Edgar L. Bumpus was born around 1838 in Massachusetts to Cephus and Amelia Bumpus. His father was a shoemaker and station agent who owned $1,000 of real estate and $300 of personal property in 1860. He grew up and attended school in Plympton, Massachusetts, and the family moved to Braintree, Massachusetts, sometime in the early 1850s. By 1860, Bumpus was working as a fireman.
He enlisted in the Union army on April 16, 1861, and mustered in as a sergeant in Company C of the 4th Massachusetts Militia Infantry alongside his brother Everett on April 22. The regiment spent the next few months on garrison duty around Fortress Monroe. He mustered out on July 22, 1861, but he reenlisted on September 30, 1861, and mustered into the 1st United States Engineer Battalion. He mustered out on May 16, 1862. Then, on August 5, 1862, he became a corporal in Company A of the 33rd Massachusetts Infantry.
He took part in the Battle of Chancellorsville, the Battle of Gettysburg, and the Atlanta campaign. He received a steady series of promotions: to sergeant on January 1, 1863, to 2nd lieutenant on June 20, 1863, to 1st lieutenant on March 9, 1864, and finally to captain. He died in the Battle of Resaca on May 15, 1864.
Image: Edgar L. Bumpus (courtesy Library of Congress)