Edgar N. Wilcox, Civil War Officer

Edgar N. Wilcox was born in 1837, the youngest child of Franklin and Julia (Root) Wilcox. In 1850, U.S. census records indicate that Edgar was age 13, and residing with his parents and brother in Huron, Ohio. Edgar was an 1860 graduate of the University of Michigan. On June 19, 1861, Edgar N. Wilcox enlisted in the 7^th Ohio Volunteer Infantry. Shortly after his enlistment, he sent this letter to his sister Lottie from Camp Tyler in Weston, Virginia. He signed the letter “Ned.”

Here is a transcription of Edgar’s letter.

In his letter, Edgar talked about sleeping with guns and ammunition by his side, and celebrating Independence Day with a regimental parade and the raising of the Union flag.  Before he mustered out of the 7^th Infantry, Edgar was promoted to Full Sergeant. Edgar reenlisted in the 18^th U.S. Infantry. On September 30, 1863 he was promoted to Full 1^st Lieutenant. On September 1, 1864, he was promoted to Brevet Captain. During his war time service, Edgar N. Wilcox participated in many battles, including Chickamauga, Kennesaw Mountain, Lookout Mountain, and the Atlanta campaign. After the Civil War ended, Edgar remained in military service, and worked as a military recruiter at Fort Columbus and David’s Island, New York. Edgar Wilcox mustered out of military service on June 1, 1871. In the 1880 U.S. Census, Edgar was living with his brother, Lucien Wilcox, in Huron, Ohio. On September 10, 1884, Edgar N. Wilcox was admitted to the National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers in Dayton, Ohio. He died on March 13, 1887, and was buried at the Dayton National Cemetery.

You can learn much more about the Wilcox family in the Wilbor and Wilcox Family Collections, housed at the Sandusky Library Archives Research Center