Edwin Francis Jemison

Edwin Francis Jemison
1861 photograph of Jemison with the "pelican" cap badge
of the 2nd Louisiana Volunteer Infantry Regiment
Birth name Edwin Francis Jemison
Born (1844-12-01)December 1, 1844
Milledgeville, Georgia, U.S.
Died July 1, 1862(1862-07-01) (aged 17)
Henrico County, Virginia, U.S.
Buried Memory Hill Cemetery
Allegiance  Confederate States
Service/branch  Confederate States Army
Years of service 1861–1862
Rank Private
Unit Louisiana 2nd Louisiana Volunteer Infantry Regiment
Battles/wars

Edwin Francis Jemison (December 1, 1844 – July 1, 1862) was a Private in the Confederate States Army during American Civil War, who served in the 2nd Louisiana Volunteer Infantry Regiment.[1] Jemison enlisted on May 11, 1861 and was among the war's early volunteers.[2] He participated in the Peninsula Campaign under John B. Magruder.[3] Jemison was killed in action on July 1, 1862 at the Battle of Malvern Hill reportedly by a direct hit from a cannonball, which decapitated him[4] (this account was given many years later by a Confederate veteran of the war).[5] Jemison's death by cannon fire is corroborated by the 1887 obituary of his younger brother, but incorrectly identifies the battle as First Manassas.[6]

Jemison's photograph (previously identified as Jennison of the Georgia Regiment)[7] has become one of the most famous and iconic portraits of the young soldiers of both the Confederate and Union Armies.[8] A monument to Jemison was erected at the Memory Hill Cemetery in Georgia, where he may be buried.[2] Most believe that he was buried on or near the battlefield in Virginia in an unmarked grave.[9]

Following the battle of Malvern Hill both sides buried their dead on the battlefield. After the war, Union dead were disinterred and moved to cemeteries by the U.S. government. Groups like the United Daughters of the Confederacy returned to the old battlefields and disinterred the bodies of fallen Confederate soldiers and gave them proper burials in places like Hollywood Cemetery in nearby Richmond. It is thought that his parents erected the monument to him at Memory Hill Cemetery in Georgia.[10]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Obituary: Edwin Francis Jemison". Southern Recorder. 5 Aug 1862. p. 3.
  2. 1 2 Cox, Dale. "Best Known Confederate Soldier". ExploreSouthernHistory. Retrieved 24 July 2015.
  3. ↑ Field, Ron; Hook, Richard (2006). The Confederate Army 1861-65 (3): Louisiana & Texas. Osprey Publishing. p. 17. ISBN 1846030315.
  4. ↑ Jones, Terry L. (2006). The Louisiana Journey. Gibbs Smith. p. 193. ISBN 1423601300.
  5. ↑ Miller, William J. (May 2004). "The Two Pictures of Private Jemison". America's Civil War: 32.
  6. ↑ "End of a Brilliant Lawyer". The Ouachita Telegraph. 1 Jan 1887. Retrieved 24 July 2015. the second was killed, with his messmate, by a cannon shot at the first battle of Manassas
  7. ↑ Associated Press. "Identity of Civil War soldier corrected". SouthCoastToday. Archived from the original on 24 July 2015. Retrieved 24 July 2015.
  8. ↑ "Edwin Francis Jemison". Find A Grave. Retrieved 21 May 2012.
  9. ↑ Filipowski, Alexandra; Harrington, Hugh T. (May 2004). "America's Civil War: Where Does Private Jemison Rest". America's Civil War. Retrieved 24 July 2015.
  10. ↑ Filipowski, Alexandra; Harrington (May 2007). "Hugh T.". America's Civil War: 28.

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