Col. Pickens Butler Bird (CSA)

http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=bird&GSfn=pic...

Birth: Jan. 12, 1833 Edgefield County, USA Death: Jun. 6, 1864 Richmond Richmond City Virginia, USA

Confederate Army Officer. A Florida plantation owner at the start of the Civil War, he enlisted in 1861, becoming a 2nd Lieutenant in Company K, 2nd Florida Infantry. By 1863 he was a Major in the 9th Florida Regiment, and he led that regiment at the Battle of Olustee in Florida in 1864. Wounded at the Battle of Cold Harbor in Virginia on June 3, 1864, he was transfered to a Richmond hospital where he died of his wounds three days later.

Burial: Hollywood Cemetery Richmond Richmond City Virginia, USA Plot: Confederate Officers' Section

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http://battleofolustee.org/letters/bird.htm

A Letter Recounting the Death of Major Pickens Bird, 6th Florida Infantry Battalion

This is a copy of a letter written to Daniel B. Bird, the son of Major Pickens Bird, by Captain James F. Tucker, relative to the death of Major Pickens B. Bird.

Major Pickens Butler Bird Illustration provided by Odis G. Kendrick, through Bill Cudlipp Annuttaliga Farm Brooksville, Florida April 2, 1892

Mr. D. B. Bird, Jr. Monticello, Florida

My Dear Sir:

Your esteemed favor asking the facts concerning your father's death received. It affords me a mournful pleasure to comply with your request, and I will be most happy if in anyway I can contribute to your mother's desire.

As to your father's death and the manner of it there can be no doubt or uncertainty. He fell in the performance of duty at the post of danger, I may say leading a "forlorn hope" and acquitted himself most nobly as became a brave Confederate soldier. These facts are known to a crowd (?) of witnesses - his comrades, who watched his daring charge and saw his untimely fall.

Well do I remember the day, one of the most eventful of my life. It was on the 3rd day of June, 1864, at the Second Battle of Cold Harbor where the genius of Lee again baffled and defeated the persistence of Grant. The circumstances were about at follows.

Under cover of the early dawn of day, the enemy assaulted and captured a part of our line - held by General Breckenridge's Division - to which we were acting as a Reserve. Our brigade had bivouacked upon the ground, and the charging troops of the enemy were almost upon us before General Finegan could get his men into line and ready to repulse them. But our men responded promptly and moved with such alacrity as to "sweep the enemy before them like a whirlwind", as was described by Georgia's great war correspondent, P. W. A. We had recaptured and reoccupied our entrenchments, but the enemy's sharpshooters still occupied a line of rifle pits covering our front, from which they kept up an annoying and deadly fire. About 10 o'clock in the morning it was determined to make an effort to recover them. A detail from the Brigade was made and Major Bird ordered to command it. At the word, they all leaped over the breastworks and started at a run. As they did so, the enemy received them with a destructive fire, both from the rifle pits and their main line, resulting in the killing and wounding of nearly every man who composed the detail, among them your gallant and heroic father.

My eyes were upon him from the moment he started up that desperate charge until he fell, pieced by two bullets.

In less time than I take to write it, in response to a mute appeal which I can never forget, I jumped over the breastworks and ran to his assistance. I had just reached his side and was in the act of lifting him up when I too was shot down. About the same time, Lieutenant Lane of our battalion (the 6th Florida) came out on the same mission and met the same fate, the poor fellow dying from his wounds some days afterward. Still another ventured a rescue, and he was also shot down.

Later on, when the murderous fire had slackened a little, Sgt. Bryan of my Co. "D" came to my assistance and two others whose names I cannot now recall to your father's and by hugging the ground fairly dragged us inside our works, a little way at a time, as the lull in the enemy's fire would allow them to move.

After getting inside the breastworks we were compelled to lie there all day and far into the night, before the furious fire would admit our removal, and even then after we had started, the litter bearers were once or twice compelled to drop their burdens and lie prone upon the ground to protect themselves from the deadly missles (sp) that filled the air. After halting a while at the field hospital, where we received the first surgical attention since being wounded twelve hours before, we were carried to the corps hospital where we were kept until ambulances could be had to convey us to Richmond. We were placed in the Howard Grove Hospital, which was under the charge of Dr. T. M. Palmer, with Dr. Babcock, late of Jacksonville, as his assistant. Mrs. M. M. Reid, was there as a ministering angel doing all that woman could and what only woman can do - to soothe, comfort and console the wounded, whose name was legion.

Mrs. D. Palmer was there also, thus your father fell into the hands of skillful surgeons and kind and sympathetic friends; but alas, his wounds were mortal. The surgeons' art, nor the tears and prayers of woman, availed him naught.

We were placed in the same ward and upon cots only a short distance from each other, I could see and hear all that took place. He was deeply concerned for his fate but realized his awful condition, and when informed there was no hope set himself about making preparations for the end, which could no long be deferred. There were religious devotions and sending of word of love and a sad farewell to his wife and children far away, and who would never again see him in this mortal life, and finally calling all to witness that he died an honorable and manly death as a Confederate soldier in the performance of his duty in defense of his country; still in his sore extremely thinking of home and family and making such arrangements as his weak and exhausted condition would admit of. With a prayer up his lips, he died a soldier's death and passed to a soldier's reward, on the 5th day of June, 1864.

Such was the fall and death of your honored father, Major Pickens B. Bird – as generous a soul, as brave a man, and as gallant a soldier as wore the Confederate uniform, and more than that could not be said of any many.

In his patriotic endeavor, a faithful service and noble death his wife and children possess a legacy sealed by the heart's blood of one of nature's nobleman.

I trust you will pardon the intrusion of myself into this true story of a . . .

[The letter ends here... some is missing. Major Pickens B. Bird is buried in the Hollywood Cemetery, Richmond, Virginia.]

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https://www.floridamemory.com/items/show/18742

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http://www.vets2search.com/soldier_details.php?ID=19539

Bird, Pickens Butler

Jan. 12, 1833 - Jun. 6, 1864

War(s) Served:Civil War Unit/Regiment:6th Battalion Florida Infantry Company:Staff Rank:MAJOR Cemetery:Hollywood Cemetery (Officers Sect. Lot X-150) Burial Location:412 S. Cherry Street Richmond, VA Burial County:Richmond City Inscription: COL. PICKENS B. BIRD KILLED AT THE BATTLE OF COLD HARBOR JUNE 6, 1864 6TH FLORIDA REG. Notes:Information Concerning Pickens Butler Bird And His Burial Location Have Been Obtained From Southerners At Rest Confederate Dead At Hollywood Cemetery By Christopher L. Ferguson, Page 21.

Pickens Butler Bird Was A Florida Plantation Owner At The Start Of The Civil War. Pickens Enlisted In 1861 As A 2nd Lieutenant In Company K, 2nd Florida Infantry. He Was A Major In The 9th Florida Regiment By 1863, And He Led That Regiment At The Battle Of Olustee In Florida In 1864. Pickens Was Wounded At The Battle Of Cold Harbor In Virginia On June 3, 1864. He Was Transfered To A Richmond Hospital Where He Died Of His Wounds Three Days Later. The Above Statement Was Obtained From His Find A Grave Memorial Provided By "Garver Graver."

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killed in battle of Cold Harbor

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HARTWELL TRAYLOR TRAYLOR Web Site MyHeritage family tree Family site: TRAYLOR Web Site Family tree: 355702041-2 Smart Matching 355702041-2 MH:S500002

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https://www.myheritage.com/person-1001259_424147071_424147071/picke... 3 Individual added by confirming a Smart Match Smart Matching 1:424147071-1-1259:0

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HARTWELL TRAYLOR TRAYLOR Web Site MyHeritage family tree Family site: TRAYLOR Web Site Family tree: 355702041-2 Smart Matching 355702041-2 MH:S500002

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https://www.myheritage.com/person-16004726_194353481_194353481/pick... 3 Added by confirming a Smart Match Smart Matching 1:194353481-16-4726:0

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Mary Lou Morse - Janes Morse - Janes Web Site MyHeritage family tree Family site: Morse - Janes Web Site Family tree: 422329641-1 Discovery 422329641-1 MH:S500306

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3 17 JAN 2018 Personal photo of Pickens Butler Bird Added via a Photo Discovery™

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Mary Lou Morse - Janes Morse - Janes Web Site MyHeritage family tree Family site: Morse - Janes Web Site Family tree: 422329641-1 Discovery 422329641-1 MH:S500306

GEDCOM Source

3 9 JUL 2018 Personal photo of Pickens Butler Bird Added via a Photo Discovery™