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Description: Col. Byrne Page 2
Newspaper published in: Washington, D. C.
Washington Post March 5, 1915 Col. Byrne Page 2
ARMY MAN DIES LONELY
Lieut. Col. Byrne, Retired, Victim of Pneumonia at G. W. U. Hospital.
Body of Aged Man, Apparently Without Friends or Relatives, Is Taken Over by Loyal Legion.
Apparently without friends or relatives and in indigent circumstances, Lieut. Col. Edward BYRNE, U. S. A., retired, died at George Washington University Hospital Wednesday night from an attack of pneumonia. His body was taken over by the Loyal Legion, of which he was a member. Efforts are being made to locate relatives or friends. It is thought that connections of the deceased reside in Indianapolis.
Effects found on the body, with information given by the hospital physicians, identify Col. BYRNE as a member of the G. A. R., as well as the Loyal Legion. He entered the hospital February 22. It was stated that he had come from the Soldiers' Home at Hampton, Va., where he said he spent his later years. He was 78 years old.
Capt. Thomas H. McKEE, recorder of the Loyal Legion, has taken charge of the body. He will trace relatives or friends this morning through the Soldiers' Home at Hampton. Failing to find these, burial will be held in Arlington next Tuesday with full military honors, Capt. McKEE officiating as chaplain. Possibly, however, the body will be taken over by the department of the Potomac, G. A. R.
The records of the Loyal Legion set forth that Col. BYRNE was elected to the California commandery in 1893 and transferred to the District commandery in 1900. Col. BYRNE was born in Ireland. He is listed as second lieutenant, Eleventh New York Infantry, August 1, 1861; first lieutenant, Eleventh New York Infantry, February, 1862; first lieutenant, 170th New York Infantry, 1862; captain, 170th New York Infantry, January 28, 1863; major, Eighteenth New York cavalry, August 26, 1863; lieutenant colonel, Eighteenth New York cavalry, October 11, 1865, of which he was honorably mustered out May 37, 1866 [sp.]; captain, Tenth cavalry, January 28, 1866, from which he was honorably mustered out January 1, 1871.
Capt. McKEE explained that this last event might have occurred as a result of a consolidation of the army about that time.