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TOWNSEND, Edward Davis, soldier, born in Boston, Massachusetts, 22 August, 1817. His paternal grandfather, David was a surgeon in the Massachusetts line during the Revolution, and his maternal grandfather was Elbridge Gerry. His father, David S. Townsend, was an officer of the United States army and lost a leg at the battle of Chrysler's Field in the war of 1812. Edward was educated at Boston Latin-school and at Harvard, and was graduated at the United States military academy in 1837. He became 2d lieutenant in the 2d artillery, 1 July, 1837, was adjutant in 1838-'46, promoted 1st lieutenant in 1838, assistant adjutant-general with brevet rank of captain in 1846, captain in 1848, brevet major in 1852, lieutenant-colonel, 7 March, 1861, colonel, 3 August, 1861, and adjutant-general with rank of brigadier-general, 22 February, 1869. He served during the Florida war in 1837-'8, on the northern frontier during the Canada border disturbances in 1838-'41, and thenceforward in the office of the adjutant-general of the army and as chief of staff to Lieutenant-General Scott in 1861. He was brevetted brigadier-general, United States army, 24 September, 1864, "for meritorious and faithful service during the rebellion," and major-general, 13 March, 1865, for "faithful, meritorious, and distinguished services in the adjutant-general's department during the rebellion." He was retired from active service, 15 June, 1880. During the entire civil war General Townsend was the principal executive officer of the war department, and was perhaps brought into more intimate personal contact with President Lincoln and Sec. Stanton than any other military official. As adjutant-general of the army he originated the plan of a United States military prison, urged legislation on the subject, and established the prison at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas General Townsend is a member of the Society of the Cincinnati. He is the author of "Catechism of the Bible--The Pentateuch" (New York, 1859); "Catechism of the Bible--Judges and Kings " (1862) ; and "Anecdotes of the Civil War in the United States" (1884).
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