Springfield 1636-1886, History of Town and City, by Mason A. Green ...

532 SPRINGFIELD, 1636-18S6.
postmaster of Spriugtield, dying June 22, 1884, soon after vacating
the latter office.
Brevet Maj.-Gen. James Barnes, of Springfield, was graduated from
the Military Academy, West Point, in the class of 1829. He passed
a year tliere as assistant instructor, took part in the Black Hawk
expedition of 1832, and during the nullification controversy, soon
after, was stationed at Charleston harbor. He then returned to
West Point as assistant instructor, and served three years, when he
resigned his commission in 1830. He became noted as a civil
engineer and a builder of railroads, and was engaged in large business
enterprises when the war broke out. But neitlier his business interests
nor his advancing age and the comforts of home life could stand
between this pure-minded patriot and tlie service of his country, and,
at the age of fifty-five, on the twenty-sixth of July, 1861, he was
commissioned colonel of the Eighteenth Massachusetts Volunteers.
He commanded his fine regimeut with signal ability until after the close
of the Peninsular campaign, when he succeeded to the command of
Martindale's Brigade of the Fifth Corps, and, dating from the 29th
of Noveuiber, 18G2, was promoted to brigadier-general of volunteers.
He was in command of the brigade during the Autietam, Fredericks-
burg, and Chancellorsville campaigns, and at Gettysburg had riseu
to the command of the First Division, Fifth Corps. Leading his command
to the relief of the Union left, near the close of the second day's
battle, he was wounded, and did not again return to active duty in
the field. After tlie battle he was placed in charge of the defences
at Norfolk, Va., and vicinity, then, in succession, of St. Mary's Dis-
trict and the encampment of Confederate prisoners at Point Lookout,
Md., where he remained till the close of the war, receiving the brevet
of major-general of volunteers, from March 13, I860. He remained
in commission until January 15, 1866, when he was mustered out, and
returned to his home, but never regained his health, dying there on
the 12th of February, 1869.
Brevet Maj.-Gen. Oliver Edwards entered the service as adjutant