Michael William Burns was born in Ireland in 1834. He emigrated to the United States at the age of 14, and prior to the outbreak of the Civil War worked as a city inspector and a fireman. It was his connections with the fire service that led him to raise a Company to serve in the 2nd Fire Zouaves, the 73rd New York Infantry. The unit was part of Sickle’s famed Excelsior Brigade; Burns would experience four years of hard fighting with the outfit, and eventually rise to command of the regiment in 1864. (1)
The fire service was a profession that attracted a lot of Irishmen in ante-bellum New York, and it is no surprise that many went on to join regiments connected with the fire service in 1861. Burns recruited Company A of the 73rd New York from his headquarters at the Exempt Hose House in West Broadway, near Beach Street. Indeed the majority of the regiment was formed around different pre-existing fire companies, such as ‘Hose Company No. 50’, ‘Engine Company No. 20’ and ‘Hook and Ladder Company No. 15′. Burns and the men of the 73rd left New York on 8th October 1861 for Washington D.C. and they served in that city’s defences until the commencement of the Peninsula Campaign in 1862. (2)
The final months of 1862 proved an extremely eventful period in Michael Burns’ life. The 73rd were heavily engaged during the fighting on the Peninsula, particularly from the Battle of Williamsburg onwards. The Irishman was captured at Gaines’ Mill on 27th June, in what was Robert E. Lee’s first victory as commander of the Army of Northern Virginia. Burns was sent to the soon to be infamous Libby Prison in Richmond, where he was confined until his exchange on 12th August. Misfortune followed him; he had been free for just over two weeks when he was shot in the left breast at Bristoe Station, Virginia on the 27th August. (3)
Michael Burns recovered from his wounds and returned to the 73rd, and a series of promotions followed. He became the regiment’s Major on 1st November 1862 and its Lieutenant-Colonel dated to 16th January 1863. Burns commanded the firemen at the Battle of Gettysburg, where 50% of their number became casualties. Burns increasingly found himself taking charge of the New Yorkers, as Colonel William Brewster had by this point risen to brigade command. The Irishman became effective Colonel dating from 27th October 1864. (4)
Enough of the regiment re-enlisted after their initial three years service for the 73rd to become a veteran volunteer outfit. Lieutenant-Colonel Burns led the veterans back to New York on furlough, where 1,000 firemen turned out to greet them as they marched past the City Hall and the Mayor. Following this interlude it was back to the trenches of Petersburg and more heavy fighting. Burns and his men would continue to take part in the activities of the Army of the Potomac all the way through to Appomattox, and after a long war the Irishman was honourably mustered out on 29th June 1865. (5)
On 20th April 1865 Burns was included in a list compiled by Brigadier-General Regis de Trobriand of individuals worthy of brevet promotion. It recommended Burns be promoted to Colonel by brevet as he was ‘a fighter and good officer; for gallant services, especially on the night of April 1 and April 6’ (at Petersburg and Little Sailor’s Creek). The brevet was granted and dated to 6th April 1865. (6)
Following the conflict Michael Burns became a weigher in the New York Custom House, and was also heavily involved in politics in the city’s 1st District, serving for a year on the Board of Aldermen. He was later appointed harbour master, but had been in the position for just three years when he contracted meningitis and died at his home of No.58 Beach Street on 7th December 1883. He is buried in Calvary Cemetery, Long Island City, New York (Section 6, Range 20, Plot T). (7)
(1) Hunt 2003: 60, New York State Military Museum: 73rd Infantry Regiment; (2) New York State Military Museum: 73rd Infantry Regiment: Newspaper Clippings; (3) Hunt 2003: 60, New York State Military Museum: 73rd Infantry Regiment;(4) Hunt 2003: 60, New York State Military Museum: 73rd Infantry Regiment; (5) New York State Military Museum: 73rd Infantry Regiment; (6) Official Records: 860; (7) New York Times 4th December 1883, Hunt 2003: 60;
References
Hunt, Roger D. 2003. Colonels in Blue: Union Army Colonels of the Civil War- New York
New York State Military Museum and Veterans Research Center
New York Times 4th December 1883 ‘Col. M.W. Burns Dying’
Official Records Series 1, Volume 46 (Part 3) Chapter 58. List of officers recommended for promotion by brevet in the Third Division, Second Army Corps