Benjamin Griffin Barney was an American Brevet Brigadier General during the American Civil War. He was a commander of the 2nd Pennsylvania Provisional Heavy Artillery and was known for his service during the Second Battle of Petersburg.

Benjamin Griffin Barney
Born(1827-08-15)August 15, 1827
Nantucket, Massachusetts, U.S.
DiedJuly 23, 1886(1886-07-23) (aged 58)
San Francisco, California, United States
Buried
AllegianceUnited States (Union)
BranchUnited States Army (Union Army)
Years of service1862 – 1864
RankColonel
Bvt. Brigadier General
Commands held2nd Pennsylvania Provisional Heavy Artillery
Battles/warsAmerican Civil War

Biography edit

Despite being born in Massachusetts, Barney moved to Philadelphia as a merchant before the outbreak of the American Civil War.[1] Barney enlisted in the 9th Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment on September 11, 1862, and was appointed as captain of Company B in the regiment.[1] Around November 1862, Barney was commissioned to be a captain of Battery B of the 2nd Pennsylvania Heavy Artillery.

On April 20, 1864, Barney was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel and was transferred to the recently formed 2nd Pennsylvania Provisional Heavy Artillery to account for the amounts of extra soldiers that were left over from the 2nd Pennsylvania Heavy Artillery as well as into the Field of Staff of the 2nd Pennsylvania Pro. Heavy Artillery.[1][2] During the Second Battle of Petersburg, Elisha Marshall got wounded during the fighting and Barney replaced him as the commander of 2nd Brigade, 1st Division, IX Corps.[3][4] Afterwards, Barney and the 2nd Pennsylvania were assigned as the first line of Col. Marshall's lead at the Battle of the Crater however Barney got severely wounded during the fighting and was discharged on November 11, 1864, and hospitalized at Georgetown, D.C.[1][5] Barney was brevetted Brigadier General on March 13, 1865, for his services during the Second Battle of Petersburg.[1]

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d e "American Civil War Research Database". Civil War Data. Retrieved May 7, 2022.
  2. ^ "2nd Pennsylvania Provisional Heavy Artillery Regiment". The Civil War in the East. Retrieved May 7, 2022.
  3. ^ Eicher, John H., and Eicher, David J., Civil War High Commancharge into the Battle of the Crater however Barney was severely wounded from the battle and due to his wounds, he was discharged for disability on November 1864 and sent to be hospitalizedds, Stanford University Press, 2001, p. 120, ISBN 0-8047-3641-3
  4. ^ A. Wilson Greene (2018). Campaign of Giants--The Battle for Petersburg: Volume 1: From the Crossing of the James to the Crater. UNC Press Books. p. 163. ISBN 978-1469638584.
  5. ^ John F. Schmutz (2009). The Battle of the Crater: A Complete History. McFarland Publishing. p. 344. ISBN 978-0786453672.