Barry, William F., 1818-1879

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Born in New York City, Barry graduated from the United States Military Academy in 1838, 17th in his class of 45 cadets. He was commissioned a brevet second lieutenant in the 4th U.S. Artillery, transferring to the 2nd U.S. Artillery a few weeks later. He was stationed near the Canada–US border, then later took part in the Mexican–American, Seminole, and the Kansas-Missouri Border Wars.

He was the co-author of Instruction for Field Artillery (1860), along with William H. French and Henry J. Hunt.

Promoted to major of artillery shortly after the start of hostilities between the Union and the Confederacy, Barry served as Brig. Gen. Irvin McDowell's chief of artillery during the First Battle of Bull Run, where his position was overrun after mistaking advancing Confederates for retreating Union forces. Barry was appointed brigadier general by President Abraham Lincoln on August 20, 1861, to rank from August 20, 1861. President Lincoln submitted the nomination to the U.S. Senate on December 21, 1861 and the Senate confirmed it on March 17, 1862. Barry came up with the concept that became the U.S. Horse Artillery Brigade in the Army of the Potomac.

As chief of artillery under Maj. Gen. George B. McClellan, Barry organized ordnance for the Army of the Potomac and, during the Peninsula Campaign, later took part in the battles of Yorktown, Mechanicsville, Gaines' Mill, White Oak Swamp, and Malvern Hill.

After later supervising forts and ordnance surrounding Washington, D.C., Barry became chief of artillery under Maj. Gen. William T. Sherman, serving with him in Tennessee, the March to the Sea, and the Carolinas Campaign. On January 23, 1865, President Lincoln nominated Barry for appointment to the brevet grade of major general of volunteers, to rank from September 1, 1864, for his service in the Atlanta Campaign, and the U.S. Senate confirmed the appointment on February 14, 1865. Barry was mustered out of the volunteer force on January 15, 1866. On July 17, 1866, President Andrew Johnson nominated Barry for appointment to the brevet grade of major general in the Regular Army, to rank from March 13, 1865, and the U.S. Senate confirmed the appointment on July 23, 1866.

On December 11, 1865, Barry was appointed colonel in the 2nd U.S. Artillery, and was in command of the northern frontier during the Fenian raids of 1866. He served there until September 1867, and then commanded the artillery school of practice at Fort Monroe until March 1877, when he was appointed to the command at Fort McHenry, Baltimore, Maryland. During the labor riots of 1877 he rendered valuable service at Camden Station.

Barry died at Fort McHenry and is buried at Forest Lawn Cemetery in Buffalo, New York.

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn Brady, Mathew B., ca. 1823-1896. Photographs of Civil War scenes [manuscript]. ca. 1862-1865. University of Virginia. Library
referencedIn Record Group 153: Records of the Office of the Judge Advocate General (Army), 1792 - 2010 Series: Court Martial Case Files, 12/1800 - 10/1894 File Unit: Barry, William F. -- Captain, 2nd Artillery National Archives at Washington, D.C
creatorOf United States. Army. Connecticut Artillery Regiment, 1st (1862-1865).bCompany L. First Connecticut Artillery, Company L special requisition, 1865 Feb. 03. Historic Northampton Museum & Education Center
creatorOf Barry, William F. (William Farquhar), 1818-1879. Civil War letters received and farewell dinner memorabilia, 1861-1862, 1867. Buffalo History Museum, Research Library
referencedIn Philip Case Lockwood memorial collection of Civil War portraits and autographs, 1862-ca. 1886. Houghton Library
referencedIn Frederick M. Dearborn collection of military and political Americana, Part III: The Civil War: The Union, 1804-1915. Houghton Library
creatorOf Barry, William F. (William Farquhar), 1818-1879,. Miscellaneous American history collection [manuscript], 1828-1918 University of Virginia. Library
referencedIn Connecticut. Governor (1858-1866 : Buckingham). Letter : Hartford, Conn., to W.[F.] Barry, n.p., 1861 Dec. 10. Texas Christian University
creatorOf Barry, William F. (William Farquhar), 1818-1879. Autograph letter signed : Goldsboro, to Brig. Genl. I. N. Palmer, 1865 Apr. 2. Pierpont Morgan Library.
referencedIn Schofield, John McAllister, 1831-1906. Letter : Richmond, Va., to Ulysses S. Grant, Washington, D.C., 1868 Jan 30. University of Chicago Library
creatorOf Barry, William F. (William Farquhar), 1818-1879. Correspondence, 1877. Maryland historical society
referencedIn Tidball, John C. (John Caldwell), 1825-1906. Reminiscence of John C. Tidball, undated. Library of Congress
referencedIn Record Group 94: Records of the Adjutant General's Office, 1762 - 1984 Series: Carded Records Relating to Civil War Staff Officers, 1890 - 1912 File Unit: Barry, William F. -- Brigadier General National Archives at Washington, D.C
referencedIn Henry Jackson Hunt Papers, 1841-1978, (bulk 1862-1889) Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
referencedIn Tyler, Daniel, 1816-1906. Letter : Hartford, Conn., to William F. Barry, n.p., 1861 Dec. 11. Texas Christian University
referencedIn Schofield, John McAllister, 1831-1906. Letter : Richmond, Va., to Ulysses S. Grant, Washington, D.C., 1868 Jan 30. Texas Christian University
Role Title Holding Repository
contributorOf Record Group 94: Records of the Adjutant General's Office, 1762 - 1984 Series: Letters Received, 1805 - 1889 File Unit: 1876 - File No. 380 (Barry, William F - Virginia) National Archives at Washington, D.C
contributorOf Record Group 94: Records of the Adjutant General's Office, 1762 - 1984 Series: Letters Received, 1805 - 1889 File Unit: 1876 - File No. 1798 (Barry, William F - Virginia) National Archives at Washington, D.C
contributorOf Record Group 94: Records of the Adjutant General's Office, 1762 - 1984 Series: Letters Received, 1805 - 1889 File Unit: 1876 - File No. 2459 (Barry, William F - Virginia) National Archives at Washington, D.C
contributorOf Record Group 94: Records of the Adjutant General's Office, 1762 - 1984 Series: Letters Received, 1805 - 1889 File Unit: 1875 - File No. 2862 (Barry, William F - Virginia) National Archives at Washington, D.C
contributorOf Record Group 94: Records of the Adjutant General's Office, 1762 - 1984 Series: Letters Received, 1805 - 1889 File Unit: 1879 - File No. 2646 (Barry, William F - Maryland) National Archives at Washington, D.C
contributorOf Record Group 94: Records of the Adjutant General's Office, 1762 - 1984 Series: Letters Received, 1805 - 1889 File Unit: 1877 - File No. 2138 (Barry, William F - Maryland) National Archives at Washington, D.C
contributorOf Record Group 94: Records of the Adjutant General's Office, 1762 - 1984 Series: Letters Received, 1805 - 1889 File Unit: 1874 - File No. 1075 (Barry, William F - Virginia) National Archives at Washington, D.C
contributorOf Record Group 94: Records of the Adjutant General's Office, 1762 - 1984 Series: Letters Received, 1805 - 1889 File Unit: 1877 - File No. 6577 (Barry, William F - Maryland) National Archives at Washington, D.C
contributorOf Record Group 94: Records of the Adjutant General's Office, 1762 - 1984 Series: Letters Received, 1805 - 1889 File Unit: 1872 - File No. 4739 (Barry, William F - Virginia) National Archives at Washington, D.C
contributorOf Record Group 94: Records of the Adjutant General's Office, 1762 - 1984 Series: Letters Received, 1805 - 1889 File Unit: 1877 - File No. 4027 (Barry, William F - Maryland) National Archives at Washington, D.C
contributorOf Record Group 94: Records of the Adjutant General's Office, 1762 - 1984 Series: Letters Received, 1805 - 1889 File Unit: 1871 - File No. 2321 (Barry, William F - Virginia) National Archives at Washington, D.C
contributorOf Record Group 94: Records of the Adjutant General's Office, 1762 - 1984 Series: Letters Received, 1805 - 1889 File Unit: 1872 - File No. 1484 (Barry, William F - Virginia) National Archives at Washington, D.C
contributorOf Record Group 94: Records of the Adjutant General's Office, 1762 - 1984 Series: Letters Received, 1805 - 1889 File Unit: 1875 - File No. 5649 (Barry, William F - Virginia) National Archives at Washington, D.C
contributorOf Record Group 94: Records of the Adjutant General's Office, 1762 - 1984 Series: Letters Received, 1805 - 1889 File Unit: 1871 - File No. 3815 (Barry, William F - Virginia) National Archives at Washington, D.C
contributorOf Record Group 94: Records of the Adjutant General's Office, 1762 - 1984 Series: Letters Received, 1805 - 1889 File Unit: 1878 - File No. 2619 (Barry, William F - Maryland) National Archives at Washington, D.C
contributorOf Record Group 94: Records of the Adjutant General's Office, 1762 - 1984 Series: Letters Received, 1805 - 1889 File Unit: 1877 - File No. 1040 (Barry, William F - Virginia) National Archives at Washington, D.C
contributorOf Record Group 94: Records of the Adjutant General's Office, 1762 - 1984 Series: Letters Received, 1805 - 1889 File Unit: 1877 - File No. 757 (Barry, William F - Virginia) National Archives at Washington, D.C
contributorOf Record Group 94: Records of the Adjutant General's Office, 1762 - 1984 Series: Letters Received, 1805 - 1889 File Unit: 1878 - File No. 5181 (Barry, Wm F - Maryland) National Archives at Washington, D.C
contributorOf Record Group 94: Records of the Adjutant General's Office, 1762 - 1984 Series: Letters Received, 1805 - 1889 File Unit: 1875 - File No. 4804 (Barry, Wm F - Virginia) National Archives at Washington, D.C
contributorOf Record Group 94: Records of the Adjutant General's Office, 1762 - 1984 Series: Letters Received, 1805 - 1889 File Unit: 1871 - File No. 3054 (Barry, William F - Virginia) National Archives at Washington, D.C
contributorOf Record Group 94: Records of the Adjutant General's Office, 1762 - 1984 Series: Letters Received, 1805 - 1889 File Unit: 1873 - File No. 2834 (Barry, William F - Virginia) National Archives at Washington, D.C
contributorOf Record Group 94: Records of the Adjutant General's Office, 1762 - 1984 Series: Letters Received, 1805 - 1889 File Unit: 1874 - File No. 5169 (Barry, William F - Virginia) National Archives at Washington, D.C
contributorOf Record Group 94: Records of the Adjutant General's Office, 1762 - 1984 Series: Letters Received, 1805 - 1889 File Unit: 1873 - File No. 3703 (Barry, William F - Virginia) National Archives at Washington, D.C
contributorOf Record Group 94: Records of the Adjutant General's Office, 1762 - 1984 Series: Letters Received, 1805 - 1889 File Unit: 1874 - File No. 2321 (Barry, William F - Virginia) National Archives at Washington, D.C
contributorOf Record Group 94: Records of the Adjutant General's Office, 1762 - 1984 Series: Letters Received, 1805 - 1889 File Unit: 1873 - File No. 4826 (Barry, William F - Virginia) National Archives at Washington, D.C
contributorOf Record Group 94: Records of the Adjutant General's Office, 1762 - 1984 Series: Letters Received, 1805 - 1889 File Unit: Barry, Wm F - Louisiana - 1855 - File No. M49 National Archives at Washington, D.C
contributorOf Record Group 94: Records of the Adjutant General's Office, 1762 - 1984 Series: Letters Received, 1805 - 1889 File Unit: Barry, Wm F - Louisiana - 1855 - File No. B146 National Archives at Washington, D.C
contributorOf Record Group 94: Records of the Adjutant General's Office, 1762 - 1984 Series: Letters Received, 1805 - 1889 File Unit: 1871 - File No. 2201 (Barry, William F - Virginia) National Archives at Washington, D.C
contributorOf Record Group 94: Records of the Adjutant General's Office, 1762 - 1984 Series: Letters Received, 1805 - 1889 File Unit: Barry, William F - New York - 1847 - File No. B482 National Archives at Washington, D.C
contributorOf Record Group 94: Records of the Adjutant General's Office, 1762 - 1984 Series: Letters Received, 1805 - 1889 File Unit: 1875 - File No. 3647 (Barry, William F - Virginia) National Archives at Washington, D.C
contributorOf Record Group 94: Records of the Adjutant General's Office, 1762 - 1984 Series: Letters Received, 1805 - 1889 File Unit: 1873 - File No. 248 (Barry, William F - Virginia) National Archives at Washington, D.C
contributorOf Record Group 94: Records of the Adjutant General's Office, 1762 - 1984 Series: Letters Received, 1805 - 1889 File Unit: 1878 - File No. 457 (Barry, William F - Maryland) National Archives at Washington, D.C
contributorOf Record Group 94: Records of the Adjutant General's Office, 1762 - 1984 Series: Letters Received, 1805 - 1889 File Unit: Barry, Wm F - New York - 1854 - File No. B602 National Archives at Washington, D.C
contributorOf Record Group 94: Records of the Adjutant General's Office, 1762 - 1984 Series: Letters Received, 1805 - 1889 File Unit: 1872 - File No. 1992 (Barry, William F - Virginia) National Archives at Washington, D.C
contributorOf Record Group 94: Records of the Adjutant General's Office, 1762 - 1984 Series: Letters Received, 1805 - 1889 File Unit: 1872 - File No. 922 (Barry, William F - Virginia) National Archives at Washington, D.C
contributorOf Record Group 94: Records of the Adjutant General's Office, 1762 - 1984 Series: Letters Received, 1805 - 1889 File Unit: 1876 - File No. 2658 (Barry, William F - Virginia) National Archives at Washington, D.C
contributorOf Record Group 94: Records of the Adjutant General's Office, 1762 - 1984 Series: Letters Received, 1805 - 1889 File Unit: 1875 - File No. 6310 (Barry, William F - Virginia) National Archives at Washington, D.C
contributorOf Record Group 94: Records of the Adjutant General's Office, 1762 - 1984 Series: Letters Received, 1805 - 1889 File Unit: 1872 - File No. 1460 (Barry, William F - Virginia) National Archives at Washington, D.C
contributorOf Record Group 94: Records of the Adjutant General's Office, 1762 - 1984 Series: Letters Received, 1805 - 1889 File Unit: 1876 - File No. 2145 (Barry, William F - Virginia) National Archives at Washington, D.C
contributorOf Record Group 94: Records of the Adjutant General's Office, 1762 - 1984 Series: Letters Received, 1805 - 1889 File Unit: 1876 - File No. 3535 (Barry, William F - Virginia) National Archives at Washington, D.C
contributorOf Record Group 94: Records of the Adjutant General's Office, 1762 - 1984 Series: Letters Received, 1805 - 1889 File Unit: 1876 - File No. 1973 (Barry, W F - Virginia) National Archives at Washington, D.C
contributorOf Record Group 94: Records of the Adjutant General's Office, 1762 - 1984 Series: Letters Received, 1805 - 1889 File Unit: 1872 - File No. 5069 (Barry, William F - Virginia) National Archives at Washington, D.C
contributorOf Record Group 94: Records of the Adjutant General's Office, 1762 - 1984 Series: Letters Received, 1805 - 1889 File Unit: 1871 - File No. 4136 (Barry, William F - Virginia) National Archives at Washington, D.C
contributorOf Record Group 94: Records of the Adjutant General's Office, 1762 - 1984 Series: Letters Received, 1805 - 1889 File Unit: 1872 - File No. 4960 (Barry, William F - Virginia) National Archives at Washington, D.C
contributorOf Record Group 94: Records of the Adjutant General's Office, 1762 - 1984 Series: Letters Received, 1805 - 1889 File Unit: 1875 - File No. 6426 (Barry, William F - Virginia) National Archives at Washington, D.C
contributorOf Record Group 94: Records of the Adjutant General's Office, 1762 - 1984 Series: Letters Received, 1805 - 1889 File Unit: 1874 - File No. 929 (Barry, William F - Virginia) National Archives at Washington, D.C
contributorOf Record Group 94: Records of the Adjutant General's Office, 1762 - 1984 Series: Letters Received, 1805 - 1889 File Unit: 1879 - File No. 598 (Barry, William F - Maryland) National Archives at Washington, D.C
contributorOf Record Group 94: Records of the Adjutant General's Office, 1762 - 1984 Series: Letters Received, 1805 - 1889 File Unit: 1877 - File No. 2460 (Barry, William F - Maryland) National Archives at Washington, D.C
Relation Name
associatedWith Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Company. corporateBody
associatedWith Banks, Nathaniel Prentiss, 1816-1894. person
associatedWith Barnard, J. G. (John Gross), 1815-1882. person
associatedWith Brady, Mathew B., ca. 1823-1896. person
associatedWith Connecticut. Governor (1858-1866 : Buckingham) corporateBody
associatedWith Dearborn, Frederick M. (Frederick Myers), b. 1876 person
associatedWith Delafield, Richard, 1798-1973. person
associatedWith Geary, John White, 1819-1873. person
associatedWith Hunt, Henry Jackson, 1819-1889. person
associatedWith Kearney, Philip, 1815-1862. person
associatedWith Lockwood, Philip Case, 1844-1897 person
associatedWith Palmer, Innis Newton, 1824-1900, person
associatedWith Pomeroy, Theodore Medad, 1824-1905. person
associatedWith Rhode Island. Governor (1860-1863 : Sprague) corporateBody
associatedWith Ripley, James W. (James Wolfe), 1794-1870. person
associatedWith Schofield, John McAllister, 1831-1906. person
associatedWith Sprague, William, 1830-1915. person
associatedWith Tidball, John C. (John Caldwell), 1825-1906. person
associatedWith Tyler, Daniel, 1816-1906. person
associatedWith United States. Army corporateBody
leaderOf United States. Army. Artillery Regiment, 2nd. corporateBody
memberOf United States. Army. Artillery Regiment, 4th corporateBody
associatedWith United States. Army. Connecticut Artillery Regiment, 1st (1862-1865).bCompany L. corporateBody
memberOf United States. Army. Field Artillery Regiment, 5th corporateBody
memberOf United States. Army of the Potomac corporateBody
alumnusOrAlumnaOf United States Military Academy corporateBody
Place Name Admin Code Country
North Carolina NC US
Mexico 00 MX
South Carolina SC US
West Point NY US
Georgia GA US
Tennessee TN US
Atlanta GA US
Kansas KS US
District of Columbia DC US
Virginia VA US
Manhattan NY US
Fort Monroe VA US
Baltimore MD US
Florida FL US
Subject
Atlanta Campaign, 1864
Beaver Dam Creek, Battle of, Va., 1862
Bull Run, 1st Battle of, Va., 1861
Civil War, 1861-1865
Gaines' Mill, Battle of, Va., 1862
Malvern Hill, Battle of, Va., 1862
Mexican War, 1846-1848
Peninsula Campaign, 1862
Railroads
Railroad Strike, U.S., 1877
Riot control
Riots
Seminole Indians
Sherman's March through the Carolinas
Sherman's March to the Sea, 1864
Strikes and lockouts
White Oak Swamp, Battle of, Va., 1862
Occupation
Generals
Soldiers
Activity

Person

Birth 1818-08-18

Death 1879-07-18

Male

Americans

English

Information

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Ark ID: w62r40b1

SNAC ID: 29382620