Years of service 1861 - 1866 Rank First Lieutenant | Name Edmund English | |
Born November 16, 1841
Ireland ( 1841-11-16 ) Died May 27, 1912(1912-05-27) (aged 70)
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Place of burial Old Cathedral Cemetery Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Allegiance United States of America
Union Service/branch United States Army
Union Army | ||
Edmund English (November 16, 1841 – May 27, 1912) 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.
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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 regiment, 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.
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.