David Bell Birney (1825-1864) was a lawyer in Philadelphia when the war started. He played a key role in raising the 23^rd Pennsylvania, rising from lt. colonel to colonel and recognized in their nickname as the Birney Zouaves. He rose to brigadier general in February 1862, commanding a brigade on the Peninsula, and fought at 2^nd Bull Run and Chantilly, taking over command of the 3^rd Corps division after Kearny’s death, and leading it at Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville, where his performance gained him promotion to major general. At Gettysburg he assumed temporary corps command after Sickles’s wounding. In the consolidation of the 3^rd Corps with the 2^nd in Spring 1864 he was retained as a division commander in the 2^nd Corps under Hancock, fighting at Wilderness, Spottsylvania and Cold Harbor, and was regarded well enough by Grant to be given command of the 10^th Corps in the Army of the James. He was wounded several times during the war, but succumbed to sickness and disease, dying in Philadelphia in October 1864.

This is a nicely framed display of material related to this gallant, combat general who proved himself to be far more than some political appointment. The large centerpiece is a 1864 pay document for one of his aides-de-camp, Capt. Clayton MacMichael, boldly signed at lower right: “D.B Birney / M.G. / Comg. 10^th A C.” testifying the officer the officer had been on sick leave “by proper authority.”

This is framed with a multi-color patriotic envelope, addressed, stamped and cancelled, bearing at left an eagle over a U.S. flag with “Col. D. B. BIRNEY’S ZOUAVE REGIMENT.” in red; an 1856 stamped, addressed and cancelled envelope from Birney’s pre-war law firm of Davis & Birney; with a period carte-de-visite albumen photograph of Birney in uniform, in a vignetted bust view, clearly showing his brigadier general’s shoulder straps. A small, modern, display label is at left bottom.  [sr][ph:L]

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