Civil War service

The American Civil War broke out on April 12, 1861, when the Confederate States Army fired on Fort Sumter, South Carolina, beginning the Battle of Fort Sumter.

On May 11, 1861, Du Barry was promoted to captain and was transferred from the artillery to the commissary of subsistence.[9][d] He resigned his regimental commission on May 14,[29] and reported to his first assignment at the Commissary of Subsistence depot at Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, on May 17.[9] The rapid expansion of the army, Commissary of Subsistence, and Quartermaster Corps as well as the sudden and high demand for supplies created chaos within the Commissary of Subsistence and Quartermaster Corps.[49] Subsequently, Du Barry acted as both Commissary of Subsistence and Quartermaster for the Harrisburg depot. One of his most important tasks was to purchase supplies for Major General Robert Patterson's Army of the Shenandoah, then attempting to secure the northern end of the Shenandoah Valley and protect the capitol at Washington, D.C. In addition to purchase, Du Barry also organized wagon trains to take these supplies to Patterson's army on the front line.[31] Harrisburg was also a major training camp for new Union Army recruits,[50] and Du Barry had to forward these recruits by train to the various Union Army commands throughout the Union and Confederacy.[31]

With Grant

Du Barry's reputation for efficiency[51] drew the attention of Ulysses S. Grant, himself a former regimental quartermaster[52] and only recently appointed a brigadier general.[e] Grant was assigned command of the District of Southeast Missouri (an area that also included all of Missouri south of St. Louis as well as southern Illinois) on September 1, 1861.[54] Grant commanded the Expeditionary Command, District of Southeast Missouri, which consisted of five infantry brigades, five companies of cavalry, and three batteries of artillery.[55] By early December, however, Grant was organizing a much larger force to seize Confederate forts guarding the Tennessee River. Some time in early December, Du Barry traveled to Grant's headquarters at Cairo, Illinois.[31] He favorably impressed Grant during this meeting, and on December 16, 1861, was appointed Chief of Commissary for forces in the field for the District of Cairo, which included western Kentucky, western Tennessee, and northern Mississippi.[56][57][f]

As Grant conquered more of the Confederacy, he brought Du Barry and his expertise with him. Grant was given command of the Army of the Tennessee on February 14, 1862.[58] Grant had nearly lost the Battle of Shiloh (April 6–7, 1862) after a surprise attack by Confederate forces, and Major General Henry Halleck relieved of him of command. Assigned to be Halleck's deputy, Grant accompanied Halleck as Halleck personally commanded the Army of the Tennessee, the Army of the Ohio, and the Army of the Mississippi as they made a cautious, slow, month-long advance on the vital rail center of Corinth, Mississippi. On May 30, 1862, after the Siege of Corinth, the city fell, and Halleck restored Grant to command of the Army of the Tennessee on June 10.[59] Most of the western portion of the United States and the Confederacy was, at that time, organized into the Department of the Mississippi and commanded by General Halleck. When Halleck was named General-in-chief of the Union Army, the Department of the Mississippi was broken up into several new departments and districts. One of these, the District of West Tennessee, was created on July 17, 1862.[60] On July 22, 1862, Grant ordered Du Barry to Corinth, Mississippi, where he took up duties as Chief Commissary for the district.[61] Throughout the middle and end of July and probably into early August, Du Barry inspected Commissary of Subsistence depots at Columbus, Ohio; Hickman, Kentucky; Island Number Ten in the Kentucky Bend of the Mississippi River; New Madrid, Missouri; Helena, Arkansas; Memphis, Tennessee; and Columbus, Kentucky.[62] The District of West Tennessee became the Department of the Tennessee on October 16, 1862.[63]

Cincinnati and Washington, D.C.

Du Barry's strong reputation for efficiency had drawn the attention of General-in-chief Halleck as well. In October 1862, Halleck ordered Du Barry to report to the Commissary of Subsistence deport at Cincinnati, Ohio. Du Barry was placed in command of the depot, and named Purchasing and Depot Commissary for the Department of the Missouri.[64][65] But Grant wanted Du Barry back. On November 1, 1862, Grant asked for Du Barry to be his chief commissary, with a promotion to lieutenant colonel. But Halleck responded on November 4 that Du Barry could not be spared from his duties in Cincinnati.[66]

Du Barry was promoted to major on February 9, 1863.[9] He continued to serve at the Cincinnati depot until December 1864, when he was transferred to Washington, D.C., where he served as assistant to the Commissary General of Subsistence, Brigadier General Amos Beebe Eaton.[67] Du Barry's efficiency and skill at procuring supplies at reasonable prices and distributing them in a timely fashion to troops in the field did not go unrecognized. Brevet promotions were given for a variety of reasons, including as a reward for gallantry, bravery, or service above and beyond the call of duty.[68] On March 13, 1865, Du Barry was promoted twice—to brevet lieutenant colonel and to brevet colonel—for his meritorious service.[9][51]