George Childs Burling | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | (1834-02-17)February 17, 1834 |
| Died | December 24, 1885(1885-12-24) (aged 51) |
| Place of burial | |
| Allegiance | United States of America Union |
| Branch | Union Army |
| Rank |  Colonel BrevetBrigadier General |
| Conflicts | |
George Childs Burling (February 17, 1834 – December 24, 1885) was a United StatesUnion Army officer during theAmerican Civil War, serving mostly ascolonel and commander of the6th New Jersey Volunteer Infantry. Burling was born inBurlington County, New Jersey, raised on his father's farm, and educated at a private school inNorristown, Pennsylvania. He was acoal merchant and a militia officer before the war. Burling's militia company was mustered into the volunteer service for a three-month term in July 1861, but it became Company F of the 6th New Jersey with a three-year enlistment on September 9, 1861. Burling became the regiment's major on March 19, 1862, and lieutenant colonel on May 7 of that year. Burling was wounded at theSecond Battle of Bull Run in August 1862.
When ColonelGershom Mott, commander of the 6th New Jersey, became a general, Burling was promoted to colonel. Burling commanded the regiment at theBattle of Chancellorsville, where he was wounded. His most notable service was as commander of his brigade (once known as the "Second New Jersey Brigade" ofIII Corps (ACW) but reorganized to include troops from other states) at the July 1863Battle of Gettysburg. His brigade was in reserve at the beginning of the second day's fighting on the left flank of theArmy of the Potomac, but regiments were moved about separately as higher commanders saw fit. One regiment, 6th New Jersey, fought nearDevil's Den. The8th New Jersey and115th Pennsylvania fought inthe Wheatfield. The7th New Jersey and2nd New Hampshire supported artillery deployed at thePeach Orchard.5th New Jersey was on the Emmitsburg Road. The brigade entered the battle with an estimated 1,396 troops and lost, according to Burling, 513 officers and men.
Burling resigned on March 4, 1864, because of ill health. On December 18, 1867,PresidentAndrew Johnson nominated Burling for appointment to the grade ofbrevetbrigadier general of volunteers, to rank from March 13, 1865, for "gallant and meritorious services in the Battle of Gettysburg, Pa," and theUnited States Senate confirmed the appointment on February 14, 1868.[1]
Burling married in October 1862. After the war, he and his wife lived on a farm outside Philadelphia. Burling was employed for a time by thePennsylvania Railroad and died at his home in Philadelphia of pulmonary cancer two decades after the war ended. He was interred atMount Vernon Cemetery in Philadelphia on December 28, 1885, and later reinterred inHarleigh Cemetery,Camden, New Jersey,[2] in the Trinity Section, Lot 118. He is one of three Civil War Union Brevet Generals interred in the cemetery, along with ColonelWilliam Joyce Sewell of the 5th New Jersey Volunteer Infantry and ColonelTimothy C. Moore of the34th New Jersey Volunteer Infantry.
