Edmund Underwood

Edmund Underwood (1826-1863) - Born 1826 in Pennsylvania. A career U.S. Army officer who served in the Mexican War and the U.S. Civil War. Died 5 Sep 1863 in Utica, New York and buried at Oswego, New York.

Edmund Underwood served in the Mexican War as an enlisted man and was offered a commission on 3 Mar 1848 in the 4th U.S. Infantry which he accepted. In 1852 six companies of the 4th U.S. Infantry were posted to the west coast and Lt. Underwood was among them. He served at Fort Humboldt along with then Captain Ulysses S. Grant and later served at Fort Reading and Fort Ter-Waw, all in California. In 1858, he established Fort Gaston and remained its commander until he was promoted to Major and relieved in August 1861 for duty with the 18th U.S. Infantry. He served with the 18th U.S. Infantry from November 1861 until poor health caused him to retire from service on 27 Feb 1862 "for incapacity resulting from sickness contracted in the line of duty.". He continued to serve as United States mustering and disbursing officer for the Northern District of New York until his death from tuberculosis 5 Sep 1863.

Marriage:
 * Mary Moore Beardsley (1836-1917) married 2 Jun 1852, born 1836, died 9 Aug 1917

Children:
 * Edmund Beardsley Underwood (1853-1928) born 5 Mar 1853, died 12 Apr 1928
 * James Underwood (1855-1860) born Nov 1855, died Jul 1860
 * Champlin Underwood (1857-1926) born 23 Sep 1857, died 28 Nov 1926

Assignments:
 * (1848-1851) 2nd Lt. (3 Mar 1848), 4th U.S. Infantry, Fort Ontario, New York
 * (1852-1852) 4th U.S. Infantry Voyage to California, Benicia Barracks, California
 * (1853-1853) 1st Lt. (24 Mar 1853), 4th U.S. Infantry, Fort Humboldt, California
 * (1853-1855) 4th U.S. Infantry, Fort Reading, California
 * (1856-1858) Capt. (11 Mar 1856), 4th U.S. Infantry, Fort Humboldt, California
 * (1858-1858) 4th U.S. Infantry, Fort Ter-Waw, California
 * (1858-1861) Major (14 May 1861), 4th U.S. Infantry, Commanding Fort Gaston, California
 * (1861-1862) Union U.S. Civil War, 18th U.S. Infantry
 * (1862) Retired from service 27 Feb 1862

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Sources:
 * Wikipedia - Edmund Underwood
 * Johnson, Mark W., That Body of Brave Men: The U.S. Regular Infantry and The Civil War In The West, Da Capo Press, 2003, ISBN 0306812460, ISBN 9780306812460
 * Civil War Pension File (Major Edmund Underwood/Mary B Underwood) Certificate # 29854 as viewed on Fold3.com 25 Sep 2012