Lt. Edward Granniss's Short Military Career Ended at Gettysburg (Tombstone Tuesday)

Via Fold3.

Sergeant Edward J. Granniss enlisted in Company B, 2nd Battalion, Georgia Infantry at Macon, Georgia 20 April 1861. He was just twenty years old. About a year later, after a couple of letters of recommendation from his superiors, Granniss was elected 2nd Lieutenant. Not long after, he obtained the rank of 1st Lieutenant. The beginning of 1863 found young Edward at home in Georgia on furlough. He returned to his unit in time to be present for the perilous Battle of Gettysburg. This battle Lt. Granniss ultimately would not survive. He died 7 July 1863 of wounds received on likely the second day of battle.¹

Son, Edward J. (1841-1863)
Killed at the Battle of Gettysburg

"He is well drilled, prompt, faithful and of fine habits and it would be great gratification to his many friends in Macon if he were promoted."²

"He has sustained a moral character for many years and will fill a commissioned office with credit to the country."³

"In 1863, the church sustained other serious losses. "War bowed his sable plume" and Edward J. Granniss, George Pierce Payne and George W. Ross were among the fallen. The two former were young men of most lovable qualities, and of great promise."⁴

Edward J. Granniss was a son of E. C. and Huldah E. Granniss.⁵ Young Edward (1841 - 1863) rests in Eglantine Square of Rose Hill Cemetery.

Gettysburg After Battle Report

Report of Capt. Charles J. Moffett, Second Georgia Battalion.

Camp near Bunker Hill, Va., July 18, 1863.
Sir: The Second Georgia Battalion, Georgia Volunteers, was placed in line of battle on the left of the Forty-eighth Georgia Regt., of Brig. Gen. A. R. Wright's brigade, about 11 a. m. on July 2, in front of heights occupied by the enemy on the south side of Gettysburg, Pa.

At 5 p. m. on the 2d instant, Maj. George W. Ross, commanding the battalion, was ordered by Gen. Wright to throw the battalion forward and to deploy as skirmishers, covering the front of the brigade and re-enforce the skirmishers already in position. Having deployed as skirmishers, the battalion was ordered to drive the enemy's skirmishers, and take possession of a fence and bottom occupied by them. This they did, with great gallantry on the part of officers and men, in the face of a pretty heavy fire, driving the enemy before them. In this position a heavy skirmish continued about one hour, during which time many men of this command were wounded.

About 6 p. m. the brigade of Gen. Perry advanced upon our right. At the same time, Gen. Wright's brigade came sweeping over the skirmish line. In the absence of orders, or any definite instructions in the event of an advance of our forces, the skirmishers
did not assemble, but went forward with the line as it moved past them. In this way the battalion was scattered along the whole line of the brigade, and some of the men went into action with Gen. Perry's (Florida) brigade, it pressing upon our right. This being the case, the battalion did not perform a separate and united part in the charge upon the enemy's position. Under a heavy fire from the enemy's artillery and infantry, the battalion advanced to the batteries of the enemy, and assisted in driving away their cannoneers, capturing their cannon, and engaging their infantry. Our numbers (of the brigade) rapidly decreasing under the heavy fire, not being re-enforced, and the column on our right giving way, we were forced to retire, and give up the position and advantage gained by Gen. Wright's brigade.

In this charge we lost many valuable officers and men. Maj. Ross was wounded near the brick house while endeavoring to turn the heads of [the captured] artillery horses toward our lines. The gallant Capt. C. R. Redding was left upon the field, supposed to be dead. By the official return of casualties heretofore made, you will see our losses.

The battalion rallied upon the field, and was ordered to the position occupied before they were deployed as skirmishers. At this place they remained with the brigade the night of the 2d instant.⁶


Footnotes:
1. "Compiled Service Records of Confederate Soldiers Who Served in Organizations from the State of Georgia," database & images, Fold3 (http://www.fold3.com : accessed March 2013), entry for Edward J. Granniss.
2. "Compiled Service Records of Confederate Soldiers Who Served in Organizations from the State of Georgia," database & images, Fold3, entry for Edward J. Granniss.
3. "Compiled Service Records of Confederate Soldiers Who Served in Organizations from the State of Georgia," database & images, Fold3, entry for Edward J. Granniss.
4. Mulberry Street Methodist Church, Semi-Centennial Exercises: Memorials of Methodism, in Macon, Georgia, from 1828 to 1878 (Macon, Georgia: J. W. Burke & Co, 1879), 36; digital images, Internet Archive (http://www.archive.org : accessed 18 March 2013).
5. Rose Hill Cemetery (Macon, Bibb County, Georgia). Granniss Family marker, Eglantine Square section; personally read, 2013.
6. "American Civil War Regiments," database, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed March 2013), 2nd Infantry Battalion Georgia.