From the 1889 Portrait and Biography Album of Rock County.
Henry M. Barr, a prominent and representative citizen of Beloit, and a gallant soldier of the late [Civil] war, was born in the Empire State, in Steuben County, April 23, 1833, as a son Samuel W. Susan R. (Shephard) Barr… In 1855 he determined to try his fortune in the West, and emigrating to Wisconsin located in Beloit, where, with the exception of a few years spent upon Southern Battle Fields, he has since resided.
At the breaking out of the Rebellion, when President Lincoln made his first call for volunteers to serve three years, he at once responded, becoming a member of the 6th Wisconsin Infantry, and was assigned to Company G. His regiment formed one of the renowned Iron Brigade… After being mustered in at Madison the gallant 6th was sent to Washington, D. C., where the regiment participated in the battle of Gainsville. It was next under fire at the second battle of Bull Run, which was followed by the engagement at South Mountain, where the brigade received its name for the valuable services rendered. This brigade having used all its ammunition the men were ordered to lie down, and if approached hold the enemy with their bayonets. They remained on the field all night, and in the morning Mr. Barr was ordered to go down the line and wake up the men. After performing this duty he returned to the place where he had lain through the night and discovered, as he supposed, one of his comrades sleeping; he gave him a light kick to awaken him, but the man not stirring he gave him a more vigorous one, when the comrade whom he supposed he was waking spoke up near by and said “That is a dead rebel.” Mr. Barr had made a pillow of him all night.
The next engagement in which the regiment participated was the battle of Antietam, which was followed by the battle of Fredericksburg, under Burnsides. When crossing the river Mr. Barr, on landing, jumped out of the boat, and while doing so got the muzzle of his gun full of mud and when he came to fire it split the barrel from end to end, knocking him flat on his back. He was next engaged with the command at the battle of Gettysburg, but in some manner being cut off from his company Mr. Barr did not participate in the latter. He took refuge in the courthouse used for a hospital by the surgeons and from the cupola of that building witnesed the movements of both armies, probably no man having a better view… With his regiment he fought the battle of Laurel Hill, which was followed by Spottsyvania, North Ann, Cold Harbor, the seige of Petersburg, Welden Railroad, Hatchie’s Run, Grand Run, Five Forks and the … battle of Appomattox. After the close of hostilities Mr. Barr returned from the war, having been honorably discharged. He still retains in his possession a badge which was presented to him by Gen. McClellan after the South Mountain fight.Local Civil War buff Bill Bolgrien read Mr. Barr’s biography, and being well-versed in the history of Company G, 6th Wisconsin Infantry, made the following observation: “Mr. Barr was mustered out July 14, 1864, and Welden Railroad, Hatcher’s Run, Grand Run, Five Forks and Appomattox all happened after that date… [but] ‘old soldiers’ tend to expand on their war record in later years of life…” Otherwise, Bill says he gives credence to the biographical sketch.