Edwin White Owens
Edwin White Owens
11th Wisconsin Infantry Company "D"
Edwin White Owens joined the 11th Wisconsin Volunteers, Company "D" at Camp Randall, Wisconsin on September 12, 1861. It was said that he lied about his birth date so that he would be accepted to fight for the Union. He reenlisted on February 13, 1864 and was mustered out September 4, 1865.
Immediately after joining the 11th Wisconsin was sent to St. Louis, Missouri where he was in service patrolling and guarding railways and communication lines. In March of 1862 the 11th Wisconsin participated along with other Union forces in a number of expeditions into Northern Arkansas and Southern Missouri.
Private Owens served as wagoner and in the winter of 1864-1865 he was injured in an accident from which he never fully recovered. At Brashear City, Louisiana he was hauling siege guns from the swamp where they had been sunk by the enemy. The guns were to be used for fortification. He was driving a twelve mule team when while crossing a bridge something frightened the lead mule and the animal stumbled throwing Private Owens into the saddle horn. This caused a serious injury and he was forced to accept light duty for quite some time. He was given back his duties as a wagoner but due to exposure and rheumatism his duty was difficult. He was able to stay with the Army until the war ended.
His name is inscribed on the famous Wisconsin monument at Vicksburg, Mississippi.
He married Catherine Shanklin on his return to Wisconsin. They had eight children. Upon his death in 1924 he was buried with full military honors. He is buried in Chili Cemetery in Granton, Wisconsin. His grave is marked as that of a Civil War Veteran. He was highly respected by the community in which he lived.
Engagements:
Bayou Cache, Arkansas, Coahoma County, Mississippi, Magnolia Church,
Mississippi, Port Gibson, Mississippi, Champion Hill, Mississippi, Black River
Bridge, Mississippi, Siege of Vicksburg, Mississippi, Siege of Jackson,
Mississippi, St. Martinville, Louisiana, Vermillion Bayou, Mississippi,
Opelousas, Louisiana, Boliver, Tennessee, Bayou Tche, Louisiana, Bayou La
Fourache, Louisiana, Spanish Fort, Alabama, and Fort Blakely, Alabama.
Edwin White Owens was the g-grandfather of Mavis
Sutherland
Alex and Philadelphia Sutherland are his ggg-grandchildren.