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Edgar was born on February 23, 1842 in the town of Leon, New York and is the
younger brother of Marshall Shannon. On September 24, 1862, he was mustered into
the 154th NY as a private to serve for three years. He was wounded at the battle
of Chancellorsville and participated in many of the major battles of the Civil
War. He was promoted to Sergeant in November 1863 and went on to become a 1st
Lieutenant and the regimental quartermaster in March 1864. While Marshall was
wounded and had to leave the regiment, Edgar stayed with the 154th to go with
General Sherman and his March to the Sea. He was mustered out with the rest of
the regiment in June 1865.
After the war, he returned to his home town of Leon, NY where he went on to own
a business. He became very successful and was elected as the town superviser
five times between 1869 and 1882. In 1876 and 1877 he was elected as the
Republican Assemblyman from the Second district of Cattaraugus County.
Edgar died on December 28, 1882 and was laid to rest in the Treat Memorial
Cemetary in Leon, NY.
Many years later, letters Edgar had sent to his sweetheart during the war
surfaced. They have been referenced within a book, Brothers One and All: Esprit
de Corps in a Civil War Regiment, and articles written by Mark Dunkleman. His
words will live on and he will not be forgotten. |
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