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E. Ferrero
(1831 - 1899)
Home State: New York
Command Billet: Brigade Commander
Branch of Service: Infantry
Unit: 2nd Brigade, 2nd Division, 9th Corps
see his Battle Report
Before Antietam
He was born in Spain of Italian parents, and his parents brought him to America with them when he was about a year old. Following his father, he was a prosperous dance instructor and ballroom operator in New York City and Lieutenant Colonel in the New York State militia before the war. In October 1861 he raised and was appointed Colonel of the 51st New York Regiment, and served with them on the North Carolina expedition. He commanded the 2nd Brigade of the 2nd Division, Ninth Corps at Second Bull Run.
On the Campaign
At Antietam he commanded the 2nd Brigade of the 2nd Division/Ninth Corps and led the final charge that carried the Lower (later Burnside's) Bridge at about 1 o'clock p.m. on 17 September 1862.
The rest of the War
He was appointed Brigadier General of Volunteers on 19 September 1862 (to date from 10 September), and continued at the head of the Brigade at Fredericksburg. His commission expired in March 1863, but he was reappointed Brigadier General in May 1863. He commanded the 2nd Brigade in the Vicksburg campaign and at Knoxville, and commanded the 4th Division (later 3rd Division) of the Ninth Corps at Petersburg, where, with Gen. Ledlie, he was judged responsible for the Crater fiasco.
He was honored by brevet to Major General of Volunteers on 2 December 1864.
After the War
He resumed his career as a dance teacher and ballroom operator.
References & notes
His service basics from Warner1 and Heitman.2 Personal details from family genealogists and the US Census of 1860 (as Edward Ferrari). His gravesite is on Findagrave. His picture from a photograph in the US National Archives, online via their flickr photostream.
He married Mary (?, c. 1824-) before 1860. He married again, Amanda Subers (1850-1912) in September 1868.
Birth
01/18/1831; Grenada, SPAIN
Death
12/11/1899; Brooklyn, NY; burial in Green-Wood Cemetery, Brooklyn, NY
1 Warner, Ezra J., Generals in Blue, Lives of the Union Commanders, Baton Rouge, LA: Louisiana State University Press, 1964, pp. 150-151 [AotW citation 31338]
2 Heitman, Francis Bernard, Historical Register and Dictionary of the United States Army 1789-1903, 2 volumes, Washington DC: US Government Printing Office, 1903, Vol. 1, p. 417 [AotW citation 31339]