Dabney William Diggs was born on February 10, 1837, in Shelby County, Kentucky. He eventually moved to New York City, and he earned a living as a clerk.

 

He enlisted in the Union army on May 27, 1861, and he mustered in as a private in Company C of the 83^rd New York Infantry. According to his service records, he was 5 feet, 6 inches tall, with dark hair and grey eyes.  He eventually earned a promotion to corporal. In the summer of 1862, he was promoted to 1^st lieutenant in Company E of the 53^rd New York Infantry.

 

Union officials transferred him to Company B of the 132^nd New York Infantry and promoted him to captain soon afterward. Then, in January 1863, he was promoted to major in the 83^rd New York Infantry. He mustered out in March 1863.

 

He returned to New York City after the war, and he earned a living as a dry goods merchant. He married a woman named Kate around 1862, and the couple had no children. By 1870, they owned $25,000 of real estate and $5,000 of personal property. By 1880, he was working as a real estate dealer in Big Stone City in the Dakota Territory. He returned to New York City in the late 1800s. He applied for a federal pension in 1887 and eventually received one. His wife died on July 6, 1923, and he passed away in New York City on October 19, 1924.

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