Edwin Atkinson
Co.D
2d Wisconsin

We met Kelly & Matt Hidlebaugh at Wade House last fall 1996. Kelly is the great great granddaughter of a member of the Second Wisconsin and found, with family papers, a photo taken at the "J.T. Bodker Gallery, Over the Post Office, Madison", in Dec. 1862. Hand colored, it is in amazing condition. Sharing it with us along with family history, it gives us one of the more complete pictures of one of those whose memories we attempt to honor and preserve.

Edwin Atkinson was the youngest of 8 children (3 girls and 5 boys) of Richard and Mary Nelson Atkinson of Yorkshire, England. The family came to the US, and farmed near Springfield, Ohio around 1843. In 1847 they moved to Albany, Wis., where the father and mother stayed till they died in 1887. Edwin married twice, first to Julia Griffin at Albany. They had 3 daughters and 18 grandchildren. Julia died in 1886 in Minn. and he then married Sarah Mae Kern. They moved to Kamiah, Idaho where he died and was buried March 26, 1918.

Muster Rolls say he was of Co. D, Second Wisconsin, Pvt.. Born England, 22 years old, a farmer. Recruited Dec. 17, 1862 at Madison by C. Wheeler and mustered same day by Maj. Stansbury. He had hazel eyes, black hair, dark complexion and stood 6’ 1 1/2" tall. His leg was wounded July 1, ‘63 at Gettysburg, PA. causing absence from his company July '63 to Jan.'64. In Feb. of '64 he was transferred to the Invalid Corps as of Jan. 16,'64 at Wash. DC as per G.O. 24 of the War Dept. and to the V R C Jan. 26, 1864. "Orig. Discharge presented to Adj. Gen. of Wis.’s office April 27, 1887" shows a discharged at Lincoln Gen. Hosp., Wash. D.C. Aug. 26, ‘64 on Surgeon Report of Disab.-Chronic Diarrhoea. Discharged from Co. F, 19th Reg. Vet. Resv. Corps. He was at the"Wis. Soldiers & Sailors Reunion",1880, shown as Edward Atchinson, from Corroll City, Iowa.