Where can I find the whereabouts of Colonel E. C. Mason during the Civil War in Minnesota in 1863?

I have an obituary of my great grandmother that states, “During the Civil War she was attached to the family of Col. Mason while he commanded Fort Ridgely, and she was one of the women whose heroism at the time of the Indian onslaught upon the fort has post into history.” I also have a book given to her that is signed “From Col. E. C. Mason” with “To Josephine Caroline Nelson born 1845” then the dates 1863 and 1870, hand written by Mason, I presume.





Nowhere can I find this Colonel in Minnesota during the Santee Sioux Uprising at Fort Ridgely, 22 August 1862, nor any time during the Civil War for that matter! (I was able to find a picture of his huge mansion near Fort Snelling, MN, though at www.mnhs.org)





Dead end! I'm searching for historical accounts of my great grandmother Josephine Caroline Nelson, b. Nov 1845 Telemark, Norway; m. 1870 MN to Peter C Hansen; d. 13 Feb 1904 Minneapolis, MN.

Where can I find the whereabouts of Colonel E. C. Mason during the Civil War in Minnesota in 1863?
I do not think he was in the Souix uprising. Mason was commanding troops with the Army of the Potomac during the uprisings. After the war he remained in the regular army and did fight indians on a number of occasions. I believe Fort Ridgley remained an Army garrison until the 1880's/90's.


He was a colonel in the regular army from 1888-95. So I would date the inscriptions from this period. He was probably commander of the 3rd U.S. Infantry at that time.








Mason, Edwin Cooley. Ohio. Ohio Capt 2 Ohio infantry 29 Apr 1861; honorably mustered out 24 June 1861; capt 17 U.S. infantry 14 May 1861; Col. 7 Me infantry 22 Aug 1861; honorably mustered out of volunteers service 5 Sept 1864; col 176 Ohio infantry 23 Sept 1864; honorably mustered out of volunteers service 14 June 1865 tr from 17 U.S. to 35 U.S. infantry 21 Sept 1866; unassd 12 Aug 1869; assd to 20 U.S. infantry 14 Oct 1869 maj 21 U.S. infantry 5 Sept 1871; It Col 4 U.S. infantry 19 May 1881; col 3 U.S. Infantry 24 Apr 1888; bvt maj Dec 1862 for gallant and meritorious service in the battle of Fredericksburg Va; Lt col 6 May 1864 for gallant and meritorious service in the battle of the Wilderness Va; col 10 May 1864 for gallantl and meritorious service in the battle of Spotsylvania Va; brig gen volunteers 3 June 1865 for fai service and brig gen U S A 27 Feb 1890 for gallant and meritorious service in the Lava Beds Cal 17 Apr 1873 and for gallant service in action against Inds at the Clearwater Idaho 11 and 12 July 1877; retd 31 May 1895; died 30 Apr 1898.





I have attached a picture of Mason from my collection.





Here is his obit:


"Historical Newspapers The Washington Post (1877 - 1990) pg. 7GEN. E. C. MASON DEAD.


Won Distinction In tho Civil and in Indian Wars.


St. Paul. April 30.—Brevet Brig. Gen. Edwin C. Mason, U. S. A., retired, died at his home in this city at 3:15 o'clock this afternoon. His affliction was acute heart disease, with nurmerous complications. The 'General was sixty-seven years of age, and his life had been chiefly spent in active and arduous duties in the military service. He was stricken while at church some weeks since, and all the circumstances have been against him.


Gen. Mason was a native of Ohio, and served through the civil war with Ohio troops, being Colonel of the 171th Ohio volunteer Infantry at the close of the war. Later, in the regular army, he won distinction in Indian wars, particularly against Captain Jack and the Modocs in the famous lava beds, for which last service his brevet rank as Brigadier General was given him Just before his retirement.


As executive head of the local committee on G. A. R. national encampment two years ago, he made new friends all over the country. The remains will be taken to Springfield, Ohio, for interment."


I think it he is the same E.C. Mason. My hunch is he was post commander of Fort Snelling then retired there or nearby. I have Heitman's "Historical Registery and Dictionary of the U.S. Army." It has mini-bios of all Army officers volunteer and regular from 1775 to 1902. He is the only "E.C" Mason up to 1902.


What makes Civil War era officers confusing is the "brevet" ranking system. As the United States had not instituted a system of medals as a reward for bravery and distinction other than the Medal of Honor, "Brevets" were temporary or honorary promotions to a next higher grade. Mason was a "Brevet General" but his "actual" Army rank was Colonel.


George A. Custer was a brevet Major General during the Civil War but after the war he was reduced to the peace-time rank of Lt. Colonel. Nevertheless as was the custom he was refered to by his brevet rank of "General Custer."
Reply:Colonel, Mason, Edwin C. Union Infantry 176th Regiment, Ohio Infantry (located online at National Park Service Soldiers and Sailors System: American Civil War)





ALSO SEE:


Collections of the Minnesota Historical Society - Minnesota Historical Society - 1898


Lieut, Colonel JJ Van Horn, 25th Inf., to April 14, 1888. Colonel GL Andrews, 25th Inf., to May 23, 1888. COLONEL EC MASON, 3rd Infantry to May 31, 1895, page 446, FORT SNELLING





I hope this helps (8


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Reply:I heard he was busy drawing the Mason-Dixie line!