A Civil War Biography
Francis Channing Barlow
Barlow was born 19 October 1834 in Brooklyn, New York. He attended
Harvard, graduating at the top of the class of 1855 then studied law
in the office of William Curtis Noyes, one of the most prominent
legal minds in New York City at the time. Barlow was admitted to the
bar in 1858 and began a practice in New York City. He also was on
the editorial staff of the New York Tribune.
When war erupted he enlisted as a private in the 12th New York state
national guard. The regiment was one of the first to answer the call
for volunteers sailing from New York on 21 April 1861. The 12th was
officially mustered into US service on 2 May for three months. It
only took part in minor skirmishes in the Shenandoah Valley before
being mustered out on 5 August after its term of enlistment expired.
Barlow had been promoted to 1st lieutenant on 1 May. He enlisted in
the 61st New York which was organized in New York City on 25 October
1861and was assigned as a lieutenant colonel. The 61st NY was
attached to the II Corps of the newly formed Army of the Potomac and
participated in George B. McClelland's peninsula campaign. Barlow
was promoted to colonel on 14 April 1862 during the siege of
Yorktown. He jointly commanded the 61st and 64th New York regiments
at Antietam where he was severely wounded in front of the
Confederate position in the now famous sunken road.
He was promoted to brigadier general on 19 September 1862 and
returned to duty in time to command the 2nd Brigade/ 2nd Division/
XI Corps at Chancellorsville. On the first day at Gettysburg Barlow
was in command of the 1st Division/ XI Corps when he was wounded and
left for dead. Stories say he was found by Confederate Brigadier
General John B. Gordon who took Barlow prisoner but provided comfort
and arranged for Barlow's wife, an Army nurse, to pass through the
lines to administer to what was believed to be her dying husband.
Barlow recovered however and after being exchanged he commanded the
1st Division/ II Corps at the Wilderness, Spotsylvania, Cold Harbor,
and Petersburg. He was brevetted major general of volunteers on 1
August 1864.
His health failing Barlow took sick leave but returned to active
duty in time to command the 2nd Division/ II Corps at Sayler's
Creek. He was commissioned a major general on 25 May 1865 and, the
war ended, resigned on 16 November 1865. After the war Barlow
returned to his law practice in New York City. He became active in
Republican politics and was one of the founders of the American Bar
Association. He was elected secretary of the state of New York in
1865 and served until President Ulysses S. Grant appointed him
United States marshal of New York's southern district. Barlow
resigned in October 1869. He was elected New York Attorney General
in 1871. He investigated the Hayes-Tilden election irregularities
and began the proceedings that brought down "Boss" Tweed and his
group of corrupt politicians in Tammany Hall. After leaving the
office of attorney general in 1873 Barlow returned to his law
practice. He died on 11 January 1896 in New York City.
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