Edward D. Muhlenberg

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[edit] Edward D. Muhlenberg

Edward D. Muhlenberg had the unique experience of commanding an artillery brigade at the Battle of Gettysburg while only a lieutenant.

Muhlenberg was born in Pennsylvania of a prominent family. By the outbreak of the American Civil War, he was a second lieutenant in the 4th U. S. Artillery. He was promoted to the rank of first lieutenant on October 22, 1861. Muhlenberg served with Battery F of that regiment at the First Battle of Winchester, May 24-May 25, 1862. He commanded the battery at the Battle of Cedar Mountain. Muhlenberg retained command at the Battle of Antietam, where he served in the artillery of XII Corps under Capt. Clermont L. Best.

Muhlenberg commanded his battery while serving with first division, XII Corps, at the Battle of Chancellorsville. When Capt. Best became inspector general of the corps on the staff of Maj. Gen. Henry W. Slocum, Muhlenberg assumed command of the artillery brigade. Although only a first lieutenant, he was senior to the commanders of the other batteries. (Sylvanus Rugg commanded Battery F while Muhlenberg commanded the brigade.) In the role of brigade commander, Muhlenberg served at the Battle of Gettysburg, especially in the defense of Culp’s Hill. Slocum did, however, assign Claremont Best to oversee deployment of the corps’ guns on the morning of July 3, 1863, when a counter attack was made on Confederate forces occupying part of the hill. Edward Muhlenberg became quartermaster of the 4th Artillery on August 13, 1864. He resigned on May 8, 1869.

Muhlenberg became a civil engineer. He served as the engineer of the 1871 Yellowstone survey. His appointment was blamed on Senator Simon Cameron, and he was faulted for having a drinking problem. When he died of Brights Disease in Lancaster, Pennsylvania in March of 1883, Muhlenberg was described by a newspaper report as a retired major of artillery. ^[1]