GENERAL EDWARD S. BRAGG

Where born: Otsego County, New York

Death: June 20, 1912

Where Buried: Rienzi Cemetery, Fond du Lac, Fond du Lac County, WI

Place of Death: Fond du Lac, Fond du Lac County, WI

Father's name: Joel Bragg

Mother's name: Margaret

Wife's name: Cornela Coleman

4 other siblings in family when growing up

Had 3 children: 2 daughters and one son that had died

Braxton Bragg a Confederate General was a relative

When he was 3 weeks old, there was a fire in his home and his father saved his life by handing him to someone out of the window.

In 1838 he attended Oxford Academy.

In 1847 he left Oxford Academy to become a law student

In 1854 he married his wife Cornela Coleman in Rochester, New York

In 1856 came to Fond du Lac, Fond du Lac County, WI

In 1860 he was elected to District Attorney in Fond du Lac, WI and in the same year he was elected to Democratic convention.

Was a member of St. Paul's Cathedral in Fond du Lac, WI

May 12, 1861 was captain of Company E of the 6^th Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry

September 7, 1861 was promoted to major

June 21, 1862 was made Lieutenant Colonel

Lieutenant Colonel made a comment in Virginia he pointed to a farm house and said to his men "I don't want to see or hear you do any forging there and now I'm going to take a nap". The army had posted there was not going to be any forging of Confederate enemy supplies.

March 24, 1863 was made Colonel after the second day of the wilderness campaign

and was put in command of a Pennsylvania Brigade.

Was in battle of 2^nd Bull Run (was where his brigade earned their name of Iron Brigade which he commanded most of the war), Antitiem, South Mountain, Fredricksburg engagements

In Antitiem was wounded in the left arm from Dunkard's Church that prevented him going into Gettysburg Iron Brigade. When he was wounded by mistake he was listed as slain and his wife received a wire and it said he was killed and his body would be sent home. It was a while before it was straightened out. General Gibbon wrote "never believe your husband is dead till he writes you so".

At Chickahominy he was put back to commanding the Iron Brigade

At Petersburg he was knocked off his horse by a cannon ball

May 6 - June 6, 1864 commanded the 3^rd Brigade 4^th Division First Army Corp of the Potomac

June 10, 1864 Hooker (commander of the General Army) promoted him to Brig General

1865 he went home to Fond du Lac, WI

1868 - 1869 Was a Wisconsin State Senator

1876 was elected to represent the 6th district in Congress - served 6 years

1879 President Grant came to Fond du Lac, WI just to see Edward S. Bragg

1885 was elected to represent the 6th district in Congress again

January 17, 1888 President Cleveland ask him to be an ambassador to Mexico and he did that till 1889

Had also a diplomatic to Cuba and Hong Kong

(Rienzi Cemetery Fond du Lac WI)