Townsend, E. D. (Edward Davis), 1817-1893

Townsend was Assistant Adjutant General during the Civil War. He was a graduate of the U.S. Military Academy (1837) and served in the Florida War as a Lt. Col. In 1861 he was promoted to Colonel. From Nov. 1861 to March 1862 he served in the Adj. Gen.'s Office. He was promoted to Acting Adj. Gen. of the Army on March 23, 1862. He retired in 1880. (For further information see his biography in the Civil War Dictionary.).

From the description of United States Colored Troops Circulars, 1864. (Clarke Historical Library). WorldCat record id: 40905288

American army officer.

From the description of Telegram signed : [Washington, D. C.], addressed to General Meade, 1863 Sept. 12. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 270572941

From the description of Letter signed : "Adjutant General's Office," Washington, D.C., to Thomas A. Harris, at Fort McHenry, Baltimore, 1865 Jul. 18. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 270572923

From the description of Report signed : [Washington], 1870 Oct. 25. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 270572920

From the description of Letter signed : "Adjutant General's Office," Washington, D.C., to the Commanding General, Department of Dakota, in Saint Paul, Minnesota, 1876 Feb. 18. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 270572931

From the description of Letter signed : Washington, to Thomas H. Talbot, Asst. Attorney-General, 1870 Jul. 15. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 270572916

From the description of Autograph letter signed : "Adjutant General's Office" Washington, D.C., to Commodore A.A. Harwood, 1863 Sept. 12. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 270572912

Edward Davis Townsend was principal executive officer of the War Department during the Civil War and was in close contact with President Lincoln and Secretary of War Edwin M. Stanton. He was chosen to represent the Army at the various funerals for Lincoln. As Adjutant General of the Army, he also was responsible for developing the plan for a United States military prison, resulting in the establishment of the prison at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.

From the description of Edward Davis Townsend Collection, ca. 1864-1878. (University of California, Santa Barbara). WorldCat record id: 234322406

Born in Boston, Mass., Edward D. Townsend had a long career in the U.S. Army, serving during the Florida war in 1837-1838, on the northern frontier during the Canada border disturbances in 1838-1841, and in the office of the adjutant-general of the Army and as chief of staff to Lieutenant-General Winfield Scott in 1861. During the Civil War General Townsend was the principal executive officer of the War Dept. and had frequent contact with President Abraham Lincoln and Secretary of State Edwin M. Stanton. In 1869 he was breveted adjutant-general with rank of brigadier-general. He retired from active service in 1880.

From the description of Edward D. Townsend letter, 1865 May 30. (Louisiana State University). WorldCat record id: 230930277

Adjutant General of the U.S. Army and principal executive officer of the War Department during the Civil War; Secretary of War Edwin M. Stanton chose Townsend to represent the army at the various funerals for Lincoln and other events such as this program at Fort Sumter; Townsend was an 1837 graduate of the USMA (West Point, N.Y.).

From the description of Description of ceremonies at Fort Sumter, 1865 May 28. (University of South Carolina). WorldCat record id: 30846506

American army officer; Adjutant General.

From the description of Letter signed : Washington, D.C., to an unidentified recipient, 1871 Jan. 11. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 270572936

Edward Davis Townsend, son of David S. Townsend and Eliza Gerry Townsend and grandson of Elbridge Gerry. A West Point graduate (1837), he served in the Florida War and in 1846 was transferred to the adjutant general's department. In 1851 he was assigned to the Pacific Division and served on the Pacific Coast until February 1856. During the Civil War, Townsend was adjutant general to Winfield Scott, and in 1862 became U.S. Adjutant-General. After the war, he supervised the compilation of the documents published as the War of the Rebellion : Official Records. He retired in 1880.

From the description of Papers of Edward Davis Townsend, 1761-1928 (bulk 1837-1879). (Huntington Library, Art Collections & Botanical Gardens). WorldCat record id: 122383374

United States Army lieutenant, second Seminole War campaign.

From the description of Letter, 1837 December 21, Fort New Smyrna, Florida, to his mother, Eliza Gerry Townsend, Boston, Massachusetts [manuscript]. (University of Virginia). WorldCat record id: 647823258

Assistant Adjutant General during the Civil War.

From the description of Papers, 1863-1867. (Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library). WorldCat record id: 55941355

"Townsend was principal executive officer of the War Department during the Civil War and was in close contact with President Lincoln and Secretary of War Edwin M. Stanton. He was chosen to represent the army at the various funerals for Lincoln. As adjutant general of the army, he also was responsible for developing the plan for a United States military prison, resulting in the establishment of the prison at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas." -- "Edward Davis Townsend Collection." Online Archives of California. http://content.cdlib.org/ (Retrieved May 20, 2009)

Henry W. Cleveland "acted as private secretary to Vice President Alexander H. Stephens of the Confederate Government during the civil war. He also was Mr. Stephens's biographer. He served in the Confederate Army and was on President Jefferson Davis's staff." -- "Cleveland Library Sale." New York Times. May 3, 1908. http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free (Retrieved May 20, 2009)

From the description of E.D. Townsend letter, 1884. (University of Georgia). WorldCat record id: 328300544