Pvt. Edmund West

Private Edmund West was born c.1829 in Franklin County, Virginia, and enlisted for a commitment of three years on Dec. 20, 1864, in Vicksburg, Mississippi. He was described as 35 years old, 5’7” tall, with colored complexion, black eyes, and black hair. His occupation was recorded as both a blacksmith and a farmer. At the time of his enlistment, he was paid $100 of a $200 bounty. The USCT made use of his blacksmith skills.

He served with the 52nd United States Colored Infantry, Co. G, which was organized on Sept. 1, 1863. He served with 248 other men in Company G.

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The 52nd United States Colored Infantry was an infantry regiment composed of African American troops recruited from Mississippi. On July 4, 1864, the 52nd fought a victorious battle at Coleman's Plantation in Jefferson County, Mississippi -- the first time that Black soldiers from Mississippi fought against white Confederates from the same state. During Pvt Edmund West’s enlistment, he would have served on garrison duty at Vicksburg and at other strategic points along the Mississippi River. He mustered out in May of 1866.

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1870 Census data indicated that Edmund West lived in Augusta County in Virginia. He was described as 45 years old with a 9-year-old son, also named Edmond West. The father and son lived with a young couple, Wyatt (25) and Mary (23) Scott. The men were both farm laborers, while Mary was a housekeeper. The three adults in the household did not read or write, but young Edmund was in school, and the census record noted that he did read and write.

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Few of the soldiers born in Franklin County, enlisting in Mississippi, made their way back to Virginia. But there are many reasons they might do so. Augusta County is just north of Franklin County and Edmund could have returned in search of family members long separated by the institution of slavery as well as the war. Edmund’s son, age 9 in 1870, would have been born in 1861, before emancipation and the Civil War.

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Contributors: Rebecca Steele, Toni Smith and Cathie Cummins