Birney, David Bell (1825-64) Union major general. Birney was born in Huntsville, Alabama, but moved to Cincinatti with his abolitionist father. He was younger brother of William Birney. In the Civil War, as brigadier general, he led a brigade of Maine and New York troops under Philip Kearny's division of the 3rd Corps in the Peninsular campaign, Seven Days' battles, and Second Bull Run (all 1862). He commanded the division after Kearny's death (1862). As major general, he led a division in the 2nd Corps in the bloody Wilderness to Petersburg campaign (1864), distinguishing himself during the fighting at Spotsylvania. Birney was named by Ulysses S. Grant as commander of the 10th Corps in the Army of the James (1864), and led it in maneuvers against Richmond; he fell ill with malaria.
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