page_title: William Birney
hierarchical_section_title: William Birney
caption_attribution_description: English: William Birney, Union General. Library of Congress description: Photograph shows Brevet Major General William Birney of Co. C, 1st New Jersey Infantry Regiment; Field and Staff, 4th New Jersey Infantry Regiment; Field and Staff, 2nd U.S. Colored Troops Infantry Regiment; and General Staff U.S. Volunteers Infantry Regiment.
context_page_description: William Birney was a professor, Union Army general during the American Civil War, attorney and author. An ardent abolitionist, he was noted for encouraging thousands of free black men to join the Union army.
  Birney was a son of prominent Southern abolitionist leader James G. Birney and the older brother of Civil War general David B. Birney. Another brother, James M. Birney, served as Lieutenant Governor of Michigan in 1860. A cousin, Humphrey Marshall, was a U.S. Congressman and a general in the Confederate States Army.
context_section_description: William Birney (May 28, 1819 – August 14, 1907) was a professor, Union Army general during the American Civil War, attorney and author. An ardent abolitionist, he was noted for encouraging thousands of free black men to join the Union army.
  Birney was a son of prominent Southern abolitionist leader James G. Birney and the older brother of Civil War general David B. Birney. Another brother, James M. Birney, served as Lieutenant Governor of Michigan in 1860. A cousin, Humphrey Marshall, was a U.S. Congressman and a general in the Confederate States Army.
caption: William Birney
exif: {}