Edwin W. Maxwell

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Name: Edwin W. Maxwell Company: H Wounded at Corinth October 4, 1862
Birth Date: May 1837 Place: Maine or Massachusetts	Mustered In Date: January 16, 1862 Rank: Private Age: 24 Residence prior to military service: Mazeppa Township, Wabasha County, Minnesota
Death Date: about June 29, 1910 Place: Portland, Multnomah County, Oregon Burial: Grand Army of the Republic Cemetery, Southwest Boones Ferry and Palatine Hill roads, Portland, Multnomah County, Oregon; Grave number 97, Lot 5	Mustered Out Date: April 3, 1865 Rank: Corporal Age: 27 Residence following military service: Portland, Multnomah County, Oregon (1900) Vocation following military service: Paper Hanger (1900)

Edwin W. Maxwell Biography and Civil War Narrative

Edwin W. Maxwell was born May 1837 in Maine or Massachusetts to parents born in New York. He enlisted in Company H of the 5th Minnesota Volunteer Infantry Regiment on Thursday, January 16, 1862. On page 27 of the published Executive Documents for the State of Minnesota for the Year 1862, Private Edwin W. Maxwell is listed in the roster of Company H, 5th Minnesota Infantry. He is described as 24 years old and single, from Mazeppa (Wabasha County, Minnesota).

After drilling and organizing at Fort Snelling, Company H and the six other companies of the 5th Minnesota who had not been sent to frontier posts were ordered south in early May 1862. They reported to General John Pope near Corinth, Mississippi, on Saturday, 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 Wednesday, May 28.

On the morning of Friday, October 3, 1862, the 5th Minnesota was posted about four miles southeast of Corinth, Mississippi, at a crossing of Tuscumbia Creek. The Confederates were approaching Corinth from the west as they fought the Union Army for control of the town. As the day progressed, the sounds of battle grew nearer and more distinct until they indicated that fighting was taking place between town and the position of the 5th Minnesota. On that day Quartermaster William B. McGrorty was in town securing rations for the regiment. While in town, McGrorty reported to General Rosecrans the position of the 5th Minnesota. Rosecrans responded by issuing an order for the 5th to retire into the town. The regiment then proceeded under the cover of darkness into town where they bivouacked for the night.

The following day the regiment played a significant part in the second day of the Battle of Corinth. On the morning of Saturday, October 4, the Fifth Minnesota was held in reserve about 400 yards to the rear of the Union line. Early morning Confederate shelling was a prelude to a general assault at about 9:00 am.

The Confederates eventually broke through, but the Fifth Minnesota, which had advanced about 200 yards, caught the advancing Confederates in a cross-fire. As the Confederates fell back, the Fifth Minnesota pursued them and filled the gap in the Union line. Private Edwin Maxwell was wounded in the battle, as were fifteen other members of the regiment. Six to nine (depending on the source) of the Fifth Minnesota boys were killed, including Private Philetus Crandall, also of Company H and also from Mazeppa.

Subsequent major activities of the Fifth Minnesota included the Siege of Vicksburg (May 18-July 4, 1863), the Red River Campaign (March 10-May 22, 1864), the Battle of Nashville (December 15-16, 1864), and the Campaign against Mobile, Alabama and its Defenses (March 7-April 12, 1865). At some point during his service in the Fifth Minnesota Volunteer Infantry Regiment, Edwin W. Maxwell was promoted to Corporal. He was mustered out of the regiment on Monday, April 3, 1865.

In 1900, 63-year-old Edwin Maxwell lived in Portland, Multnomah County, Oregon, and worked as a Paper Hanger. He died in Portland about June 29, 1910, and was buried in the Grand Army of the Republic Cemetery, located at Southwest Boones Ferry and Palatine Hill roads, Portland, Multnomah County, Oregon (Grave number 97, Lot 5).

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This page is maintained by Tim Bode (timbode@juno.com ). Created on 5/4/08. Last modified on 1/19/10.