Edwin Francis Jemison facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Edwin Francis Jemison
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Jemison in uniform, around 1862
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| Born | December 1, 1844 Milledgeville, Georgia, U.S. |
| Died | July 1, 1862 (aged 17) Henrico County, Virginia |
| Allegiance |  Confederate States |
| Service/ |
 Confederate States Army |
| Years of service | 1861–1862 |
| Rank | Private |
| Unit | Company C, 2d Louisiana Infantry |
| Battles/wars | American Civil War |
Edwin Francis Jemison (born December 1, 1844 – died July 1, 1862) was a young soldier who fought for the Confederate side during the American Civil War. He joined the army in May 1861. Edwin served in Company C of the 2nd Louisiana Infantry Regiment. He sadly died in battle at the Battle of Malvern Hill.
His photograph is very famous. It shows what many young soldiers looked like during this war. It is known as one of the most iconic pictures of young soldiers from both the Confederate and Union armies. His photo even appeared on the cover of a magazine called Amerika in 1991.
Edwin Jemison and the Civil War
Edwin joined the army on May 11, 1861. He was one of the first people to volunteer for the war. He took part in a series of battles called the Peninsula Campaign. This campaign was led by a general named Magruder.
How Edwin Died
Edwin Jemison was killed on July 1, 1862. This happened during the Battle of Malvern Hill. We don't know exactly how he died. There is a popular story that he was hit directly by a cannonball. However, people have questioned if this story is true.
An obituary for his younger brother, Sam, in 1887, mentioned the cannonball story. But it incorrectly said Edwin died at a different battle, First Manassas. A writer named Alexandra Filipowski looked into this story. She believes the cannonball story is not true. Filipowski found Edwin's own obituary. It said he was "stricken down in the front rank" while charging forward. It added that he "yielded up his young life without a struggle."
Where Edwin Was Buried
After the Battle of Malvern Hill, both sides buried their soldiers on the battlefield. Later, after the American Civil War ended, groups like the United Daughters of the Confederacy helped. They went back to the old battlefields. They dug up the bodies of fallen Confederate soldiers. Then, they gave them proper burials in special places. One such place is the Confederate Section of Hollywood Cemetery in Richmond, Virginia.
It is thought that Edwin's parents put up a monument for him at Memory Hill Cemetery. This cemetery is in his hometown of Milledgeville, Georgia. He might be buried there. However, most people believe he was buried on or near the Malvern Hill battlefield. This area is in Henrico County, Virginia, in an unmarked grave.
See also
