Edward Dean was an adjutant general originally from Kansas who came to Massachusetts to fight to preserve the Union during the Civil War. Edward Dean was part of the 7th Regiment Massachusetts Infantry. There is little known on the background of Edward Dean, except for he was originally from Kansas and his father was Luther Dean. Edward Dean was a man who endured many battles during his service of his regiment. It is unknown whether he died during his service of preserving the Country or not; however, the battles Dean fought in while serving are known.

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            The 7th Regiment Massachusetts Infantry was a volunteer Infantry that only served for three years during the Civil War. Darius N. Couch, who was a West Point graduate, mostly recruited this infantry.  Darius first became the Colonel of this Infantry and later on, he had risen to a major general.  It was recruited in Taunton, MA on June 15, 1861, and was composed of men from the Bristol County area. The 7th Regiment left Massachusetts for the first time on July 12, 1861 to travel to Washington, D.C.  The infantry’s permanent camp, Brightwood, was not reached until August 6, after it had joined with the 10th Massachusetts Infantry, the 2nd Rhode Island Infantry, and the 36th New York Infantry.  Dean’s Infantry soon joined with the Army of the Potomac and headed toward Yorktown.  The siege of Yorktown lasted from April 5th to May 4th.  Dean was involved in fighting with his Infantry during battles at Yorktown, Williamsburg, Fair Oaks, and Oak Grove; which took place near Seven Pines on June 25th.  While being involved with these battles, his Infantry left to head towards South Mountain and Antietam, in which the battle took place on September 18th, however Dean’s Infantry was not involved in this battle. On December 13, 1862, Dean and the rest of his Infantry were involved in a battle at Fredericksburg; there were some casualties, but not many. On May 3, 1863, Dean’s Infantry along with other Infantries, were involved in the capture of Marye’s Heights and then were involved in the battle at Salem Heights were they experienced many deaths.  From July 2-4th, the 7th Regiment Massachusetts Infantry was also involved in the Battle at Gettysburg but, fortunately, experienced no deaths.  The Infantry went on to be involved in the capture of Rappahannock’s Station on November 7, 1863 and in the Mine Run Campaign, from November 26th through December 2nd. On May 8, 1864, the 7th regiment was able to capture 32 men from a Georgia Regiment. On the starting day Spotsylvania, May 8, 1864, they joined a movement to the North Anna and the Cold Harbor Rivers.  Finally on June 15, 1864, the Infantry’s terms of service expired and the Regiment withdrew from the Civil War, and the remaining men returned home to Taunton, MA. The 7th Regiment Massachusetts Infantry lost during their service, four Officers, seventy-six enlisted men were killed or mortally wounded, and finally two officers and seventy-two enlisted men because of disease. In all, the Regiment lost a total of 154 men during their three-year service of the Civil War.

 

          Edward Dean and the other men of the 7th Regiment Massachusetts Infantry endured cold winters, long battles, and heavy casualties. A few battles that the Infantry was involved in were major parts and/or turning parts of the Civil War, such as the Battle at Gettysburg.  The capture of 32 men from a Georgia Regiment was also a major accomplishment for the 7th Regiment Massachusetts Infantry and for the preservation of the Union. However, Edward Dean’s life after the Civil War is virtually unknown; he may not have even made it through the three years of service. However, Edward Dean and his service to the 7th Regiment Massachusetts Infantry and to the Union will always be remembered.