The Biographical Dictionary of America/Barry, William Farquhar

​BARRY, William Farquhar, soldier, was born in New York city, Aug. 18, 1818. In 1838 he was graduated from West Point with the brevet rank of 2d lieutenant of 2d ​artillery, July 7, 1838, and that of 1st lieutenant, Aug. 17, 1842. In 1846 he was ordered to Mexico, having in the interim served on garrison duty. He was aide-de-camp to General Worth during part of the Mexican campaign, and saw active service at the battle of Tampico. During the years 1849-'51 he was stationed at Fort McHenry; was promoted to a captaincy in the 2d artillery in 1852, served in the Florida campaigns in 1852-'53, and took part in the suppression of the Kansas disturbances of 1857-58. He served actively throughout the civil war, first as chief of artillery in the army of the Potomac. As a brigadier-general of volunteers he was present at Yorktown, Gaines's Mill, Mechanicsville, Charles City Cross Roads, Malvern Hill and Harrison's Landing. In 1863 he was made lieutenant-colonel of the 1st artillery, and was for a time in charge of the artillery of the defences of Washington. From March, 1864, to June, 1866, he served as chief of artillery on General Sherman's staff. Sept. 1, 1864, he received brevet rank as colonel and as major-general of volunteers for distinguished bravery at Rocky Ridge. He was made brevet brigadier-general of the United States army March 13, 1865, and brevet major-general for gallant service in the field. He was appointed colonel of the second United States artillery in 1863, and during 1866 was in command of the northern frontier, being at that time mustered out of volunteer service. From 1867 to 1877 he was commander of the school of artillery at Fort Monroe, and in 1877 he was transferred to Fort McHenry. He published, in conjunction with Gen. J.G. Barnard, "Reports of the Engineer and Artillery Operations of the Army of the Potomac, from its Organization to the Close of the Peninsula Campaign" (1863). He died at Fort McHenry, July 18, 1879.