Mrs. Surratt was hanged. While n
IN duty in Baltimore he was In COM d
nand OF Fort McHenry. Baltimore har- NJ
Dot. His wound did not heal until 1866 u
afier he was operated on by DR.. Henry h
J. Biglow OF Massachusetts, General Z.
Hospital. a,
Ihe various ranks held BY him IN
Ihe regular service were: Appointed bl
Second Lieut.. i4th Inft; transferred 10 Ct
S5rd mt, in which he became First 81
Lieut.. and Adjutant; appointed Can
tam Quartermaster; served on the o
SLAMS OF General Hancock and General B
Terry. While in the Quartermaster's er