Edward Miles Heyl

A medical student in Philadelphia, he enrolled there on 12 August 1861 and mustered as Corporal, Company I, 3rd Pennsylvania Cavalry on 24 August. He was appointed regimental Quartermaster Sergeant and First Sergeant of Company I, dates not given. He was commissioned 2nd Lieutenant of Company M on 8 September 1862.

He was with his Company on the Maryland Campaign of 1862. On 17 September

It was not long before the several companies of the regiment were sent to different parts of the field of battle, some to support batteries, some to picket and cover roads on the flanks, some to prevent straggling from the infantry line of battle, and some to act as orderlies and escorts, Company M being detailed to report to General Hooker personally for the latter purpose. Captain Frank W. Hess, of Company M, and Lieutenant Edward M. Heyl, of Company I [sic], particularly distinguished themselves by rallying and leading back to their guns some of our artillerymen whose batteries were in imminent danger of being captured.

He was captured on picket at Hartwood Church, VA on 25 November 1862 and was a prisoner at Libby Prison in Richmond, but was paroled in December and back with his regiment in early 1863. He was promoted to First Lieutenant of Company I on 1 May 1863 and to Captain on 2 May 1864. He mustered out with his Company on 24 August 1864.

He entered Regular Army service, commissioned First Lieutenant, 9th United States Cavalry ("Buffalo Soldiers") on 28 July 1866 and assigned to Company E. He was frequently abusive of his troops, especially when drunk, and in April 1867 at San Pedro Springs, TX they mutinied, resulting in the deaths of at least one soldier and a white officer. He was roundly criticized by his superior officers, but not charged or tried (unlike the mutineers).

He was promoted to Captain of Company M on 31 July 1867 and transferred to the 4th Cavalry on 31 December 1870. He was appointed Major and Inspector General on 19 February 1885, promoted to Lieutenant Colonel on 22 September 1885, and to Colonel and IG on 12 February 1889.

He was honored by brevet to Major, USA on 27 February 1890 for his actions against Indians on the Brazos River, TX on 24 September 1869, where he was severely wounded.

He was Inspector General of the Department of Missouri at his death in 1895.

His basic service from the Card File,1 Heitman,2 and Henry.3 Details from the History,4 source of the quote above and his photograph, and from Charles L. Kenner's Buffalo Soldiers and Officers of the Ninth Cavalry, 1867–1898 (1999). Personal details from family genealogists. His gravesite is on Findagrave.

He married Mary Delphine Hunt Turner (1861-1902) in October 1886 and had two children.

His brother Charles Heath Heyl (1849-1926), then 2nd Lieutenant, 23rd US Infantry, was awarded a Medal of Honor for action against Indians in April 1876.

02/14/1844; Philadelphia, PA

01/02/1895; Chicago, IL; burial in Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, VA