Divided Loyalties
Thomas Boyd Edelin
Born in Maryland September 1833, son of Captain James N. Edelin, U. S. M. C. and Margaret McPhearson Tolson [married 28 Dec 1829, Prince George's County]
Father, 1st Capt., Navy Yard, Washington, DC
June, 1836, Father, Capt., Fort Mitchell, Alabama
July, 1838, Father, Capt., On Board USS Frigate MacEdonian
December, 1841, Father, Capt., Marine Barracks, Washington
August, 1846, Father, Capt., On Board The US Ship Independence
June, 1847, Father, Capt./Major, On Board The USS Razer Independence
January, 1848, Father, Major, On Board Store Ship "Erie"
December, 1848, Father, Major, Gosport [Portsmouth], Virginia
1850 Federal Census, Student, age 16, Boarding School, Fairfax, Va.
[Would assume he attended, graduated College, no records however]
Accepts appointment as 2nd Lieutenant, 7th Infantry, June 11, 1855 at Norfolk, Va., age 21, resident Norfolk, Va. His father, Major, USMC, commanding at Gosport, Va.
September, 1855, Fort Smith, Arkansas
November - December 1855, Fort Arbuckle, Choctaw Nation, Oaklahoma
January - December 1856, Fort Arbuckle
January - December 1857, Fort Arbuckle, Choctaw Nation, Oaklahoma
Ca 1857 he married Isabella Lee Whiting [born ca. 1839] of Maryland, daughter of Capt. D. P. Whiting, USA, USMA 1828
March/April 1858, Jefferson Barracks, Missouri
Father in law Capt. Daniel P. Whiting 7th Infantry, also stationed at Jefferson Barracks
September/December 1858, Crittenden, Floyd, Utah Territory
January - December 1859, Camp Floyd
January - April 1860, Camp Floyd
February 18, 1860, Camp Floyd, applies for a 6 month leave of absence Granted April 20
June 18, 1860 Resident, Election District 5, Prince Georges, Maryland, Piscataway Post Office, Owner 9 slaves [appear to be domestic staff] Farmer, age 24, Value of Real Estate $5,000, Personal Estate 9,000
September 10, 1860, Washington City, applies for an additional 6 month leave of absence beyond the Nov. 1 expiration. Reason, health of his child. Approved Sept. 14, 1860
January 1, 1861 At Portsmouth, Va. reporting he'll be in Norfolk, Va. for the next 30 days
May 7, 1861, Washington City, applies for a Captaincy in one of the new Regiments of Cavalry, signs as 1st Lt.
May 23, 1861, Washington City, DC, I have the honor to resign my commission as 1st Lieutenant in the 7th Regiment United States Infantry, accepted May 30
Father, Lt. Col, stationed at Philadelphia
June 1861 - March 1863 ????
April 19, 1863 [near Chesterfield, Va.] recommended for appointment as 1st Lieutenant and assigned to LCol. John J. Garnett's Battalion of Artillery
May 23, 1863, Appointed from Maryland as 1st Lt. CSA to report to LCol. Garnett, Commanding Arty. Battn. ANV
August 31, 1863, father, Lt. Col. James N. Edelin, USMC, Marine Barracks, Washington, DC, joined August 20, 1863, was detached this date
November 4, 1863, Father in law, Colonel D. P. Whiting, USA retired
Nov. 7, 1863, relieved from duty with Garnett's/Richardson's Artl. Battalion [aka Battalion A, 1st Corps Artillery] and will ____ to Brig. Genl R. M. B. Young for duty as Acting ____ of his Brigade
December 15, 1863, Lt. Edelin reported as serving as AIG to Butler's Brigade
January 5, 1864 assigned as Capt., Brigade Inspector to Young's Brigade, Cav. Corps. ANV
Boyd Edelin, Captain and A. A. G., General & Staff Officer, appointed February 4, 1864, to take rank January 13, accepted March 12, 1864, Maryland resident
A. I. G. to Brig. Gen. P. M. B. Young. 1863 to November 4, 1864; afterwards colonel of 6th North Carolina Cavalry.
March 5, 1864, ordered to report to Gen. P. M. B. Young as A.I.G.
June 4, 1864, recommended for promotion to Major, presently Insp. General, Capt. Boyd Edelin, who now commands two Battalions of my Brigade serving with BGen. N. P[?] Butler, P.M.B Young, BGen.
September 14-17, 1864, Gen. Wade Hampton says Capt. Edelin volunteered for the occasion, aided me by Acting on my staff in his September 27, 1864 report on operations to the rear of the enemy
November 4, 1864, Capt., A. A. G. assigned to Young's Brigade, ANV
November 11, 1864, recommended for promotion to Lt. Col. & command of the 16th North Carolina Cavalry Battalion
December 7, 1864, appointed Lt. Col., Temp. rank, to report to Gen. R. E. Lee for service 16th N. C. Battn. Cav.
March 27, 1865, pens a private letter to [?] noting his being relieved and sent to North Carolina to recruit a regiment ??
March 30, 1865, captured Dinwiddie C. H., Va.
March 30/31, 1865, admitted 2nd Div., 2nd A. C. Hosp., A. of P., Hatcher's Run, Va., Sprand Anckle [sic], sent to Provost Guard
April 12, 1865, released from Old Capitol Prison, Washington, D. C. having subscribed to Oath of Allegiance to the United States
Post war resided on his farm in Maryland
October 24, 1865, recorded in the New-York Times as among ex-officers of the US Army, whom resigned to enter the Rebel service having applied for pardon
October 9, 1867 swears to Amnesty Oath, Prince George County, Maryland
September, 1870 Resident of Piscataway, Prince Georges, Maryland, Farming, age 34, Value of Real Estate $7,000, Personal Estate $1300
June 10, 1880, Resident of Washington, D. C., Farmer
1896 Retired from the United States Indian Commission
1900 Resident of Culpeper, Virginia
Saturday, February 8, 1902 7:30 a. m., died at his home in Culpepper, Va. having been an invalid for a number of years. Survived by his wife, two sons and three daughters
February 10, 1902, Interned at Congressional Cemetery, Washington, D. C., 3 p.m. Plot R50/69
Isabelle Lee Edelin died January 27, 1920 in Washington, DC at the home of her son Daniel W. Edelin, buried alongside her husband in Plot R50/69