Civil War Union Brevet Brigadier General. He was a successful farmer and dealer in livestock prior to the Civil War. In 1862 he helped recruit what would become Company F of the 123rd Illinois Regiment, Wilder's Lightning Brigade, but rather than being mustered in as its Captain, he received a commissioned of Lieutenant Colonel for the regiment. He served as second-in-command until October 7, 1863, when the unit's commander, Colonel James Monroe, was killed in action at the Battle of Farmington, Tennessee. Lieutenant Colonel Biggs would go on to lead the regiment through to the end of the war, and would be wounded three times during his service. His last wounding, a gunshot through his lungs at the April 2, 1865 Battle of Selma, Alabama, would end his field service, and see him briefly captured by the forces of Confederate cavalry general Nathan Bedford Forrest. He was brevetted Brigadier General, US Volunteers on March 13, 1865 for "long, faithful and gallant services", and he would be honorably mustered out on June 28, 1865. His post-war career involved him serving as an Internal Revenue Collector in Illinois, and as an Indian agent in Arizona. Very active in veterans affairs though the end of his life, he never fully healed from his severe Selma wound, and it would contribute to his passing away in October 1883.
Civil War Union Brevet Brigadier General. He was a successful farmer and dealer in livestock prior to the Civil War. In 1862 he helped recruit what would become Company F of the 123rd Illinois Regiment, Wilder's Lightning Brigade, but rather than being mustered in as its Captain, he received a commissioned of Lieutenant Colonel for the regiment. He served as second-in-command until October 7, 1863, when the unit's commander, Colonel James Monroe, was killed in action at the Battle of Farmington, Tennessee. Lieutenant Colonel Biggs would go on to lead the regiment through to the end of the war, and would be wounded three times during his service. His last wounding, a gunshot through his lungs at the April 2, 1865 Battle of Selma, Alabama, would end his field service, and see him briefly captured by the forces of Confederate cavalry general Nathan Bedford Forrest. He was brevetted Brigadier General, US Volunteers on March 13, 1865 for "long, faithful and gallant services", and he would be honorably mustered out on June 28, 1865. His post-war career involved him serving as an Internal Revenue Collector in Illinois, and as an Indian agent in Arizona. Very active in veterans affairs though the end of his life, he never fully healed from his severe Selma wound, and it would contribute to his passing away in October 1883.
Bio by: Cindy Cornwell McCachern
Gravesite Details
Age 57 years, 1 month and 10 days
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Siblings
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