Pvt Edward P. Wells

WELLS, Edward P. Pvt. 1844- 1904, Co. H. 20th. Regiment, 1st NY ~Lincoln Cavalry~

Edward Wells of Stevens county, is now one of the leading ranchers and stockmen in the valley. The son of Marcus and Lucinda Wells, natives of New York, he was born July 8, 1844, at Enterprise, Indiana. Heenlisted in the Twelfth Ohio Infantry, at the age of sixteen. At the end of his three months' term of service he re-enlisted in Company K, First New York Cavalry, under Colonel Schurz. By President Lincoln this regiment was given the name of the First Lincoln Cavalry. In this regiment he served until the close of the war. He was a scout under Gen. George A. Custer, and in this capacity was frequently at General Sheridan's headquarters. He participated in the following engagements: Cross Lanes, First Bull Run, Chancellorville, Antietam, South Mountain, Lookout Mountain, White House Landing, Winchester, Cedar Creek, Staunton, Lynchburg, Petersburg, Five Forks and a number of smaller battles and skirmishes. He was at the surrender of General Lee at Appamattox Court House, and then, returning to Washington D.C., participated in the Grand Review. Having imbibed a taste for military life he went to Governor's Island, New York, and after his discharge from the volunteers, on July 15, 1865, he re-enlisted in the regular army, and served as drillmaster at Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania. He served three years in the Seventh Cavalry, re-enlisted for five years, and was first sergeant of Troop E until November, 1873. Subsequently he re-enlisted for five years, twice, and was finally mustered out at Fort Spokane, November 30, 1883, after a continuous service of twenty-three years. Mr. Wells was married on May 18, 1894 to Sadie E.Cook, widow of Thomas Cook, and a native of Iowa.

SOURCE: ftp://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/wa/stevens/bios/bioew3.txt