Edmund H. Druse

Name: Edmund H. Druse Company: A Veteran; promoted Corporal, Sergeant; discharged for wounds received in battle of Nashville; lost left leg.
Birth Date: December 6, 1839 Place: Boone County, Illinois	Mustered In Date: December 19, 1861 Rank: Private Age: 22 Residence prior to military service: Boone County, Illinois; Roscoe, Goodhue County, Minnesota Vocation prior to military service: Farmer
Death Date: December 11, 1931 Burial: Goodhue County, Minnesota	Mustered Out Date: June 3 (or 7), 1865 Rank: Sergeant Age: about 26 Residence following military service: Fourth Street, Red Wing, Goodhue County, Minnesota Vocation following military service: Fire Insurance Agent

Edmund H. Druse Biography and Civil War Narrative

Edmund Henry Druse was born in Boone County, Illinois, on December 6, 1839, to Zina and Sally Ann (Lawrence) Druse. Following his father's death in 1846, Edmund's mother married Charles Dana, Sr., on July 5, 1850, in Boone County. In 1856, Charles and Sally Dana moved with their family to Roscoe, Goodhue County, Minnesota. At the time of the 1860 U.S. Census, the Dana household consisted of 55-year-old Charles (farmer, born in Vermont), 40-year-old Sally (born in New York), 20-year-old Edmund (farmer; born in Illinois), 17-year-old Daniel (farmer, born in Illinois), and 8-year-old Charles (born in Illinois). Soon after the 1860 census, Charles Dana died, and in 1864 Sally married widower Oliver Webb, a farmer at Roscoe, Minnesota.

On December 19, 1861, at the age of 22, Edmund Druse was enlisted as a Private in Company A of the 5th Minnesota Volunteer Infantry Regiment by future Captain J. R. Dartt in Goodhue County for a three year term of service. He was mustered in at Fort Snelling on March 24, 1862, by Captain Anderson D. Nelson of the regular army. In May Company A moved south to fight in the Civil War. They reported to General John Pope near Corinth, Mississippi, on May 24, and were attached to the 2nd Brigade, 2nd Division of the Army of Mississippi. They were put to work immediately, participating in the Siege of Corinth (May 26-30), including the Battle of Farmington on May 28. On August 31, 1862, Edmund's 20-year-old brother, Daniel L. Druse, also joined Company A of the 5th Minnesota. That same year the 5th Minnesota regiment was present at the Battle of Iuka, Mississippi (September 19) and participated in the (2nd) Battle of Corinth (October 4). In 1863 the Druse brothers and the 5th Minnesota participated in the Siege of Vicksburg, Mississippi (May 18 - July 4). Edmund Druse re-enlisted as a veteran on March 31, 1864, and was promoted to Corporal. After participating in the Red River Campaign (March 10 - May 22) and receiving a veterans' furlough (June 17-August 17), Edmund returned to his regiment to participate in Mower's expedition to Brownsville, Arkansas (September 2-10) and a pursuit of Confederate General Price across the state of Missouri (September 17-November 15). At the end of November, he and the regiment were transported by riverboat to Nashville, Tennessee, where they joined the Union Army led by General George H. Thomas.

On December 15-16, 1864, Thomas' army attacked the Confederates which had gathered to the south of Nashville under the command of General Hood. On the second day of battle, Corporal Druse was badly wounded in his left leg which was then amputated. Having been promoted to Sergeant, Edmund Druse was discharged for disability on June 3, 1865.

Returning to Minnesota, Edmund Druse married Mary E. Gilbert (born May 1849 in New York) on October 19, 1875. By 1880, Edmund and Mary had two daughters, both born in Minnesota: Elizabeth M. (age 3) and Asenath (sp?) (age 1). The family lived on Fourth Street in Red Wing, Goodhue County, Minnesota, and Edmund worked as a Fire Insurance Agent. Twenty years later, Edmund and Mary lived on Phelps Street in Red Wing. Children in the household were three daughters: Susie M. (born December 1880), Emily F. (born February 1883), and Mary G. (born July 1885), and a son, Edmund H. Jr. (born March 1891).

Edmund and Mary Druse later moved to Nob Hill, Yakima County, Washington, near his brother Daniel, a farmer in nearby Fruitvale. In 1900, the household included Edmund (age 70), wife Mary E (age 60), daughter Mary G. (age 24), and son Edmund H., Jr. (age 19). After 12 years in Yakima county, Edmund Druse returned to Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Edmund Henry Druse died on December 11, 1931, and was buried in Goodhue County, Minnesota.

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