Original CDV image of General David B. Birney “Birney’s Zouaves”, fought at Gettysburg

This is another nice piece being offered, it is a wartime CDV image of General Birney in uniform. The back is printed with “General David B. Birney”.

In 1861, Birney was appointed to the position of lieutenant colonel of the 23rd Pennsylvania Infantry "Birney's Zouaves." The regiment was originally only meant to be a three-month regiment. When the regiment became a three-year service regiment, Birney was promoted to colonel. On February 17, 1862, Birney was promoted to brigadier general. Birney’s first major engagement of the war was during the Peninsula Campaign in which he led a brigade in General Philip Kearny’s division of the III Corps.

After the death of Philip Kearny, Birney assumed command of Kearny's division. At the Battle of Fredericksburg, Birney's men saw action at the Slaughter Pen Farm and Prospect Hill. On May 20, 1863, Birney was promoted to major general for his actions at the Battle of Chancellorsville. Birney fought at the Battle of Gettysburg and led the III Corps after III Corps commander General Daniel Sickles was wounded (see pic of monument at Gettysburg).

By May of 1864, Birney was at the head of a division in the Union II Corps and served in the Overland Campaign. Birney was noted for his bravery in the battle in the Wilderness, as well as at Spotsylvania Court House. Birney received minor injuries from a shell fragment at the battle of Spotsylvania Court House. On July 23, 1864, Birney was selected by Ulysses S. Grant to lead the X Corps.

During the Siege of Petersburg, Birney became gravely ill. At first, Birney claimed that the issue would not affect his performance in battle. By mid-September, however, Birney’s condition worsened to the point where he could not function. On October 7, 1864, Birney was transported by ambulance back to Philadelphia to recover. When in Philadelphia, the doctors diagnosed Birney with typhomalarial, or Typhoid Fever. On October 18, 1864, David Bell Birney died from his illness. He is buried in Woodlands Cemetery in Philadelphia.

General Birney played a major part while fighting for the Union throughout the Civil War. The CDV is in nice condition, with no folds or creases. It comes in the hard-plastic display sleeve.