Born circa 1840, at ________________________________________
Parents
were ____________________ and _____________________
Immigrated to America, 18__
Died February 4 or March 4, 1864, City of
Chattanooga, State of Tennessee
Buried Grave 38, Section A, National
Cemetery, Chattanooga, Tennessee
Edward Edson was enlisted in Company A of the 15th Wisconsin by Captain Andrew Torkildson on October 16, 1861, for a 3 year term of service. The men of Company A called themselves the "St. Olaf's Rifles." They were also known as the "Sailor Company" because of the large number of seamen in its ranks, and as the "Chicago Company" because so many of its members were residents of that city. Edward was mustered into Federal service as a Private (Menig) on November 15, 1861, at Camp Randall, near the City of Madison, Dane County, State of Wisconsin. At the time he was recorded as being 21 years old and not married. His residence was listed as Boone County in the State of Illinois.
On January 14, 1862, the men of the 15th were issued Belgian rifled muskets. After near 15 weeks at Camp Randall learning to be a soldier, Private Edson left there in early March, 1862, with his company and regiment to join the war. From then until October, 1863, he was listed as "present" with the 15th. As such he would have participated in the successful siege of Island No. 10 on the Mississippi River in the State of Tennessee, and the surprise raid on Union City, Tennessee, in March and April, 1862. That Summer he would have been with the 15th on the campaign though Tennessee and the States of Mississippi and Alabama. In August and September he would have participated in the grueling 400 mile retreat with General Buell up to the City of Louisville, State of Kentucky, with the last 2 weeks being on half rations and short of water.
Private Edson would have been present at the October 8, 1862, fighting at the Town of Perryville, Boyle County, Kentucky, which is also called the Battle of Chaplin Hills. While this was the 15th's first big battle, it emerged without any fatalities. In late December he would have participated in the 15th's desperate charge upon a Confederate artillery battery at Knob Gap, Tennessee, just south of the City of Nashville. There the 15th captured a brass cannon. He would have also fought at the long, cold, wet, and bloody Battle of Stone River, Tennessee, also called the Battle of Murfreesboro, at the end of December, 1862. It is there that the 15th first suffered serious battle casualties, and was cited for bravery.
The 15th camped in the Murfreesboro area for the next 6 months, except for 2 weeks in February when it was sent to the Town of Franklin, Tennessee. Starting June 23, 1863, the regiment took part in General Rosecrans' Tullahoma campaign. On July 3, 1863, it went into camp at the Town of Winchester, Franklin County, Tennessee.
On August 17, 1863, the 15th left Winchester to participate in General Rosecran's Chickamauga campaign. Private Edson is believed to have been present at the daring early morning crossing of the Tennessee River on August 28th, which the 15th led. He was also present at the September 19-20, 1863, fighting at Chickamauga, Georgia -- the second bloodiest battle of the Civil War. He survived the vicious fighting around Viniard's Farm on the first afternoon, as well as the near capture of the regiment around midday on the 20th near Brotherton Field during Longstreet's Breakthrough. Some 63% of the 15th's soldiers who fought at Chickamauga were killed, wounded, or taken prisoner.
Private Edson would have then served with the regiment during the Confederate siege of Chattanooga, Tennessee, which began right after the battle. The siege resulted in severe shortages of medicine, food, and firewood which, together with cold, wet weather, caused much suffering, sickness, and death. Starting on October 28, 1863, Private Edson was detached to serve in the 6th Ohio Artillery Battery by the order of General Willick. The Confederate siege was finally broken by the Union Army's victorious charge up Mission Ridge on November 25, 1863, which the 15th took part in.
On November 28, 1863, Private Edson was listed as being "sick in hospital" at Chattanooga. Starting right after Mission Ridge the 15th was engaged in almost non-stop marching and counter-marching all over Eastern Tennessee throughout the winter of 1863/1864. By many original accounts, this was the worst period of the regiment's 3 year term of service. Poor rations, inadequate clothing and shelter, and unseasonably cold weather made these months nearly unbearable. Private Edson was spared this experience. However, on February 4 or March 4, 1864, Private Edson died of "mumps followed by pulmonary congestion" at the General Field Hospital in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
Sources: Civil War Compiled Military Service Records by Office of Adjutant General of the United States (Washington, DC); Det Femtende Regiment, Wisconsin Frivillage [The Fifteenth Regiment, Wisconsin Volunteers] by Ole A. Buslett (Decorah, Iowa, 1895); Regimental Descriptive Rolls, Volume 20 Office of the Adjutant General State of Wisconsin (Madison, Wisconsin, 1885); Roster of Wisconsin Volunteers, War of the Rebellion, 1861-1865, Volume I Office of the Adjutant General State of Wisconsin (Madison, Wisconsin, 1886).
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