Civil War Veterans Buried In Washington State - Edwin Binns

24^th WISCONSIN VOLUNTEER INFANTRY
Organized: Summer, 1862 Camp Sigel Milwaukee, WI
Mustered In: 8/15 - 21/62 Camp Sigel Milwaukee, WI
Mustered Out: 6/10/65 Nashville, TN

REGIMENTAL HISTORY:
 

The 24^th, a three year western theater regiment was also known as the "Milwaukee Regiment." Organized and mustered into Federal service it departed the state on 9/5/62 en-route to Louisville, KY via Covington.
 

First action for the 24^th was at Perryville, KY (10/8/1862). In that battle it was said the officers and men "acted with coolness and deliberation marching to the font with the steadiness of veterans."
 

The regiment next proceeded to Nashville, TN. Reaching that city on 11/8/62 it then moved to Stone's River. In the battle (12/31/62 - 1/2/63) fought there it lost 175 killed, wounded and captured.
 

On 9/18 - 20/63 the 24^th fought in the battle of CHICAMAUGA, GA.  There it lost 105 killed, WOUNDED and missing. It then took an important part in the storming and driving enemy troops from Missionary Ridge near Nashville (11/25/1863), TN. Next came lifting the Siege of Knoxville. Guard duty completed the 1863 year.
 

During January, 1864 the unit dislodged the enemy from a patch of woods near Dandridge, TN. It was then assigned to duty at division headquarters. That lasted until May when the regiment joined Union Gen. W.T. Sherman's Atlanta, GA campaign.
 

Moving back into Georgia the 24^th was in action at Resaca (5/13-15/64) and around Adairsville (5/17/64). At Dallas (5/26-6/1/64) it was under Rebel fire for eleven days. Operations around Kennesaw Mountain (6/27/64 followed. It then fought at Peachtree Creek (7/20/64) after which it was assigned to railroad, guard and garrison duty until November 1^st .
 

At the end of November (11/30/64) the 24^th saw action at Franklin, TN it proved to be one of the most severe battles in which the unit had been engaged. According to one Union General: "I will not absolutely say the 24^th Wisc. saved the battle of Franklin, but they had a great deal to do with saving it." The battle of Nashville (12/15 -16/64) concluded the combat history of the 24^th.
 

The 24^th spent the winter of 1864/'65 at Huntsville, AL. It was mustered out of the service and into history at Nashville, TN (6/10/65).
 

REGIMENTAL LOSSES: 

Officers Killed Or Mortally Wounded: 8; Officers Died Of Disease, Accidents, Etc.:3; Enlisted Men Killed Or Mortally Wounded: 103; Enlisted Men Died Of Disease, Accidents, Etc.:87.*

* NOTE: The 24^th was one of but a few regiments that actually lost more men from combat than it did disease, accidents, etc.

SOLDIER:
Residence: Milwaukee, WI   Age:
Enlisted/Enrolled: 8/5/62   Rank: Pvt. (database and another source say enlisted as cpl.)
Mustered In: 8/5/62
Discharged For Disability: 1/29/64
Highest Rank: Cprl.
Rank At Discharge: Cprl. 

PERSONAL/FAMILY HISTORY:
 

Edwin W. Binns was born in England. Available documents provide birth years of 1839 and 1840 with the latter being most prevalent. No birth month or date has been found.
 

Parents of Edwin were Joseph (b. 1814 ENG - d. 12/10/97 Battle Creek, MI) and Elizabeth (Nee Wild b. 1815 ENG - d. unk.) Binns.  Joseph, a "house carpenter" by trade, brought his family to the U.S. in 1842. 

As best as can be determined from available U.S. Census data, Edwin was the second of four children. Older than he was Mary (b. 1836 ENG). Younger than he were Maria (b. 1845 Milwaukee, WI) and Francis (b. 1847 Milwaukee, WI)
 

At which seaport the Binns entered America is not known. It appears, however, based on the birth state of the American born children, the family quite soon made its way to Milwaukee and put down roots. Two of the Binn children were born there, the family was there in 1850 and when on 8/5/62 Edwin enlisted in the U.S. Army Infantry, that was where he lived and enrolled.
 

Without access to Private Binns' military records, several aspects pertaining to his service tenure remain unclear. For one, some sources indicate he enlisted as a private. Others indicate corporal. For another, there are hints that some military files noted his first name as Edward, rather than Edwin. Finally, although we know he was wounded on 9/20/63 during the battle of Chickamauga, GA, we don't know the nature of the wounding. It appears, however that it was serious to the point where it likely lead to his receiving a disability discharge in January, 1864.
 

As is the case with many American Civil War veterans, where Edwin landed as a civilian is not known. The next source of information on him is the U.S. Census for 1870. At that point in time he was residing in Campbell Greene Co., MO. His occupation was "tinner."
 

Also, by 1870 Edwin was married. All we know about his wife is that her first name was Lymonia, her middle initial was J. and she had been born during 1848 in Illinois. Her family surname is not given.
 

Likely Edwin and Lymonia had married around 1866/'67 then settled in Iowa. This is based the fact that a daughter, Addie, had been born to them in Iowa during 1868. What had thereafter drawn the young family from Iowa to Missouri and when the move was made is not known.
 

By 1880 Edwin - now identifying his occupation as tinsmith - and Lymonia had quitted Missouri and were residing in Sioux Falls Minnehaha Co., in the Dakota Territory. Ominously, daughter Addie is not noted as a member of the household...........
 

It appears that by 3/31/84 Edwin had drawn upon his period of Civil War soldier service to apply for homestead land in what would become the state of South Dakota. Without access to proper files, the details of the homestead are somewhat unclear. The tract was likely 160 acres located in the east central county of Sanborn, SD. The patent (deed) on the land appears to have been awarded to him on 8/26/99. Thereafter, by June, 1890, the area had been designated as the community of Woonsocket Sanborn Co., SD.
 

While homesteading process above is unfolding. Lymonia disappears. Likely she died, but no details are available to confirm this.
 

Here there is a big gap in Edwin's life story. It is a gap that is difficult to fill without access to his pension and homestead records. 

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In 1899 Edwin remarried. His new bride was Anna "Annie" C. Brambilla (b. 5/1877 MN).This was Anna's first - and only marriage.
 

 Where the two had met and wed is not known, but by 1910 they were residing in Ward 2 Seattle King Co., WA. Tinsmith Edwin now referred to his occupation as "tinker."
 

As of 1920 Edwin - then retired - and Annie continued to reside in Seattle, King Co., WA. As of that year they were sharing their home with Edwin's older, widowed sister, Mary.
 

Edwin W. Binns died in Seattle King Co., WA on 4/22/25. Burial was/is in that city's Grand Army Of The Republic (G.A.R.) Cemetery located near the north end of Capitol Hill. 

On 5/28/1885 post-Civil War point in time in Dakota Territory Edwin applied for and had been granted a U.S. Government disability pension based on ailments or other physical debilities he traced back to his days of soldiering. In Edwin's case these debilities were sciatica and rheumatism problems. When the monthly stipends had begun and at what rate is not known. However, as of 5/1/20 he was receiving a tidy $50 per month.
 

Following Edwin's death Annie - then showing her address as 1146 Corwin Place, Seattle - requested on 5/18/1825 from the state of WA to keep receiving at least a portion of her late husband's stipend. While it appears the request was granted as of 10/4/25, without access to her widow's pension file the monthly amount is not known.
 

Annie died in Seattle King County, WA on 3/25/65. Her passing came just shy of her 88^th birthday. She was/is buried in the Seattle G.A. R. Cemetery beside Edwin.

Buried at Grand Army of the Republic Cemetery Seattle

Denise Ottoson
Seattle, WA