Byron Root Pierce (September 20, 1829 – July 10, 1924) was an American dentist who served as a Union Army general in the

American Civil War The American Civil War (April 12, 1861May 26, 1865; also known by Names of the American Civil War, other names) was a civil war in the United States between the Union (American Civil War), Union ("the North") and the Confederate States of A ...

. He was noted for fighting at First Manassas and during the

Peninsula A peninsula is a landform that extends from a mainland and is only connected to land on one side. Peninsulas exist on each continent. The largest peninsula in the world is the Arabian Peninsula. Etymology The word ''peninsula'' derives , . T ...

and Seven Days Campaigns. Pierce participated in all of the major battles in the East.

Biography

Pierce was born on September 20, 1829, in East Bloomfield, Ontario County, New York. His parents were Silas and Mary Pierce. He came from a family of soldiers. His grandfather, Thaddeus Root, was a veteran of the

American Revolutionary War The American Revolutionary War (April 19, 1775 – September 3, 1783), also known as the Revolutionary War or American War of Independence, was the armed conflict that comprised the final eight years of the broader American Revolution, in which Am ...

. He was also the great grandson of Aaron Root, a Lieutenant Colonel of the First Berkshire County Regiment of the Massachusetts militia. Pierce studied at an academy in Rochester,

New York New York most commonly refers to: * New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States * New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York New York may also refer to: Places United Kingdom * ...

, and worked for his father's milling business. He obtained a degree in dentistry and in 1856 he relocated to

Grand Rapids, Michigan Grand Rapids is the largest city and county seat of Kent County, Michigan, United States. With a population of 198,917 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census and estimated at 200,117 in 2024, Grand Rapids is the List of municipalities ...

, where he practiced his profession. On October 12, 1881, Pierce married Abbie L. Evans of

Rhode Island Rhode Island ( ) is a state in the New England region of the Northeastern United States. It borders Connecticut to its west; Massachusetts to its north and east; and the Atlantic Ocean to its south via Rhode Island Sound and Block Is ...

Civil War

When the American Civil War began Pierce was captain of a militia company, the Valley City Lights Guard, before entering Federal service in June 1861 and was appointed captain He then served as a company commander in the 3rd Michigan Infantry Regiment at the Battle of First Manassas. Pierce continued to serve as part of the

Army of the Potomac The Army of the Potomac was the primary field army of the Union army in the Eastern Theater of the American Civil War. It was created in July 1861 shortly after the First Battle of Bull Run and was disbanded in June 1865 following the Battle of ...

during the

and Seven Days campaigns, rising the ranks. He also saw action at Groveton,

Chantilly Chantilly may refer to: Places France *Chantilly, Oise, a city ** US Chantilly, a football club *Château de Chantilly United States * Chantilly, Missouri, an unincorporated community * Chantilly (Charlotte neighborhood), North Carolina ...

and Fredericksburg, commanding the regiment in the latter. Afterwards he was promoted to Colonel and then fought at Chancellorsville, where he was wounded and received a commendation for his command. Pierce's regiment also fought

Confederate A confederation (also known as a confederacy or league) is a political union of sovereign states united for purposes of common action. Usually created by a treaty, confederations of states tend to be established for dealing with critical issu ...

forces, led by

Joseph B. Kershaw Joseph Brevard Kershaw (January 5, 1822 – April 13, 1894) was an American planter and slaveholder from South Carolina. He was also a lawyer, judge, and a Confederate general in the American Civil War. Early life Kershaw was born on January 5 ...

, in the defense of the Peach Orchard during the second day of the

Battle of Gettysburg The Battle of Gettysburg () was a three-day battle in the American Civil War, which was fought between the Union and Confederate armies between July 1 and July 3, 1863, in and around Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. The battle, won by the Union, ...

. There he was wounded and his brother, Lieutenant Colonel Edwin Pierce, took over. Some sources said that one of his legs had to be amputated. However this was rather a wound that didn't require amputation but instead was a wound addressed by the regimental surgeon that didn't require hospitalization. He was back in action commanded the 3rd Michigan Infantry Regiment in the

Battle of the Wilderness The Battle of the Wilderness was fought on May 5–7, 1864, during the American Civil War. It was the first battle of Lieutenant general (United States), Lieutenant General Ulysses S. Grant's 1864 Virginia Overland Campaign against General (C ...

, the first battle of the

Overland Campaign The Overland Campaign, also known as Grant's Overland Campaign and the Wilderness Campaign, was a series of battles fought in Virginia during May and June 1864, towards the end of the American Civil War. Lieutenant general (United States), Lt. G ...

. He also took part in the Bristoe and Mine Run campaigns, among other operations conducted in

Virginia Virginia, officially the Commonwealth of Virginia, is a U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern and Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States between the East Coast of the United States ...

. During the final years of the war he commanded various brigades in the II Corps. He was promoted to brigadier general of U.S. Volunteers on June 7, 1864. After the

Battle of Sailor's Creek A battle is an occurrence of combat in warfare between opposing military units of any number or size. A war usually consists of multiple battles. In general, a battle is a military engagement that is well defined in duration, area, and force ...

, on April 6, 1865, he was brevetted to major general. Overall, Pierce was wounded five times during the war and was present in all of the major battles in the East from First Bull Run to Appomattox. After the war he was active in veteran affairs, serving as the

Grand Army of the Republic The Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) was a fraternal organization composed of veterans of the Union Army (United States Army), Union Navy (United States Navy, U.S. Navy), and the United States Marine Corps, Marines who served in the American Ci ...

's commander of the Department of Michigan for two years. After retirement, Pierce was employed by the U.S. post office at Grand Rapids where he lived after the war. He was Michigan's last living Civil War general. Pierce died in 1924 and was buried in Fulton Street Cemetery in Michigan.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Pierce, Byron Root 1829 births 1924 deaths Union army generals People of Michigan in the American Civil War People from East Bloomfield, New York Military personnel from Grand Rapids, Michigan American dentists Grand Army of the Republic officials