William E. Birkhimer

William Edward Birkhimer
William Edward Birkhimer, Medal of Honor recipient
Born	(1848-03-01)March 1, 1848 Somerset, Ohio
Died	June 10, 1914(1914-06-10) (aged 66) Washington, D.C.
Allegiance	United States Union
Service/branch	United States Army Union Army
Years of service	1864–1906
Rank	Brigadier general
Unit	3rd U.S. Artillery
Battles/wars	American Civil War Moro Rebellion, Philippine American War
Awards	Medal of Honor
Relations	Williston B. Palmer, Charles D. Palmer (grandsons)

William Edward Birkhimer (March 1, 1848 – June 10, 1914) was a United States Army Brigadier General and lawyer received the Medal of Honor while a captain during the Philippine-American War. His career was long and varied, as he started as an Iowa private in the Union Army during the Civil War.

Career Dates

• March 21, 1864, Private, 4th Iowa Cavalry
• August 8, 1865, Mustered out of service
• September 1, 1866, Entered West Point as a cadet
• June 15, 1870 Commissioned second lieutenant from United States Military Academy, 3rd Artillery Regiment
• 1873 Honor Graduate, Artillery School
• 1874–1876 Assistant professor of natural & experimental philosophy
• April 10, 1879 promoted to first lieutenant
• 1886–1890 Judge Advocate, Department of the Columbia
• February 10, 1898 promoted to captain
• 1889 L.L.D. University of Oregon
• 1899 Associate Justice Supreme Court of the Philippines (audencial) Manila, Philippines
• July 5, 1899, Colonel, 28th United States Volunteer Infantry
• May 1, 1901, mustered out of volunteers
• August 1, 1901 promoted to major, Artillery Corps
• May 20, 1905 promoted to lieutenant colonel, Artillery Corps
• February 15, 1906 promoted to brigadier general
• February 16, 1906 retired at own request

Birkhimer is the grandfather of Williston Birkhimer Palmer and Charles Day Palmer, brothers who became four-star generals.

Awards

• Medal of Honor
• Civil War Campaign Medal
• Indian Campaign Medal
• Spanish Campaign Medal
• Philippine Campaign Medal

Medal of Honor citation

Rank and Organization: Captain, 3d U.S. Artillery. Place and Date: At San Miguel de Mayumo, Luzon, Philippine Islands, May 13, 1899. Entered Service At: Iowa. Birth: Somerset, Ohio. Date of Issue: July 15, 1902.

Citation:

With 12 men charged and routed 300 of the enemy.

Bibliography

• "Military Government and Martial Law, by William E. Birkhimer, third edition, revised (1914), Kansas City, Missouri, Franklin Hudson Publishing Co". Retrieved October 5, 2010.

See also

• List of Medal of Honor recipients
• List of Philippine–American War Medal of Honor recipients

References

• "Arlingtoncemetery.net entry". Retrieved October 5, 2010.
• "Home of Heroes entry". Retrieved October 5, 2010.
• "Iowa Medal of Honor recipients". Retrieved October 5, 2010.
• "Home of Heroes West Point Medal of Honor recipients". Retrieved October 5, 2010.