William E. Birkhimer

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.

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)

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.