Edward Brown was born in Albemarle County, Virginia, around 1839. Brown enlisted as a private at City Point, Virginia, on May 18, 1864, and mustered in to Company H of the 5th USCT Infantry Regiment seven days later. His enlistment papers gave his occupation as cooper and described him as 5 feet, 6 1/2 inches tall, with black hair, eyes, and skin. Brown enlisted as a hospital attendant for a period of three years, but he deserted on September 2, 1864, near Deep Bottom, Virginia. He disappears from the historical record after his desertion.