Edward Lea
Encyclopedia
Edward Lea was an officer in the United States Navy
during the American Civil War
. He was mortally wounded at the Battle of Galveston
and died in the arms of his father, who was on the opposing side in the conflict.
, and graduated from the Naval Academy
in October 1855.
He served on the China Station
just prior to the outbreak of the Civil War. During the war, he continued to serve in the Union Navy
although his father, Albert Miller Lea
, became an major
of artillery
in the Confederate Army. The two met only once more, in one of the war’s most poignant incidents, when Lea, then executive officer in Harriet Lane, was mortally wounded during the Confederate recapture of Galveston
on January 1, 1863. His father, serving ashore in Galveston, was with his son at his death.
was named for him, as is Camp #2 of the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War
in Houston
.
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
during the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
. He was mortally wounded at the Battle of Galveston
Battle of Galveston
The Battle of Galveston or the Second Battle of Galveston was a naval and land battle that occurred on January 1, 1863, during the American Civil War when Confederate forces under Maj. Gen. John B...
and died in the arms of his father, who was on the opposing side in the conflict.
Biography
Lea was born in MarylandMaryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
, and graduated from the Naval Academy
United States Naval Academy
The United States Naval Academy is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located in Annapolis, Maryland, United States...
in October 1855.
He served on the China Station
China Station
The China Station was a historical formation of the British Royal Navy. It was formally the units and establishments responsible to the Commander-in-Chief, China....
just prior to the outbreak of the Civil War. During the war, he continued to serve in the Union Navy
Union Navy
The Union Navy is the label applied to the United States Navy during the American Civil War, to contrast it from its direct opponent, the Confederate States Navy...
although his father, Albert Miller Lea
Albert Miller Lea
Albert Miller Lea was an American engineer, soldier, and topographer with the United States Dragoons who surveyed southern Minnesota and northern Iowa in 1835.-Biography:...
, became an major
Major (United States)
In the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, major is a field grade military officer rank just above the rank of captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel...
of artillery
Artillery
Originally applied to any group of infantry primarily armed with projectile weapons, artillery has over time become limited in meaning to refer only to those engines of war that operate by projection of munitions far beyond the range of effect of personal weapons...
in the Confederate Army. The two met only once more, in one of the war’s most poignant incidents, when Lea, then executive officer in Harriet Lane, was mortally wounded during the Confederate recapture of Galveston
Galveston, Texas
Galveston is a coastal city located on Galveston Island in the U.S. state of Texas. , the city had a total population of 47,743 within an area of...
on January 1, 1863. His father, serving ashore in Galveston, was with his son at his death.
Namesake
The USS Lea (DD-118)USS Lea (DD-118)
USS Lea was a Wickes-class destroyer in the United States Navy during World War I and World War II. She was named in honor of Edward Lea, a US Navy officer killed during the Civil War....
was named for him, as is Camp #2 of the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War
Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War
Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War is an American fraternal organization, the legal successor to the Grand Army of the Republic . Founded in late 1881, it was originally one of several competing organizations of descendants of Union veterans...
in Houston
Houston, Texas
Houston is the fourth-largest city in the United States, and the largest city in the state of Texas. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the city had a population of 2.1 million people within an area of . Houston is the seat of Harris County and the economic center of , which is the ...
.