The Biographical Dictionary of America/Baird, Absalom

BAIRD, Absalom, soldier, was born at Washington, Pa., Aug. 20, 1824. His primary education fitted him for entrance to Washington college, where he was graduated in 1841. He studied law, afterwards entered the military academy as a cadet in 1844 and was graduated in 1849, promoted to 1st lieutenant in 1853, and until 1859 was assistant professor of mathematics at West Point. At the outbreak of the civil war he commanded a battery in the defences of Washington and was promoted captain by brevet, May 11, 1861. He was assigned to the adjutant-general's department as assistant, and in July, 1861, was made adjutant-general in Tyler's division and took part in the Manassas campaign, including Blackburn's Ford and Bull Run. He was promoted captain Aug. 3, 1861, and major Nov. 12, 1861, and served as chief of staff of the 4th army corps in the Peninsular campaign, engaging in the siege of Yorktown and the battle of Williamsburg. He was commander of a brigade in the army of the Ohio in 1862, of the 3d division of the army of Kentucky in the operations of General Rosecrans in Tennessee. He received the brevet of lieutenant-colonel for gallantry in battle at Chicamauga, and that of colonel after the battle of Chattanooga, where he commanded a division of the 14th army corps. In 1865 he was brevetted brigadier-general for gallantry at the battle of Atlanta, and in September of the same year was brevetted major-general for his service in the field during the entire war. He was made major-general of volunteers for service at Jonesboro and Resaca in the Atlanta campaign and after various services, in the capacity of in spector-general. he was by the action of the law retired Sept. 22, 1885.