Edward Needles Hallowell

	Email		Print
	Bookmark		Link

Edward Needles Hallowell

Edward "Ned" Needles Hallowell was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Philadelphia is the largest city in Pennsylvania and the List of United States cities by population city in the United States. It is the fifth-largest metropolitan area and fourth-largest urban area by population in the United States, the nation's fourth-largest consumer media market as ranked by the Nielsen Media Research, and the 49th-most...
, on November 3 1836 to Morris Hallowell and Hannah Penrose, and died on July 26 1871 in Medford, Massachusetts

Medford, Massachusetts

Medford is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, Massachusetts, in the United States, on the Mystic River, just a few miles north of Boston, Massachusetts....
. Hallowell is most notable for being one of the commanders of the 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry

54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry

The 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry Regiment was an infantry regiment that saw extensive federal service in the Union Army during the American Civil War....
. He had two children, Charlott and Emily Hallowell, with his wife, Charlotte Bartlett Wilhelmina Swett.

rd grew up in a well-to-do Quaker

Religious Society of Friends

The Religious Society of Friends, commonly known as the Quakers, was founded in England in the 17th century as a Christian denomination by people who were dissatisfied with the existing denominations and sects of Christianity....
family in Philadelphia. His father Morris was part owner and operator of Hallowell & Company of 33 South Third Street, Philadelphia.

Discussion

Ask a question about 'Edward Needles Hallowell'

Start a new discussion about 'Edward Needles Hallowell'

Answer questions from other users

Full Discussion Forum

Encyclopedia

Edward "Ned" Needles Hallowell was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Medford, Massachusetts

54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry

Early life

Edward grew up in a well-to-do Quaker

Religious Society of Friends

India

India, officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and outlying territories by total area country by geographical area, the List of countries by population country, and the most populous liberal democracy in the world....
and China

China

China is a Culture of China, an ancient civilization, and, depending on perspective, a national or multinational entity extending over a large area in East Asia....
. Edward's father was also a strident abolitionist. The family was far more than passive meeting attenders. The family's summer home was employed as a stop on the Underground Railroad

Underground Railroad

The Underground Railroad was an informal network of secret routes and safe houses used by 19th century African American Slavery in the United States in the United States to escape to free state and Canada with the aid of Abolitionism who were sympathetic to their cause....
.

Edward and the other children of Morris and Hannah appear to have inherited the abolitionist views of their parents. His brother Richard Price Hallowell was one of the members of the "Black Committee" that Governor Andrew

John Albion Andrew

John Albion Andrew was a United States political figure. He served as the Governor of Massachusetts between 1861 and 1866 during the tumultuous American Civil War....
of Massachusetts selected to inquire of the willingness of prospective candidates to serve in officer positions in the 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry

54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry

The 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry Regiment was an infantry regiment that saw extensive federal service in the Union Army during the American Civil War....
.

Civil War service

In early 1862 Edward joined his brother Norwood Penrose "Pen" Hallowell who was already serving in the 20th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry

20th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry

The 20th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, also known as the "Harvard Regiment", was a distinguished regiment of infantry in the American Civil War....
. He served as a lieutenant. While at the 20th the regiment saw considerable action including the Peninsula Campaign

Peninsula Campaign

The Peninsula Campaign of the American Civil War was a major Union operation launched in southeastern Virginia from March through July 1862, the first large-scale offensive in the Eastern Theater of the American Civil War....
, the Seven Days

Seven Days Battles

The Seven Days Battles was a series of six major battles over the seven days from June 25 to July 1, 1862, near Richmond, Virginia during the American Civil War....
, Antietam

Battle of Antietam

The Battle of Antietam , fought on September 17, 1862, near Sharpsburg, Maryland, and Antietam Creek, as part of the Maryland Campaign, was the first major battle in the American Civil War to take place on Northern United States soil....
and Fredericksburg

Battle of Fredericksburg

The Battle of Fredericksburg, fought in and around Fredericksburg, Virginia, from December 11 to December 15, 1862, between General Robert E. Lee's Confederate States Army Army of Northern Virginia and the Union Army Army of the Potomac, commanded by Major general Ambrose E....
.

Edward accepted an appointment in the 54th Massachusetts, which was to be led by Robert Gould Shaw

Robert Gould Shaw

Robert Gould Shaw was the Colonel in command of the all-African American 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, which entered the American Civil War in 1863....
as colonel and his brother Norwood as Lieutenant Colonel. The regiment was to be made up of white and black abolitionists fighting together for black freedom. Edward recruited African-American soldiers in Philadelphia and was actually the first officer to occupy the barracks set aside for the 54th at Camp Meigs in Reedville. Recruiting for the regiment proved so successful that a second regiment, the 55th, was formed. Norwood was designated as its commander and Edward was appointed second to Shaw and departed with the regiment as a Major.

By the time of the famous assault by the 54th on Fort Wagner

Fort Wagner

Fort Wagner was a fortification on Morris Island, South Carolina, that covered the southern approach to Charleston, South Carolina harbor. It was the site of two American Civil War battles in the campaign known as Operations Against the Defenses of Charleston in 1863....
Hallowell was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel. In the assault on Fort Wagner he commanded the left wing with half the regiment's companies. Because of the narrow defile

Defile (geography)

Defile is a geographic term for a narrow pass or gorge between mountains or hills. It has its origins as a military description of a pass through which troops can march only in a narrow column or with a narrow front....
through which the 54th had to pass the left wing was deployed directly behind Shaw and the right wing. Hallowell suffered three wounds in the assault and went home to recuperate. Upon returning he commanded the 54th as a full colonel for most of the rest of the war.

The 54th and Hallowell continued to serve with distinction during the war. He fought at the Battle of Olustee

Battle of Olustee

The Battle of Olustee or Battle of Ocean Pond was fought near Lake City, Florida in Baker County, Florida, Florida on February 20, 1864, during the American Civil War....
, the Battle of Honey Hill

Battle of Honey Hill

The Battle of Honey Hill was the third battle of Sherman's March to the Sea, fought November 30, 1864, during the American Civil War. It did not involve Major General William T....
and the Battle of Boykin's Mill

Battle of Boykin's Mill

Site of the last Union officer killed in action during the American Civil War, Boykin?s Mill also hosted the final battle on South Carolina soil....
. At Boykin's Mill, Hallowell was in command of Major General Potter's 3rd Brigade. Ironically, when the fortifications around Charleston fell along with the city it was the 54th under Hallowell that occupied various former Confederate posts including Fort Sumter

Fort Sumter

Fort Sumter is a Seacoast Defense #Third system masonry coastal fortification located in Charleston, South Carolina harbor, South Carolina. The fort is best known as the site upon which the shots initiating the American Civil War were fired, at the Battle of Fort Sumter....
and Fort Wagner. Additionally, the 54th guarded Confederate prisoners of war during this time, including some who they had faced at Fort Wagner.

Post War years

Hallowell was brevetted Brigadier General for his distinguished service and marched as such with the Massachusetts members of the 54th at a post-war victory review held in Boston in December 1865. After the war Edward returned to being a merchant in Medford. His wounds from the war undoubtedly cut his life short and he died in 1871.

Legacy

The character of Major Forbes in the movie Glory
Glory (film)

Glory is a 1989 in film drama film war film based on the 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry as told from the point of view of its commanding officer, Robert Gould Shaw during the American Civil War....
is based somewhat on Edward Hallowell. Little lasting recognition of either Edward or his brother Norwood exists. One exception is at the famous Union Club off of Boston Common which has meeting rooms dedicated to Edward and Norwood as well as Robert Gould Shaw.

External links

and the 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry
54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry

The 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry Regiment was an infantry regiment that saw extensive federal service in the Union Army during the American Civil War....
at the Battle of Olustee
Battle of Olustee

The Battle of Olustee or Battle of Ocean Pond was fought near Lake City, Florida in Baker County, Florida, Florida on February 20, 1864, during the American Civil War....