Edward Banker Willis facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Edward Banker Willis
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| Born | January 9, 1831 New York City |
| Died | December 7, 1879 (48) Fontenelle, Iowa |
| Allegiance |  United States of America |
| Service/ |
 United States Army |
| Years of service | 1861 - 1866 |
| Rank | Lieutenant Colonel |
| Battles/wars | American Civil War Apache Wars |
| Other work | Civil engineer |
Edward Banker Willis (born January 9, 1831 – died December 7, 1879) was an important officer in the United States Army. He served during the American Civil War, a big conflict in American history. He fought in the western parts of the country, known as the Trans-Mississippi Theater. This area included places like Arizona and New Mexico. There, he faced both Confederate soldiers and some Native American groups.
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Who Was Edward Banker Willis?
Edward Banker Willis was born in New York City on January 9, 1831. When he was about 19 years old, he decided to travel west. He joined many others heading to California for the exciting California Gold Rush. This was a time when many people hoped to find gold and get rich.
Joining the Army
On August 24, 1861, Willis joined the Union Army. This was the army that fought for the United States government during the Civil War. He started as a first lieutenant. Soon after, he became a captain in Company A of the 1st California Infantry.
Fighting in the West
Captain Willis and his unit marched from San Diego. They joined a large group called Carleton's expedition. This group traveled across the New Mexico Territory. Willis was part of the team that helped capture Tucson. Tucson was an old Spanish fort, defended by a small group of local fighters.
After Tucson, Willis went south to a mining town called Mowry. His mission there was to arrest a man named Sylvester Mowry. This person was suspected of being a traitor to the Union.
Promotions and New Missions
Because of his good work during the Civil War, Willis was promoted. On May 5, 1863, he became a major. In September of that year, Major Willis led a scouting group. They were looking for Navajo groups in the area.
Later, he helped decide where to build a new military base. This base would be called Fort Whipple. On November 7, 1863, he left Fort Wingate. He traveled to Little Chino Valley, which is north of Prescott. The new Fort Whipple officially opened there on December 23. However, the fort was moved to its current spot near Prescott on May 11, 1864.
Battles and Later Service
On June 30, 1864, Willis and his soldiers had a small fight. They battled some Apache warriors along the Salt River. On September 5, he left the 1st California Infantry. He then joined the 1st New Mexico Infantry in Santa Fe. On February 5, 1865, he was promoted again, becoming a lieutenant colonel.
In January 1866, Lieutenant Colonel Willis was in charge of Fort Selden. He heard a rumor that a large group of Apaches had attacked a fort in Mexican territory. This fort was called Janos presidio in Chihuahua.
Willis quickly put together a group of 50 infantry soldiers and 25 cavalry soldiers. They marched to help the Mexican citizens. When they arrived ten days later, they learned something important. The citizens had bravely fought off the Apaches for two days. The remaining Apache warriors had then left the area.
Life After the War
Edward Banker Willis was honorably discharged from the army. This happened in Santa Fe on November 1, 1866. After his military career, he became a civil engineer. This job involves designing and building things like roads and bridges.
He worked as an engineer in many different places. These included New Mexico, Arizona, California, Oregon, Washington, and Oklahoma Territory. Eventually, he retired and moved to Omaha, Nebraska.
Edward Banker Willis passed away on December 7, 1879. He was in Fontenelle, Iowa, and was 48 years old. He left behind his wife, but they did not have any children.
