Edmund English
Encyclopedia
Edmund English was a Union Army
soldier
who received the Medal of Honor
for his bravery at the Battle of the Wilderness
in the American Civil War
.
, which was part of the famed First New Jersey Brigade
, as it fought in the June–July 1862 Seven Days Battles
, the August 1862 Battle of Second Bull Run, and the September 15, 1862, Battle of South Mountain
. On July 21, 1862, he received promotion to Sergeant, which was followed by a September 21, 1862, promotion to 1st Sergeant of his company.
During the Battle of the Wilderness
, Virginia
(May 6, 1864), he performed his act of bravery that garnered him the Medal of Honor.
He was eventually captured by the Confederates
during his service, and was paroled. It was as a paroled prisoner that he was formally discharged at Trenton, New Jersey
, on February 28, 1865, much later than his official end of his term of service, which was in June 1864.
He later re-enlisted in Winfield S. Hancock's Corps of veteran volunteers, serving first as Sergeant Major of the 6th United States Veteran Volunteers. Later, he was promoted to first lieutenant and transferred to the 7th United States Veteran Volunteers. He was mustered out of Federal service in August 1866, having served over 5 full years.
His medal was awarded to him on February 13, 1891. He died in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
, and was buried in the Old Cathedral Cemetery there.
Citation:
Union Army
The Union Army was the land force that fought for the Union during the American Civil War. It was also known as the Federal Army, the U.S. Army, the Northern Army and the National Army...
soldier
Soldier
A soldier is a member of the land component of national armed forces; whereas a soldier hired for service in a foreign army would be termed a mercenary...
who received the Medal of Honor
Medal of Honor
The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States government. It is bestowed by the President, in the name of Congress, upon members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguish themselves through "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his or her...
for his bravery at the Battle of the Wilderness
Battle of the Wilderness
The Battle of the Wilderness, fought May 5–7, 1864, was the first battle of Lt. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant's 1864 Virginia Overland Campaign against Gen. Robert E. Lee and the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia. Both armies suffered heavy casualties, a harbinger of a bloody war of attrition by...
in the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
.
Biography
After the outbreak of the Civil War, he enlisted in the 2nd New Jersey Volunteer Infantry, and was mustered in as a Corporal in Company C on May 27, 1861. He served with his regimentRegiment
A regiment is a major tactical military unit, composed of variable numbers of batteries, squadrons or battalions, commanded by a colonel or lieutenant colonel...
, which was part of the famed First New Jersey Brigade
First New Jersey Brigade
The First New Jersey Brigade is the common name for an American Civil War brigade of New Jersey infantry regiments in the Union Army of the Potomac...
, as it fought in the June–July 1862 Seven Days Battles
Seven Days Battles
The Seven Days Battles was a series of six major battles over the seven days from June 25 to July 1, 1862, near Richmond, Virginia during the American Civil War. Confederate General Robert E. Lee drove the invading Union Army of the Potomac, commanded by Maj. Gen. George B. McClellan, away from...
, the August 1862 Battle of Second Bull Run, and the September 15, 1862, Battle of South Mountain
Battle of South Mountain
The Battle of South Mountain was fought September 14, 1862, as part of the Maryland Campaign of the American Civil War. Three pitched battles were fought for possession of three South Mountain passes: Crampton's, Turner's, and Fox's Gaps. Maj. Gen. George B...
. On July 21, 1862, he received promotion to Sergeant, which was followed by a September 21, 1862, promotion to 1st Sergeant of his company.
During the Battle of the Wilderness
Battle of the Wilderness
The Battle of the Wilderness, fought May 5–7, 1864, was the first battle of Lt. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant's 1864 Virginia Overland Campaign against Gen. Robert E. Lee and the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia. Both armies suffered heavy casualties, a harbinger of a bloody war of attrition by...
, Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
(May 6, 1864), he performed his act of bravery that garnered him the Medal of Honor.
He was eventually captured by the Confederates
Confederate States Army
The Confederate States Army was the army of the Confederate States of America while the Confederacy existed during the American Civil War. On February 8, 1861, delegates from the seven Deep South states which had already declared their secession from the United States of America adopted the...
during his service, and was paroled. It was as a paroled prisoner that he was formally discharged at Trenton, New Jersey
Trenton, New Jersey
Trenton is the capital of the U.S. state of New Jersey and the county seat of Mercer County. As of the 2010 United States Census, Trenton had a population of 84,913...
, on February 28, 1865, much later than his official end of his term of service, which was in June 1864.
He later re-enlisted in Winfield S. Hancock's Corps of veteran volunteers, serving first as Sergeant Major of the 6th United States Veteran Volunteers. Later, he was promoted to first lieutenant and transferred to the 7th United States Veteran Volunteers. He was mustered out of Federal service in August 1866, having served over 5 full years.
His medal was awarded to him on February 13, 1891. He died in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
, and was buried in the Old Cathedral Cemetery there.
Medal of Honor citation
Rank and organization: First Sergeant, Company C, 2d New Jersey Infantry. Place and date: At Wilderness, Va., May 6, 1864. Entered service at: Newark, N.J. Born: November 16, 1841, Ireland. Date of issue: February 13, 1891.Citation:
During a rout and while under orders to retreat seized the colors, rallied the men, and drove the enemy back.
See also
- List of Medal of Honor recipients
- List of American Civil War Medal of Honor recipients: A–F