Brentwood 1863 Photo of Wisconsin 22nd Regiment Co. C — Brentwood 1863
Photo of Wisconsin 22nd Regiment Co. C

Edwin Kaye Civil War

Edwin fought in the Civil War for the Union as a private in Company C, 22nd Regiment, Wisconsin. On March 25, 1863 he was captured by the Confederates during the battle of Brentwood. The photo above shows (presumably Officers) at the time they were captured.

Battle of Brentwood

From the Wisconsin Historical Society website. (LINK)

Date: March 25, 1863

Summary

This minor battle gave Confederate forces temporary control of an important railroad depot outside Nashville, Tennessee, in the spring of 1863.

At the time this battle was fought, Union troops had occupied Nashville, Tennessee, for more than a year. Brentwood, a depot on the Nashville & Decatur Railroad nine miles south of the city, was held by a force of about 800 soldiers that included the 22nd Wisconsin Infantry.

On March 24, 1863, Confederate troops secretly cut telegraph lines, tore up railroad tracks, and cut off any retreat from Brentwood. They attacked the town at about 7 am the next morning. The town contained 12,000 Wisconsin infantry and artillery. Unable to call for reinforcements, the outnumbered Union troops surrendered after putting up a vain resistance.

Wisconsin’s Role

Lieutenant Colonel Edward Bloodgood commanded the 22nd Wisconsin Infantry, which put up a brief resistance. Seven of its soldiers died and 13 were wounded. The majority of the regiment was taken prisoner and then soon released.

Edwin Kaye’s Compiled Civil War Records

Edwin_Kaye_Civil_War_Service_Record

These are from the National Archives. (Above link is a 10 page 610KB PDF doc.)

They cover his service in the Civil War, but do not include any pension records. It’s interesting to note he only stayed in Libby prison for one day before he was released in a prisoner exchange. After that his daily duties were only noted once. In May and June of 1864 he was “guarding cattle”.

Here’s a few screenshots of the files.

Edwin Kaye's Exit from the 22nd WI Regiment on 12 June 1865 — Edwin Kaye’s Exit from the 22nd WI Regiment on 12 June 1865

Edwin Kaye's May-June 1964 Muster Roll - Cattle Guard — Edwin Kaye’s May-June 1964 Muster Roll – Cattle Guard

Edwin Kaye's Induction into the 22nd WI Regiment on 1 Sept 1862 — Edwin Kaye’s Induction into the 22nd WI Regiment on 1 Sept 1862

1863 Edwin Kaye's Prisoner of War Record — 1863 Edwin Kaye’s Prisoner of War Record

Libby Prison

Here’s some info about Libby prison.

LINK to Wikipedia Libby Prison

Edwin Kaye Obit 1933

G.A.R. stood for the Grand Army of the Republic. You had to be a veteran of the Civil War to be a member. LINK

As they died each post shut down. In 1956 the last member of the Civil War died and the entire organization was shut down, but it layed the groundwork for helping vets and led to VFW posts.

Edwin was 95 when he died.