Edward Colman

Edward Colman (July 28, 1828 – September 4, 1898) was an American engineer, farmer, politician and Union Army officer in the American Civil War. He served one term in the Wisconsin State Senate as a Republican.

Early life Colman was born on July 28, 1828, in Rochester, New York, a city co-founded by his grandfather, Colonel Nathaniel Rochester. As a young man, he trained as a civil engineer and worked on the Erie Canal. He moved to Empire, Wisconsin, in 1852, at age 24, and took up farming, though he continued to look for work as an engineer.

The 18th Wisconsin arrived at St. Louis on March 31, and then took barges up the Tennessee River to Pittsburg Landing, Tennessee. The regiment arrived around noon on Saturday, April 5, and were assigned to the command of General Benjamin Prentiss, marching the rest of the day to reach his headquarters, going into camp at dusk without supper. During the night, Confederate forces under Albert Sidney Johnston marched to within two miles of the Union lines and attacked near dawn on Sunday, April 6, the start of the Battle of Shiloh. The regiment was hastily arranged into battle lines. Initially, their left was supported by the 15th Michigan Volunteer Infantry Regiment, but they had not yet been supplied with ammunition and were forced to withdraw as a result.

Postbellum career Shortly after the war, Colman was appointed Superintendent of Public Property in Madison and served there for about one and a half years. After that he became involved in the banking industry and was, for nine years, treasurer of the Fond Du Lac Savings Bank.

On September 4, 1898, he died in Sheboygan, Wisconsin, while attending services at Grace Episcopal Church.

Personal life and family Colman was a grandson of Colonel Nathaniel Rochester, who was the namesake and one of the founders of Rochester, New York. His sister, Cornelia Colman, married Union Army General Edward S. Bragg, of the 6th Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry Regiment, who later became a U.S. Congressman.