Hiram George Berry

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Hiram George Berry (August 27, 1824 – May 2, 1863) was an American politician and soldier, best known for his service as a general in the Army of the Potomac during the American Civil War.

Hiram G. Berry was born in Rockland, (then a part of Thomaston, Maine). He learned the carpenter's trade and afterward engaged in navigation. He served several terms in the State Legislature and was subsequently the mayor of Rockland. He originated and commanded for several years the "Rockland Guard," a volunteer militia company, which attained a high reputation for drill and discipline.

At the beginning of the Civil War, he joined the Union Army as colonel of the 4th Maine Infantry. He participated in the First Battle of Bull Run, but missed the Second Battle of Bull Run while recovering from malaria contracted during the Peninsula Campaign. He was promoted to brigadier general in the fall of 1862, and in November of the same year became a major general.

Berry was placed in command of the 2nd Division of the III Corps, succeeding Major General Daniel Sickles, who had ascended to corps command. Berry was killed while leading a bayonet charge on the second day of the Battle of Chancellorsville.

[edit] References

• This article incorporates text from an edition of the New International Encyclopedia that is in the public domain.
• This article incorporates text from the public domain Appleton's Cyclopedia of American Biography.