Born at Fort Vancouver, (across the river from Portland, Oregon) in Washington Territory, the son of Brevet Major Theodore J. Eckerson, he was given a direct appointment by the President to 2nd Lt, Company L, 5th US Cavalry, on 2 Dec 1872.
Promoted to Brevet 1st Lt on 20 Oct 1873, for valor against the Apache Indians at Mazatzal Mountains. Arrested at Fort Grant, found guilty by General Court-martial (charges unknown), and dismissed from service on 15 July 1875.
With aid of friends, appointed 2nd Lt, 7th Cavalry, on 2 May 1876, by direction of President Grant. Appointed 1st Lt, Company D, on 25 June 1876. In the field commanding Company F, from August to Nov 1876. In winter station, Fort Abraham Lincoln, ND, until April 1877. In the 1878 Nez Perce Campaign. During the Battle of Snake Creek, he commanded 3 companies, after Captains Godfrey and Moylan were wounded.
Court-martialed again in 1878 for conduct unbecoming an officer and gentleman, violation of the 38th Article of War, and conduct prejudicial to good order and discipline (drunk and disorderly). Dismissed from military service on 30 June 1878. Taught school in Sioux City, Iowa for a year. Joined his brother, Lt Theodore H. Eckerson, 19th Infantry, at Fort Garland, CO, in 1879, working as a bookkeeper and under-sheriff.
Married Sophie M. Bergsland, a "domestic" in the fort's mess hall, on 14 Feb 1882, at Hays, Kansas. Two children: Regina (born 4 Dec 1882) and Theodore John (born 22 Oct 1884). Died at age 35 of malaria. Note that the grave marker gives his birth date as April 9, 1853, whereas Army Records gives it as March 8, 1850.
Obituary – The Hays City Sentinel August 20, 1885, p. 4
DIED: On Monday evening August 17th, after a protracted illness, Edwin P. Eckerson, late Lieutenant in the Seventh and Fisth (sic) Cavalry.
Lieut. Eckerson was born in 1854, at Vancouver's Barracks, and died in the 32nd year of his age. He leaves a young wife and two little children to mourn his untimely death. He had seen considerable frontier service and in army circles bore the reputation of being a brave and gallant soldier.
He came to this city about four or five years since, and for time was employed in the quarter-master's office at the Post – he having retired from the service in his official rank in 1879. Those who knew him best say there was much in the character of the man to admire. His family have the sympathy of this community.
Promoted to Brevet 1st Lt on 20 Oct 1873, for valor against the Apache Indians at Mazatzal Mountains. Arrested at Fort Grant, found guilty by General Court-martial (charges unknown), and dismissed from service on 15 July 1875.
With aid of friends, appointed 2nd Lt, 7th Cavalry, on 2 May 1876, by direction of President Grant. Appointed 1st Lt, Company D, on 25 June 1876. In the field commanding Company F, from August to Nov 1876. In winter station, Fort Abraham Lincoln, ND, until April 1877. In the 1878 Nez Perce Campaign. During the Battle of Snake Creek, he commanded 3 companies, after Captains Godfrey and Moylan were wounded.
Court-martialed again in 1878 for conduct unbecoming an officer and gentleman, violation of the 38th Article of War, and conduct prejudicial to good order and discipline (drunk and disorderly). Dismissed from military service on 30 June 1878. Taught school in Sioux City, Iowa for a year. Joined his brother, Lt Theodore H. Eckerson, 19th Infantry, at Fort Garland, CO, in 1879, working as a bookkeeper and under-sheriff.
Married Sophie M. Bergsland, a "domestic" in the fort's mess hall, on 14 Feb 1882, at Hays, Kansas. Two children: Regina (born 4 Dec 1882) and Theodore John (born 22 Oct 1884). Died at age 35 of malaria. Note that the grave marker gives his birth date as April 9, 1853, whereas Army Records gives it as March 8, 1850.
Obituary – The Hays City Sentinel August 20, 1885, p. 4
DIED: On Monday evening August 17th, after a protracted illness, Edwin P. Eckerson, late Lieutenant in the Seventh and Fisth (sic) Cavalry.
Lieut. Eckerson was born in 1854, at Vancouver's Barracks, and died in the 32nd year of his age. He leaves a young wife and two little children to mourn his untimely death. He had seen considerable frontier service and in army circles bore the reputation of being a brave and gallant soldier.
He came to this city about four or five years since, and for time was employed in the quarter-master's office at the Post – he having retired from the service in his official rank in 1879. Those who knew him best say there was much in the character of the man to admire. His family have the sympathy of this community.
Born at Fort Vancouver, (across the river from Portland, Oregon) in Washington Territory, the son of Brevet Major Theodore J. Eckerson, he was given a direct appointment by the President to 2nd Lt, Company L, 5th US Cavalry, on 2 Dec 1872.
Promoted to Brevet 1st Lt on 20 Oct 1873, for valor against the Apache Indians at Mazatzal Mountains. Arrested at Fort Grant, found guilty by General Court-martial (charges unknown), and dismissed from service on 15 July 1875.
With aid of friends, appointed 2nd Lt, 7th Cavalry, on 2 May 1876, by direction of President Grant. Appointed 1st Lt, Company D, on 25 June 1876. In the field commanding Company F, from August to Nov 1876. In winter station, Fort Abraham Lincoln, ND, until April 1877. In the 1878 Nez Perce Campaign. During the Battle of Snake Creek, he commanded 3 companies, after Captains Godfrey and Moylan were wounded.
Court-martialed again in 1878 for conduct unbecoming an officer and gentleman, violation of the 38th Article of War, and conduct prejudicial to good order and discipline (drunk and disorderly). Dismissed from military service on 30 June 1878. Taught school in Sioux City, Iowa for a year. Joined his brother, Lt Theodore H. Eckerson, 19th Infantry, at Fort Garland, CO, in 1879, working as a bookkeeper and under-sheriff.
Married Sophie M. Bergsland, a "domestic" in the fort's mess hall, on 14 Feb 1882, at Hays, Kansas. Two children: Regina (born 4 Dec 1882) and Theodore John (born 22 Oct 1884). Died at age 35 of malaria. Note that the grave marker gives his birth date as April 9, 1853, whereas Army Records gives it as March 8, 1850.
Obituary – The Hays City Sentinel August 20, 1885, p. 4
DIED: On Monday evening August 17th, after a protracted illness, Edwin P. Eckerson, late Lieutenant in the Seventh and Fisth (sic) Cavalry.
Lieut. Eckerson was born in 1854, at Vancouver's Barracks, and died in the 32nd year of his age. He leaves a young wife and two little children to mourn his untimely death. He had seen considerable frontier service and in army circles bore the reputation of being a brave and gallant soldier.
He came to this city about four or five years since, and for time was employed in the quarter-master's office at the Post – he having retired from the service in his official rank in 1879. Those who knew him best say there was much in the character of the man to admire. His family have the sympathy of this community.
Promoted to Brevet 1st Lt on 20 Oct 1873, for valor against the Apache Indians at Mazatzal Mountains. Arrested at Fort Grant, found guilty by General Court-martial (charges unknown), and dismissed from service on 15 July 1875.
With aid of friends, appointed 2nd Lt, 7th Cavalry, on 2 May 1876, by direction of President Grant. Appointed 1st Lt, Company D, on 25 June 1876. In the field commanding Company F, from August to Nov 1876. In winter station, Fort Abraham Lincoln, ND, until April 1877. In the 1878 Nez Perce Campaign. During the Battle of Snake Creek, he commanded 3 companies, after Captains Godfrey and Moylan were wounded.
Court-martialed again in 1878 for conduct unbecoming an officer and gentleman, violation of the 38th Article of War, and conduct prejudicial to good order and discipline (drunk and disorderly). Dismissed from military service on 30 June 1878. Taught school in Sioux City, Iowa for a year. Joined his brother, Lt Theodore H. Eckerson, 19th Infantry, at Fort Garland, CO, in 1879, working as a bookkeeper and under-sheriff.
Married Sophie M. Bergsland, a "domestic" in the fort's mess hall, on 14 Feb 1882, at Hays, Kansas. Two children: Regina (born 4 Dec 1882) and Theodore John (born 22 Oct 1884). Died at age 35 of malaria. Note that the grave marker gives his birth date as April 9, 1853, whereas Army Records gives it as March 8, 1850.
Obituary – The Hays City Sentinel August 20, 1885, p. 4
DIED: On Monday evening August 17th, after a protracted illness, Edwin P. Eckerson, late Lieutenant in the Seventh and Fisth (sic) Cavalry.
Lieut. Eckerson was born in 1854, at Vancouver's Barracks, and died in the 32nd year of his age. He leaves a young wife and two little children to mourn his untimely death. He had seen considerable frontier service and in army circles bore the reputation of being a brave and gallant soldier.
He came to this city about four or five years since, and for time was employed in the quarter-master's office at the Post – he having retired from the service in his official rank in 1879. Those who knew him best say there was much in the character of the man to admire. His family have the sympathy of this community.
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