Hiram Gregory Berry

Hiram Gregory Berry

Hiram Gregory Berry
Born August 27, 1824(1824-08-27)
Rockland, (then a part of Thomaston, Maine)
Died May 2, 1863(1863-05-02) (aged 38)
Chancellorsville, Virginia
Allegiance United States of America
Service/branch Union Army
Years of service 1861 - 1863
Rank Major General
Battles/wars American Civil War

Hiram Gregory Berry (August 27, 1824 – May 2, 1863) was an American politician and general in the Army of the Potomac during the American Civil War.

Contents

Birth and early years

Hiram G. Berry was born in Rockland (called Thomaston, Maine in modern times).

Career

He worked as a carpenter and a navigator.

He served several terms in the State Legislature and subsequently became the mayor of Rockland.

He originated and commanded the "Rockland Guard," a volunteer militia company, which held a reputation for drill and discipline.

At the beginning of the Civil War, he went to Augusta and offered his services to the Governor and was given orders to recruit a regiment.".[1] He participated in the First Battle of Manassas under the command of O.O. Howard. For his gallant service at Bull Run he was promoted to brigadier general in March 1862.

Berry was reassigned to the command of the 3rd Brigade of Hamilton's Division (later Kearny's), 3rd Corps. The 3rd Brigade consisted of four regiments: the 2nd Michigan Volunteer Infantry Regiment; 3rd Michigan Volunteer Infantry Regiment, 5th Michigan Volunteer Infantry Regiment and the 37th New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment. Berry's decisive action at the Battle of Williamsburg benefited General Hooker. His brigade fought in the Battle of Seven Pines. Berry was then promoted to Major-General on November 29, 1862.

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 by a sharpshooter's round at 7:26AM on May 3, 1863 at the Battle of Chancellorsville.

See also

American Civil War portal
United States Army portal

References

  1. ^ Gould, Edward (1899). Major-General Hiram G. Berry. Rockland, Maine: Press of the Courier-Gazette. pp. 33. 
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 Appletons' Cyclopædia of American Biography.