Birkett Davenport Fry

He entered VMI on 20 July 1840 as a member of the Class of 1843, but resigned on 2 June 1841. He then entered West Point in 1842, but left before graduating because of an academic deficiency in mathematics. He practiced law, then was a First Lieutenant, US Army, during the Mexican War (1847-48). He went West, practicing law in California (1849-55), took part in Walker's expedition to Nicaragua, and returned to California where he remained until 1859, when he moved to Tallassee, Alabama to manage a cotton mill owned by his wife's family.

At the start of the War he was commissioned Colonel of the 13th Alabama Infantry Regiment.

He was in command of his Regiment, and was wounded - relieved by Lieutenant Colonel Betts.

In 1863 he was also wounded at Chancellorsville and Gettysburg, where he was captured. He was back on duty after a special exchange was arranged in early June 1864. While a prisoner he been promoted to the rank of Brigadier General (24 May 1864). He then served in the Carolinas and commanded the military district in Augusta, Georgia until end of war.

He was in the cotton business in Alabama and Richmond, Virginia. He died 21 January 1891 in Richmond.

Source: Online Bio from the VMI Archives.

6/24/1822; Kanawha County, VA

1/21/1891; Richmond, VA