Edmund Underwood

Edmund Underwood ( 1826–1863) was a native of Pennsylvania who served in the Mexican American War and then as an officer in the U. S. Army.

Biography He was an officer in the 4th Infantry Regiment various posts in California and Oregon Territory and was a Major in the Union Army with the 18th Infantry Regiment during the early part of the American Civil War.

Underwood had served with distinction in the Mexican American War and on March 3, 1848, was offered and received a commission of Second Lieutenant in the 4th Infantry Regiment of the U. S. Army. In 1852, as a 2nd Lieutenant in the 4th Infantry Regiment he was sent to the Pacific Coast via Panama. Underwood with his wife served at Fort Humboldt in 1853. While there his first son Edmund Beardsley Underwood was born at the fort. Promoted 1st Lieutenant March 24, 1853,

In 1857, Captain Underwood returned to the east for a time. When he returned to the west coast in the fall of 1858 he was sent to Fort Humboldt where the Bald Hills War was beginning. Captain Underwood led a detachment from Fort Humboldt to a post at Pardee's Ranch where they escorted pack trains over the Bald Hills to protect them from the attacks by the Whilkut. Later, Captain Underwood established Fort Gaston among the Hupa people on the Trinity River and commanded its garrison, a detachment from the U. S. 4th Infantry.

At the beginning of the American Civil War, on May 14, 1861 Underwood was promoted to Major in command of the 2nd Battalion, U. S. 18th Infantry Regiment,