William Wallace Burns

William Wallace Burns (September 3, 1825 – April 19, 1892) was a career American soldier who served in the Union Army during the American Civil War, reaching the rank of brigadier general in the volunteer army. He was among the commanders of the famed Philadelphia Brigade.

Birth and early years Burns was born in Coshocton, Ohio, son of future U.S. congressman Joseph Burns and a distant relative of George Washington through his mother's family. He entered the United States Military Academy in 1842 and graduated 28th in his class in 1847, a year late due to failing English as a freshman. He accepted a commission as a second lieutenant in the infantry and served in the Mexican–American War without seeing any combat. He was then assigned to various army posts in the Old West and Southwest, marrying in Arkansas in 1849. He served on recruiting duty in Philadelphia from 1854 to 1856 and then as a regimental quartermaster in Florida during the Third Seminole War (1856–1857). After the conclusion of that conflict, Burns was part of an expedition sent to Utah in 1857 to quell Mormon unrest. In 1858, he accepted a staff commission to serve as Chief Commissary of Subsistence for Albert Sidney Johnston, with the rank of captain.

Civil War

Burns was stationed at Fort Smith, Arkansas, when the war began, narrowly avoiding capture when that place fell to Confederate militia forces on April 23, 1861. He returned to Ohio after the fort's capture and was quickly appointed as chief of commissary on the staff of Major General George B. McClellan in May 1861. Burns served in that capacity during McClellan's successful campaign in western Virginia that summer, and was promoted to the Regular Army rank of major in August 1861. However, Burns wanted a combat command; he got his wish that fall, receiving a promotion to brigadier general of volunteers in September, and being placed in command of the Philadelphia Brigade in October, after the death of their previous commander at the Battle of Ball's Bluff. On the evening of February 20, 1868, out-going Mayor Gaillard arrived with Burns; Gaillard addressed city council and, after introducing Burns, explained that Burns would not be sworn into office in the normal fashion because of the manner in which he came to office.

He received the brevet of brigadier general in 1865 and was on duty in the Commissary Department at Washington, D.C. until 1889, when he retired, with the Regular Army rank of colonel.

He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery.