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Edgar M. Ruhl

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Birth name
  
Edgar Monroe Ruhl

Rank
  
Captain

Years of service
  
1861–64

Born
  
May 26, 1841 Shrewsbury, Pennsylvania (
1841-05-26
)

Buried at
  
Christ Evangelical Lutheran Cemetery, Shrewsbury, Pennsylvania

Battles/wars
  
American Civil War Third Battle of Winchester Battle of Cedar Creek

Died
  
19 October 1864, Cedar Creek, Virginia, United States

Unit
  
87th Pennsylvania Infantry

Battles and wars
  
American Civil War, Third Battle of Winchester, Battle of Cedar Creek

Service/branches
  
United States Army, Union Army

Allegiances
  
United States of America, Union

Edgar M. Ruhl (1841–1864) American soldier, a Captain in the American Civil War.

Edgar Monroe Ruhl was born in Shrewsbury, Pennsylvania. Following the separation of his parents, he worked as a cigar maker.

On August 31, 1861 Ruhl enlisted in the 87th Pennsylvania Infantry in Company D, a unit his father commanded. The muster date for the unit is listed as September 19, though this may be the date of his promotion to Sergeant from Private.

Ruhl was promoted throughout the war, at least in part because of his father's interventions. He was promoted from Sergeant to First Sergeant on May 12, 1862. On Oct 25, 1862 he was promoted to Second Lieutenant. He was promoted to First Lieutenant on May 10, 1863. His final promotion, to Captain, occurred on April 20, 1864.

Following the discharge of members of the 87th whose three-year term of enlistment was up, on September 23, 1864 Ruhl was left in command of 200 members of the 87th who had later discharge dates. He led his troops up the Shenandoah Valley, engaging in the Third Battle of Winchester, the Battle of Fisher's Hill, and finally the Battle of Cedar Creek.

In the evening of October 18 and early morning of October 19th, Ruhl wrote a letter of recommendation to the battalion for Sgt. William Esias Culp to become quartermaster. Early the morning of the 19th, Ruhl was killed when a Minié ball traveled through his body, severing an artery. He is reported to have thrown up his hands and said, "Boys, its all up with me." He died a few minutes later.

On November 1, 1864 Noah Ruhl collected his son's remains and had them removed to Shrewsbury, where they were buried with military honors.

He is the namesake for Pennsylvania's Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War Camp #33, Edgar M. Ruhl.

References

Edgar M. Ruhl Wikipedia