Edward Brackett
by Captain Martin Binney.
Edward Brackett was the son of Thomas O. Brackett, of Somerville, Mass. He was a graduate of Harvard College, and was a student in the Harvard Law School when he enlisted, in April, 1861, in Captain George O. Brastow's company (I), Somerville Light Infantry, of the Fifth regiment, Massachusetts Volunteers (First Three Months Volunteers). He was in the skirmish at Wolf's Run Shoals, Va., July 18, 1861, while on the march to ‘Bull Run,’ Va. Brackett was in this skirmish (with the writer of this sketch), and he behaved in most gallant and intrepid form. The men in this skirmish composed ten from each company, and were in charge of Captain Messer, of the Haverhill company.This detachment was thrown out on a side road to protect the left flank of the marching column. While the detachment was fording the creek—Wolf's Run—we came upon a body of the enemy and received their fire, and returned the compliment. Brackett stood in the middle of the stream, up to his waist in mud and water, with others, and loaded and fired his rifle, until the enemy were repulsed, when the detachment retired, and, after a long night march, overtook the army about midnight of the nineteenth of July. After much fatigue and hunger, we located our regiment (Fifth Massachusetts) on the top of Centreville Heights, near ‘Bull Run,’ or Manassas Junction. On the morning of July 21, 1861, we started for the battlefield, and were in this battle until afternoon.
Brackett, throughout this battle, showed great gallantry, and made himself very conspicuous by his coolness and bravery while under fire. [24]
After the battle of Bull Run (Sunday, July 21, 1861), the regiment marched to Washington, and it arrived in Boston, and was there mustered out of service August 1, 1861.
