Edmund Kirby (army officer)
Encyclopedia
Edmund Kirby was a US Army officer who was killed in the American Civil War
.
He was born in Brownville, New York
to Colonel Edmund Kirby, an army paymaster, and Eliza Brown, a daughter of US major general
Jacob Brown
. Through his father he was a cousin of Confederate general
Edmund Kirby Smith
. He graduated from West Point in the class of May 1861 (which also included Adelbert Ames
and Emory Upton
), shortly after the outbreak of the war. Commissioned a second lieutenant
in the 1st US Artillery, he was promoted to first lieutenant
just 8 days later. He served in the First Battle of Bull Run
, the Battle of Ball's Bluff
, the Peninsula Campaign
and the Battle of Antietam
as a battery commander in the 1st Artillery. On May 3, 1863, during the Battle of Chancellorsville
, he took command of the 5th Maine Battery
. He supervised the evacuation of the artillery guns, but was heavily wounded by case-shot and was carried off the battlefield by private John F. Chase
, who would receive the Medal of Honor
thanks to Kirby's recommendation. He was transported to a hospital in Washington, D.C.
, where his injured leg was amputated. Despite this, he contracted an infection.
Kirby was nominated to brigadier general
of volunteers by president Abraham Lincoln
on May 28, but was not confirmed in that grade by the U.S. Senate because he died later that day at the age of 23. He was buried at Brownville Cemetery. He was survived by his mother and sisters.
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
.
He was born in Brownville, New York
Brownville (town), New York
Brownville is a town in Jefferson County, New York, USA. The population was 6,263 at the 2010 census. The town is named after Jacob Brown, early settler and leader....
to Colonel Edmund Kirby, an army paymaster, and Eliza Brown, a daughter of US major general
Major General
Major general or major-general is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. A major general is a high-ranking officer, normally subordinate to the rank of lieutenant general and senior to the ranks of brigadier and brigadier general...
Jacob Brown
Jacob Brown
Jacob Jennings Brown was an American army officer in the War of 1812. His successes on the northern border during that war made him a hero. In 1821 he was appointed commanding general of the U.S. Army and held that post until his death.-Early life:Born in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, Jacob Jennings...
. Through his father he was a cousin of Confederate general
General
A general officer is an officer of high military rank, usually in the army, and in some nations, the air force. The term is widely used by many nations of the world, and when a country uses a different term, there is an equivalent title given....
Edmund Kirby Smith
Edmund Kirby Smith
Edmund Kirby Smith was a career United States Army officer and educator. He served as a general in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War, notable for his command of the Trans-Mississippi Department of the Confederacy after the fall of Vicksburg.After the conflict ended Smith...
. He graduated from West Point in the class of May 1861 (which also included Adelbert Ames
Adelbert Ames
Adelbert Ames was an American sailor, soldier, and politician. He served with distinction as a Union Army general during the American Civil War. As a Radical Republican and a Carpetbagger, he was military governor, Senator and civilian governor in Reconstruction-era Mississippi...
and Emory Upton
Emory Upton
Emory Upton was a United States Army General and military strategist, prominent for his role in leading infantry to attack entrenched positions successfully at the Battle of Spotsylvania Court House during the American Civil War, but he also excelled at artillery and cavalry assignments...
), shortly after the outbreak of the war. Commissioned a second lieutenant
Second Lieutenant
Second lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer military rank in many armed forces.- United Kingdom and Commonwealth :The rank second lieutenant was introduced throughout the British Army in 1871 to replace the rank of ensign , although it had long been used in the Royal Artillery, Royal...
in the 1st US Artillery, he was promoted to first lieutenant
First Lieutenant
First lieutenant is a military rank and, in some forces, an appointment.The rank of lieutenant has different meanings in different military formations , but the majority of cases it is common for it to be sub-divided into a senior and junior rank...
just 8 days later. He served in the First Battle of Bull Run
First Battle of Bull Run
First Battle of Bull Run, also known as First Manassas , was fought on July 21, 1861, in Prince William County, Virginia, near the City of Manassas...
, the Battle of Ball's Bluff
Battle of Ball's Bluff
The Battle of Ball's Bluff, also known as the Battle of Harrison’s Island or the Battle of Leesburg, was fought on October 21, 1861, in Loudoun County, Virginia, as part of Union Maj. Gen. George B...
, the Peninsula Campaign
Peninsula Campaign
The Peninsula Campaign of the American Civil War was a major Union operation launched in southeastern Virginia from March through July 1862, the first large-scale offensive in the Eastern Theater. The operation, commanded by Maj. Gen. George B...
and the Battle of Antietam
Battle of Antietam
The Battle of Antietam , fought on September 17, 1862, near Sharpsburg, Maryland, and Antietam Creek, as part of the Maryland Campaign, was the first major battle in the American Civil War to take place on Northern soil. It was the bloodiest single-day battle in American history, with about 23,000...
as a battery commander in the 1st Artillery. On May 3, 1863, during the Battle of Chancellorsville
Battle of Chancellorsville
The Battle of Chancellorsville was a major battle of the American Civil War, and the principal engagement of the Chancellorsville Campaign. It was fought from April 30 to May 6, 1863, in Spotsylvania County, Virginia, near the village of Chancellorsville. Two related battles were fought nearby on...
, he took command of the 5th Maine Battery
5th Maine Battery
5th Maine Battery was an artillery battery that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War.-Service:The 5th Maine Battery was organized in Augusta, Maine and mustered in for three years' service on December 4, 1861....
. He supervised the evacuation of the artillery guns, but was heavily wounded by case-shot and was carried off the battlefield by private John F. Chase
John F. Chase
John F. Chase was a Union Army soldier in the American Civil War and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration, the Medal of Honor. An artilleryman, Chase earned the medal by continuing to work his cannon despite intense Confederate fire at the Battle of Chancellorsville...
, who would receive the Medal of Honor
Medal of Honor
The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States government. It is bestowed by the President, in the name of Congress, upon members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguish themselves through "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his or her...
thanks to Kirby's recommendation. He was transported to a hospital in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, where his injured leg was amputated. Despite this, he contracted an infection.
Kirby was nominated to brigadier general
Brigadier General
Brigadier general is a senior rank in the armed forces. It is the lowest ranking general officer in some countries, usually sitting between the ranks of colonel and major general. When appointed to a field command, a brigadier general is typically in command of a brigade consisting of around 4,000...
of volunteers by president Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln was the 16th President of the United States, serving from March 1861 until his assassination in April 1865. He successfully led his country through a great constitutional, military and moral crisis – the American Civil War – preserving the Union, while ending slavery, and...
on May 28, but was not confirmed in that grade by the U.S. Senate because he died later that day at the age of 23. He was buried at Brownville Cemetery. He was survived by his mother and sisters.