Robert Bird was born March 21, 1844. When the 24th Michigan
was organized, Robert Bird was an 18 year old farmer in Romulus.
He enlisted in company D on August 1, 1862 and was mustered on
August 13, 1864. His brother Peter C. Bird
enlisted in company D on August 12, 1862.
He was wounded in the arm at Gettysburg on July 1, 1863. He
was again wounded, this time in the leg, at the Wilderness on
May 5, 1864. He was promoted to Corporal on December 1, 1864 in
recognition of his excellent service. He was wounded for the third
and final time (in the ear) on February 6, 1865 at the battle
of Dabney's Mill. He mustered out with the Regiment at Detroit
on June 30, 1865.
After the war Robert returned to
farming in Romulus. He and his wife eventually had 5 children.
Robert Bird died on July 3, 1923, age 79. He lived long enough
to see the 60th anniversary of the 24th's greatest action - Gettysburg.
In later years, the family donated some of his possessions (including
a rifle) to the Wayne Historical Museum. Robert Bird passed on
to the final muster in 1923, and is buried
in the Romulus, Michigan Cemetery.
Robert returned to Gettysburg at least once, where he and his brother met the artist Philippoteaux. Because of this meeting, the two brothers were painted into a one of the scenes in the Cyclorama. The painting is not historical, however -- the 24th Michigan played no part in Pickett's Charge.
Descendants:
Photograph courtesy of Larry Morris
Last Updated: 05/09/99
Webmaster: Rob Richardson
robr@advnet.net
All original material © Copyright 1997, 1998, 1999 Rob Richardson
