Henry Warner Birge was born on August 25, 1825 in Hartford, Connecticut. With the outbreak of the Civil War, he organized the first state regiment of three-year tropps, the 4th Connecticut Infantry, and was appointed major. After service in Maryland and Virginia, he was commissioned colonel of the 13th Connecticut Infantry in February 1862 and commanded the defenses of New Orleans. In December, he was appointed to command a brigade, which he retained through the first Red River campaign and at the siege of Port Hudson. After the surrender of Port Hudson, he was promoted to the rank of brigadier general in September 1863. He served in the second Red River expedition, and subsequently commanded at Baton Rouge. In 1864 he was assigned the command of the second division of the Nineteenth Corps. He participated in General Sheridan's campaign in the Shenandoah Valley, and in February/March 1865 was appointed to the command of the defenses of Savannah. His brigade fought in the Carolinas Campaign. After the surrender of General Joseph E. Johnston, Birge again commanded the district of Savannah. On February 25, 1865, President Lincolne nominated Birge for the awar of brevet grade of major general, and the Senate confirmed the award on March 3. Birge resigned from the Army on October 18, 1865. He died on June 1, 1888.

William Alfred Buckingham won the 1858 Republican gubernatorial nomination in Connecticut. He served as Connecticut's governor from 1858 to 1866. He was a strong supporter and friend of Abraham Lincoln, hosting Lincoln when Lincoln campaigned in Connecticut. He was elected to the U.S. Senate in 1869 and served until his death in 1875.