MCPHERSON, James Birdseye

Affiliation:  Union

Born: November 14 1828, near Clyde OH

Died: July 22 1864, nr Atlanta GA

Pre-War Profession: Graduated West Point 1853 (1st in his class), engineer duty.

War Service: August 1861 Lt. in engineers, aide to Halleck, chief engineer to Grant at Fts Henry and Donelson, Shiloh, Corinth, Supt. of railways in East Tennessee, May 1862 appointed Brig. Gen. of Volunteers, October 1862 promoted Maj. Gen. of Volunteers, commanded XVII Corps in Vicksburg campaign, August 1863 promoted Brig. Gen. in Regular Army, commanded Army of the Tennessee in Atlanta campaign, Atlanta (k).

Post War: While McPherson was riding his horse toward his old XVII Corps, a line of Confederate skirmishers appeared, but in attempting to escape the Confederates opened fire and mortally wounded McPherson in the back in 1864.