Henry Shaw Briggs
Encyclopedia
Henry Shaw Briggs was brigadier general
in the Union Army
during the American Civil War
.
During the war, Briggs served as a captain with the 8th Regiment Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry. He was the colonel
and first commander of the 10th Regiment Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry
. After suffering serious wounds during the Battle of Fair Oaks in 1862, Briggs was promoted to brigadier general
and served primarily administrative commands in Baltimore, Washington, D.C.
and Alexandria, Virginia
. He was, however, periodically assigned various brigade commands in the field for brief periods during the latter half of the war.
Both prior to and after the war, Briggs was a lawyer and politician. He served as a state legislator, Massachusetts Auditor and a judge.
, (governor of Massachusetts
from 1844–1851) on August 1, 1824 in Lanesborough, Massachusetts
. Henry Briggs graduated from Williams College
in 1844 and was admitted to the Massachusetts Bar in 1848.
On August 6, 1849, Briggs married Mary Elizabeth Talcott, daughter of Nathianiel P. Talcott of Lanesborough, Massachusetts.
Shortly before the war, Briggs established a law practice in Pittsfield, Massachusetts
. He took an interest in military affairs as well and became captain of a company of state militia in Pittsfield known as the "Allen Guards." Briggs also took an active interest in politics. In 1856, he served as a member of the Massachusetts Legislature
.
, Briggs's company became Company K of the 8th Massachusetts. After reaching Maryland, Company K was detached from the regiment
and assigned garrison
duty at Fort McHenry
near Baltimore. The company eventually rejoined the rest of the regiment and labored to repair and guard the railroads in the vicinity of Baltimore.
on July 28 and spent the remainder of 1861 in camp near Washington, drilling and preparing for the spring campaign. The regiment was eventually attached to the IV Corps
.
In March 1862, Major General
George B. McClellan
commenced his Peninsular Campaign aimed at capturing the Confederate
capital of Richmond, Virginia
. As the Army of the Potomac
(of which the 10th Massachusetts was a part), moved by water to the Virginia Peninsula
, Col. Briggs was placed in command of the 1st Brigade
, 1st Division
of the IV Corps on March 13, 1862. He served in this capacity until May 1862 when he was replaced by Brig. Gen. Charles Devens
and returned to command the 10th Massachusetts. The 10th Massachusetts, led by Briggs, saw its first major action during the Battle of Fair Oaks on May 31, 1862. The regiment suffered severe casualties during this engagement and Col. Briggs was seriously wounded, shot through both legs.
in September 1862, Briggs was briefly assigned to command the 2nd Brigade, 3rd Division of the V Corps
taking several fresh regiments to reinforce McClellan's Army of the Potomac. Briggs, however, had not fully recovered from his wounds and was unable to take the field.
In February 1863, Briggs was assigned to the Army's Middle Department
, commanding a brigade in the VIII Corps
serving guard duty in Maryland. Serving in this capacity until July 1863, Briggs's headquarters was in Baltimore.
For two weeks in the latter part of July 1863, during the Confederate retreat from Gettysburg
, Pennsylvania, Briggs was placed in command of a brigade of the 1st Division, I Corps
. His brigade did not see any significant action during this time. August 1863 found Briggs in command of another training camp in Alexandria, Virginia
known as the "Rendezvous for Draftees," a post he maintained until July 1864.
From that date until his resignation on December 4, 1865, Briggs served on court-martial boards in Washington.
in 1869, Briggs was appointed a standing justice of that court in recognition of his law career and his duty on court-martial boards during the war. Briggs resigned from the bench in 1873.
Briggs died of heart disease on September 23, 1887.
Brigadier General
Brigadier general is a senior rank in the armed forces. It is the lowest ranking general officer in some countries, usually sitting between the ranks of colonel and major general. When appointed to a field command, a brigadier general is typically in command of a brigade consisting of around 4,000...
in the Union Army
Union Army
The Union Army was the land force that fought for the Union during the American Civil War. It was also known as the Federal Army, the U.S. Army, the Northern Army and the National Army...
during the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
.
During the war, Briggs served as a captain with the 8th Regiment Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry. He was the colonel
Colonel (United States)
In the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, colonel is a senior field grade military officer rank just above the rank of lieutenant colonel and just below the rank of brigadier general...
and first commander of the 10th Regiment Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry
10th Regiment Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry
The 10th Regiment Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry was an infantry regiment in the Union army during the American Civil War.Organized at Hampden Park in Springfield, Massachusetts in the early summer of 1861 and consisting mostly of men from western Massachusetts, the regiment was mustered in on...
. After suffering serious wounds during the Battle of Fair Oaks in 1862, Briggs was promoted to brigadier general
Brigadier General
Brigadier general is a senior rank in the armed forces. It is the lowest ranking general officer in some countries, usually sitting between the ranks of colonel and major general. When appointed to a field command, a brigadier general is typically in command of a brigade consisting of around 4,000...
and served primarily administrative commands in Baltimore, Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
and Alexandria, Virginia
Alexandria, Virginia
Alexandria is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia. As of 2009, the city had a total population of 139,966. Located along the Western bank of the Potomac River, Alexandria is approximately six miles south of downtown Washington, D.C.Like the rest of northern Virginia, as well as...
. He was, however, periodically assigned various brigade commands in the field for brief periods during the latter half of the war.
Both prior to and after the war, Briggs was a lawyer and politician. He served as a state legislator, Massachusetts Auditor and a judge.
Early years
Briggs was born to George Nixon BriggsGeorge N. Briggs
George Nixon Briggs was a member of the Whig Party and served seven-terms as the 19th Governor of the U.S. state of Massachusetts, serving from 1844 to 1851.-Early life and education:...
, (governor of Massachusetts
Governor of Massachusetts
The Governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts is the executive magistrate of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, United States. The current governor is Democrat Deval Patrick.-Constitutional role:...
from 1844–1851) on August 1, 1824 in Lanesborough, Massachusetts
Lanesborough, Massachusetts
Lanesborough is a town in Berkshire County, Massachusetts, United States. It is part of the Pittsfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 2,990 at the 2000 census.-History:...
. Henry Briggs graduated from Williams College
Williams College
Williams College is a private liberal arts college located in Williamstown, Massachusetts, United States. It was established in 1793 with funds from the estate of Ephraim Williams. Originally a men's college, Williams became co-educational in 1970. Fraternities were also phased out during this...
in 1844 and was admitted to the Massachusetts Bar in 1848.
On August 6, 1849, Briggs married Mary Elizabeth Talcott, daughter of Nathianiel P. Talcott of Lanesborough, Massachusetts.
Shortly before the war, Briggs established a law practice in Pittsfield, Massachusetts
Pittsfield, Massachusetts
Pittsfield is the largest city and the county seat of Berkshire County, Massachusetts, United States. It is the principal city of the Pittsfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area which encompasses all of Berkshire County. Its area code is 413. Its ZIP code is 01201...
. He took an interest in military affairs as well and became captain of a company of state militia in Pittsfield known as the "Allen Guards." Briggs also took an active interest in politics. In 1856, he served as a member of the Massachusetts Legislature
Massachusetts General Court
The Massachusetts General Court is the state legislature of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The name "General Court" is a hold-over from the Colonial Era, when this body also sat in judgment of judicial appeals cases...
.
8th Massachusetts
In the days following the attack on Fort SumterFort Sumter
Fort Sumter is a Third System masonry coastal fortification located in Charleston Harbor, South Carolina. The fort is best known as the site upon which the shots initiating the American Civil War were fired, at the Battle of Fort Sumter.- Construction :...
, Briggs's company became Company K of the 8th Massachusetts. After reaching Maryland, Company K was detached from the regiment
Regiment
A regiment is a major tactical military unit, composed of variable numbers of batteries, squadrons or battalions, commanded by a colonel or lieutenant colonel...
and assigned garrison
Garrison
Garrison is the collective term for a body of troops stationed in a particular location, originally to guard it, but now often simply using it as a home base....
duty at Fort McHenry
Fort McHenry
Fort McHenry, in Baltimore, Maryland, is a star-shaped fort best known for its role in the War of 1812, when it successfully defended Baltimore Harbor from an attack by the British navy in Chesapeake Bay...
near Baltimore. The company eventually rejoined the rest of the regiment and labored to repair and guard the railroads in the vicinity of Baltimore.
10th Massachusetts
On June 21, 1861, Briggs was detached from service with the 8th Massachusetts, promoted to colonel and placed in command of the newly formed 10th Massachusetts. The regiment reached Washington, D.C.Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
on July 28 and spent the remainder of 1861 in camp near Washington, drilling and preparing for the spring campaign. The regiment was eventually attached to the IV Corps
IV Corps (ACW)
There were two corps of the Union Army called IV Corps during the American Civil War. They were separate units, one serving with the Army of the Potomac and the Department of Virginia in the Eastern Theater, 1862–63, the other with the Army of the Cumberland in the Western Theater,...
.
In March 1862, Major General
Major General
Major general or major-general is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. A major general is a high-ranking officer, normally subordinate to the rank of lieutenant general and senior to the ranks of brigadier and brigadier general...
George B. McClellan
George B. McClellan
George Brinton McClellan was a major general during the American Civil War. He organized the famous Army of the Potomac and served briefly as the general-in-chief of the Union Army. Early in the war, McClellan played an important role in raising a well-trained and organized army for the Union...
commenced his Peninsular Campaign aimed at capturing the Confederate
Confederate States of America
The Confederate States of America was a government set up from 1861 to 1865 by 11 Southern slave states of the United States of America that had declared their secession from the U.S...
capital of Richmond, Virginia
Richmond, Virginia
Richmond is the capital of the Commonwealth of Virginia, in the United States. It is an independent city and not part of any county. Richmond is the center of the Richmond Metropolitan Statistical Area and the Greater Richmond area...
. As the Army of the Potomac
Army of the Potomac
The Army of the Potomac was the major Union Army in the Eastern Theater of the American Civil War.-History:The Army of the Potomac was created in 1861, but was then only the size of a corps . Its nucleus was called the Army of Northeastern Virginia, under Brig. Gen...
(of which the 10th Massachusetts was a part), moved by water to the Virginia Peninsula
Virginia Peninsula
The Virginia Peninsula is a peninsula in southeast Virginia, USA, bounded by the York River, James River, Hampton Roads and Chesapeake Bay.Hampton Roads is the common name for the metropolitan area that surrounds the body of water of the same name...
, Col. Briggs was placed in command of the 1st Brigade
Brigade
A brigade is a major tactical military formation that is typically composed of two to five battalions, plus supporting elements depending on the era and nationality of a given army and could be perceived as an enlarged/reinforced regiment...
, 1st Division
Division (military)
A division is a large military unit or formation usually consisting of between 10,000 and 20,000 soldiers. In most armies, a division is composed of several regiments or brigades, and in turn several divisions typically make up a corps...
of the IV Corps on March 13, 1862. He served in this capacity until May 1862 when he was replaced by Brig. Gen. Charles Devens
Charles Devens
Charles Devens was an American lawyer, jurist and statesman. He also served as a general in the Union Army during the American Civil War.-Early life and career:...
and returned to command the 10th Massachusetts. The 10th Massachusetts, led by Briggs, saw its first major action during the Battle of Fair Oaks on May 31, 1862. The regiment suffered severe casualties during this engagement and Col. Briggs was seriously wounded, shot through both legs.
Brigade commands
The severity of his wounds obliged Briggs to relinquish command of the 10th Massachusetts. He returned to Massachusetts for the remainder of the summer of 1862 to recover. For his "gallant conduct on the field" during the Battle of Fair Oaks, Briggs was promoted to brigadier general on July 17, 1862. In September 1862, Briggs was re-assigned to command Camp Chase on Arlington Heights just outside of Washington. This was a training camp for new regiments arriving in Washington from across the country. During the Maryland CampaignMaryland Campaign
The Maryland Campaign, or the Antietam Campaign is widely considered one of the major turning points of the American Civil War. Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee's first invasion of the North was repulsed by Maj. Gen. George B...
in September 1862, Briggs was briefly assigned to command the 2nd Brigade, 3rd Division of the V Corps
V Corps (ACW)
The V Corps was a unit of the Union Army of the Potomac during the American Civil War.-1862:The corps was first organized briefly under Nathaniel P. Banks, but then permanently on May 18, 1862, designated as the "V Corps Provisional"...
taking several fresh regiments to reinforce McClellan's Army of the Potomac. Briggs, however, had not fully recovered from his wounds and was unable to take the field.
In February 1863, Briggs was assigned to the Army's Middle Department
Middle Department
The Middle Department was an administrative military district created by the United States War Department early in the American Civil War to administer the troops in the Middle Atlantic states....
, commanding a brigade in the VIII Corps
VIII Corps (ACW)
The VIII Corps was a corps of the Union Army during the American Civil War.- Creation and early service :The corps was initially created out of various Union commands as part of the Middle Department in the Shenandoah Valley on July 12, 1862, and was placed under the command of Major General John...
serving guard duty in Maryland. Serving in this capacity until July 1863, Briggs's headquarters was in Baltimore.
For two weeks in the latter part of July 1863, during the Confederate retreat from Gettysburg
Battle of Gettysburg
The Battle of Gettysburg , was fought July 1–3, 1863, in and around the town of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. The battle with the largest number of casualties in the American Civil War, it is often described as the war's turning point. Union Maj. Gen. George Gordon Meade's Army of the Potomac...
, Pennsylvania, Briggs was placed in command of a brigade of the 1st Division, I Corps
I Corps (ACW)
I Corps was the designation of three different corps-sized units in the Union Army during the American Civil War. The units served in the following armies:...
. His brigade did not see any significant action during this time. August 1863 found Briggs in command of another training camp in Alexandria, Virginia
Alexandria, Virginia
Alexandria is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia. As of 2009, the city had a total population of 139,966. Located along the Western bank of the Potomac River, Alexandria is approximately six miles south of downtown Washington, D.C.Like the rest of northern Virginia, as well as...
known as the "Rendezvous for Draftees," a post he maintained until July 1864.
From that date until his resignation on December 4, 1865, Briggs served on court-martial boards in Washington.
Post-war career
Briggs returned to a political and law career after the war. From 1865 to 1868, he served as Massachusetts Auditor. With the establishment of the District Court of Central BerkshireBerkshire County, Massachusetts
Berkshire County is a non-governmental county located on the western edge of the U.S. state of Massachusetts. As of the 2010 census, the population was 131,219. Its largest city and traditional county seat is Pittsfield...
in 1869, Briggs was appointed a standing justice of that court in recognition of his law career and his duty on court-martial boards during the war. Briggs resigned from the bench in 1873.
Briggs died of heart disease on September 23, 1887.
See also
- List of American Civil War generals
- List of Massachusetts generals in the American Civil War
- Massachusetts in the American Civil War