Joseph Cushing Edmands
Encyclopedia
Joseph Cushing Edmands was a volunteer soldier in the Union Army
during the American Civil War
who attained the grade of colonel)
and in 1866 was awarded the honorary grade of brevet
brigadier general
.
and Rebecca Cushing Edmands in Boston, Massachusetts. His father served briefly as a U.S. Congressman during the 1850s. Prior to the Civil War, Edmands served as a private
and clerk with the 4th Battalion Massachusetts Militia. When the Civil War began, Edmands was living in Newton, Massachusetts
.
. The regiment reached Annapolis, Maryland
in December 1861 and was soon assigned to Brig. Gen. Ambrose Burnside
's North Carolina Expedition
. Edmands may have taken part in the first two battles of the expedition, the Battle of Roanoke Island
and the Battle of New Bern
in early 1862. The extent of his involvement is unclear because he was seriously ill for much of the spring of 1862. In the summer of 1862, he was sent home on invalid furlough due to his illness. After his recovery, he began to recruit a new company
of volunteers in Boston.
This company became Company K of the 32nd Regiment Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry
in September 1862.
On December 29, 1862, Edmands was promoted to major
.
Shortly after the Army of the Potomac
went into winter quarters, Edmands was captured by Confederates
on December 16, 1863 in the vicinity of Bealeton, Virginia
. He was taken to Libby Prison
in Richmond, Virginia
where he remained for three months until he was paroled on March 7, 1864.
Edmands rejoined the 32nd Massachusetts in May 1864 and in June was appointed to the command of the regiment. He accordingly received a promotion to colonel
on June 30, 1864.
Edmands was mustered out of the army on July 1, 1865. On January 13, 1866, President
Andrew Johnson
nominated Edmands for the award of the honorary grade of brevet
brigadier general
of volunteers, to rank from March 13, 1865, and the U.S. Senate confirmed the award on March 12, 1866.
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...
during 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...
who attained the grade of colonel)
Colonel (United States)
In the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, colonel is a senior field grade military officer rank just above the rank of lieutenant colonel and just below the rank of brigadier general...
and in 1866 was awarded the honorary grade of brevet
Brevet (military)
In many of the world's military establishments, brevet referred to a warrant authorizing a commissioned officer to hold a higher rank temporarily, but usually without receiving the pay of that higher rank except when actually serving in that role. An officer so promoted may be referred to as being...
brigadier general
Brigadier general (United States)
A brigadier general in the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, is a one-star general officer, with the pay grade of O-7. Brigadier general ranks above a colonel and below major general. Brigadier general is equivalent to the rank of rear admiral in the other uniformed...
.
Early career
Edmands was born to J. Wiley EdmandsJ. Wiley Edmands
John Wiley Edmands was a member of the United States House of Representatives from Massachusetts. He was born in Boston on March 1, 1809. He completed preparatory studies, and graduated from English High School of Boston. He became interested in woolen mills in Dedham and the Pacific Mills Co...
and Rebecca Cushing Edmands in Boston, Massachusetts. His father served briefly as a U.S. Congressman during the 1850s. Prior to the Civil War, Edmands served as a private
Private (rank)
A Private is a soldier of the lowest military rank .In modern military parlance, 'Private' is shortened to 'Pte' in the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth countries and to 'Pvt.' in the United States.Notably both Sir Fitzroy MacLean and Enoch Powell are examples of, rare, rapid career...
and clerk with the 4th Battalion Massachusetts Militia. When the Civil War began, Edmands was living in Newton, Massachusetts
Newton, Massachusetts
Newton is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States bordered to the east by Boston. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the population of Newton was 85,146, making it the eleventh largest city in the state.-Villages:...
.
Civil War service
On October 4, 1861, at the age of 19, Edmands enlisted with the 24th Regiment Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry as a first sergeantFirst Sergeant
First sergeant is the name of a military rank used in many countries, typically a senior non-commissioned officer.-Singapore:First Sergeant is a Specialist in the Singapore Armed Forces. First Sergeants are the most senior of the junior Specialists, ranking above Second Sergeants, and below Staff...
. The regiment reached Annapolis, Maryland
Annapolis, Maryland
Annapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Maryland, as well as the county seat of Anne Arundel County. It had a population of 38,394 at the 2010 census and is situated on the Chesapeake Bay at the mouth of the Severn River, south of Baltimore and about east of Washington, D.C. Annapolis is...
in December 1861 and was soon assigned to Brig. Gen. Ambrose Burnside
Ambrose Burnside
Ambrose Everett Burnside was an American soldier, railroad executive, inventor, industrialist, and politician from Rhode Island, serving as governor and a U.S. Senator...
's North Carolina Expedition
Burnside's North Carolina Expedition
Burnside’s North Carolina Expedition was a series of engagements fought along the North Carolina Coast between February and June 1862. The expedition was part of Winfield Scott’s overall Anaconda Plan, which aimed at closing blockade-running ports inside the Outer Banks...
. Edmands may have taken part in the first two battles of the expedition, the Battle of Roanoke Island
Battle of Roanoke Island
The opening phase of what came to be called the Burnside Expedition, the Battle of Roanoke Island was an amphibious operation of the American Civil War, fought on February 7–8, 1862, in the North Carolina Sounds a short distance south of the Virginia border...
and the Battle of New Bern
Battle of New Bern
The Battle of New Bern was fought on 14 March 1862, near the city of New Bern, North Carolina, as part of the Burnside Expedition of the American Civil War. The US Army's Coast Division, led by Brigadier General Ambrose E...
in early 1862. The extent of his involvement is unclear because he was seriously ill for much of the spring of 1862. In the summer of 1862, he was sent home on invalid furlough due to his illness. After his recovery, he began to recruit a new company
Company (military unit)
A company is a military unit, typically consisting of 80–225 soldiers and usually commanded by a Captain, Major or Commandant. Most companies are formed of three to five platoons although the exact number may vary by country, unit type, and structure...
of volunteers in Boston.
This company became Company K of the 32nd Regiment Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry
32nd Regiment Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry
The 32nd Regiment Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry was an infantry regiment in the Union army during the American Civil War. The nucleus of the regiment was a battalion of six companies raised in September 1861 to garrison Fort Warren, the largest fortification in Boston harbor...
in September 1862.
On December 29, 1862, Edmands was promoted to major
Major (United States)
In the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, major is a field grade military officer rank just above the rank of captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel...
.
Shortly after the Army of the Potomac
Army of the Potomac
The Army of the Potomac was the major Union Army in the Eastern Theater of the American Civil War.-History:The Army of the Potomac was created in 1861, but was then only the size of a corps . Its nucleus was called the Army of Northeastern Virginia, under Brig. Gen...
went into winter quarters, Edmands was captured by 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...
on December 16, 1863 in the vicinity of Bealeton, Virginia
Bealeton, Virginia
Bealeton is a census-designated place in Fauquier County, Virginia, at the intersection of State Route 28 and U.S. Route 17. The population as of the 2010 Census was 4,435. Public schools in Bealeton include Grace Miller Elementary, Cedar Lee Middle, and Liberty High School. Bealeton is home to...
. He was taken to Libby Prison
Libby Prison
Libby Prison was a Confederate Prison at Richmond, Virginia, during the American Civil War. It gained an infamous reputation for the harsh conditions under which prisoners from the Union Army were kept.- Overview :...
in Richmond, Virginia
Richmond, Virginia
Richmond is the capital of the Commonwealth of Virginia, in the United States. It is an independent city and not part of any county. Richmond is the center of the Richmond Metropolitan Statistical Area and the Greater Richmond area...
where he remained for three months until he was paroled on March 7, 1864.
Edmands rejoined the 32nd Massachusetts in May 1864 and in June was appointed to the command of the regiment. He accordingly received a promotion to colonel
Colonel (United States)
In the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, colonel is a senior field grade military officer rank just above the rank of lieutenant colonel and just below the rank of brigadier general...
on June 30, 1864.
Edmands was mustered out of the army on July 1, 1865. On January 13, 1866, President
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
Andrew Johnson
Andrew Johnson
Andrew Johnson was the 17th President of the United States . As Vice-President of the United States in 1865, he succeeded Abraham Lincoln following the latter's assassination. Johnson then presided over the initial and contentious Reconstruction era of the United States following the American...
nominated Edmands for the award of the honorary grade of brevet
Brevet (military)
In many of the world's military establishments, brevet referred to a warrant authorizing a commissioned officer to hold a higher rank temporarily, but usually without receiving the pay of that higher rank except when actually serving in that role. An officer so promoted may be referred to as being...
brigadier general
Brigadier general (United States)
A brigadier general in the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, is a one-star general officer, with the pay grade of O-7. Brigadier general ranks above a colonel and below major general. Brigadier general is equivalent to the rank of rear admiral in the other uniformed...
of volunteers, to rank from March 13, 1865, and the U.S. Senate confirmed the award on March 12, 1866.
See also
- List of Massachusetts generals in the American Civil War
- Massachusetts in the American Civil War