Birkhimer was inducted as a private in the
4th Iowa Cavalry on March 21, 1864, and Mustered out of service August 8, 1865. On September 1, 1866, he entered
West Point as a cadet and on June 15, 1870, was
Commissioned second lieutenant from
United States Military Academy,
3rd Artillery Regiment. He was an Honor Graduate, Artillery School 1873. From 1874 to 1876
Assistant professor of
natural & experimental philosophy. On April 10, 1879, he promoted to
first lieutenant. For 1886 through 1890 he was a
Judge Advocate for
Department of the Columbia. On February 10, 1898, he was promoted to
captain. He received his
LL.B. from
University of Oregon in 1889. He became an
Associate Justice Supreme Court of the Philippines (audencial)
Manila,
Philippines in 1899. On July 5, 1899, he became a
Colonel in the 28th United States Volunteer Infantry. On May 1, 1901, he mustered out of volunteers. He was promoted to
major,
Artillery Corps August 1, 1901 and on May 20, 1905, was promoted to
lieutenant colonel,
Artillery Corps. He was promoted to
brigadier general February 15, 1906 and on February 16, 1906
retired at his own request. Birkhimer is the grandfather of
Williston Birkhimer Palmer and
Charles Day Palmer, brothers who became four-star generals. ==Awards==