General Breintnall was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on August 18, 1843. In 1847 his family moved to Newark, New Jersey, where he resided He was educated at the Newark Academy. BG Breintnall was a member of Phil Kearny Post, No.1. G. A R., Department of New Jersey, and of the New York Commandery of the Loyal Legion, and also of the Society of the Army of the Potomac.

The General's military record is as follows: Appointed Corporal, Company D, New J, Volunteer Militia, Pennsylvania Emergency, in the Civil War, on June 23, 1863, and was discharged August 1 of the same year at the expiration of his term of service. On September 30, 1864, he became a private in Company K, 39TH Regiment. He was a member of the New Jersey Volunteers and was appointed Regimental Quartermaster-Sergeant, October 11, 1864, and was discharged June 12, 1865, at .the close of the war.

Returning to Newark he enlisted in the First Veterans Regiment, Newark Brigade, and on February 12, 1867, received a warrant as Commissary Sergeant. He served in that capacity until August 10, 1881, when he was commissioned as Captain and Inspector of Rifle Practice for the First Regiment, NJ National Guard. He held that position until January 6, 1886, when he was elected Mayor. He was commissioned as Lieutenant Colonel on June 17. 1893; as Colonel on May 28. 1902; and as Brigadier General and Adjutant General on September 31. 1902. (to fill the vacancy caused by the death of General Alexander C. Oliphant).

He was commissioned as Lieutenant Colonel, First Regiment, Infantry, New Jersey National Guard Volunteers. Spanish-American War on April 27. 1898, and was discharged on November 4 of the same year.

When the Newark Regiment went to Camp Alger in 1898 General Breintnall was second in command, and as the commander of the First Brigade, First Division, Second Army Corps, devolved on General Campbell, as the senior Colonel of the Brigade. The care and conduct of the regiment was left to the Lieutenant Colonel. His soldierly qualifications and the watchful care that he exercised over the men of the regiment won for him the commendation of the Brigade, Division and Corps Commanders.

He was a member of the Board of Managers of the New Jersey Home for Disabled Soldiers, located at Kearny, Hudson County. The General was an expert rifleman. The Inspector General's office of Rifle Practice records show that he qualified twenty-four times at Sea Girt as a marksman, 14 times sharpshooter, and four times as an expert, a distinction that collectively few members of the Guard attained. His salary as the Adjutant General was $2,500.00 a year.

General Breintnall resided after his retirement at 214 2d Avenue, Belmar, Monmouth County, New Jersey. He was married to the former Harriet B. Chunk and died on July 3, 1925 at the age of 82 and was buried at Mt. Pleasant Cemetery, Newark