Civil War Union Soldier. He served in Company I of the 1st Minnesota Volunteer Infantry during the Civil War. On July 2nd, 1863 the 1st Minnesota advanced into the fields of Gettysburg to quickly plug up the hole that was suddenly left open by the Union Army. The regiment did themselves proud that day by holding back the Confederate attack, but when the day was finished, over 60% of the unit was dead or wounded. Among those left behind was Private Edward P. Hale, who was wounded. His leg was amputated, and he died of his wounds two months later in Letterman Hospital at age 22. He was buried on the battlefield and later his body was moved to the Gettysburg National Cemetery. The photo of Pvt. Hale was taken by Photographer Z. Roberts of Northfield, Minnesota, circa 1862.

Photo courtesy of the late Dick Watts Collection.

"Case 877. — Private E. P. Hale, Co. I, 1st Minnesota, aged 24 years, was wounded through the left lung and in the left foot, at Gettysburg, July 2, 1883. He was admitted to the field hospital of the 1st division, Second Corps, where amputation was performed by Surgeon C. S. Wood, 66th New York, who described the injury of the foot as follows: "A minie ball entered at the internal malleolus, passed obliquely downward and outward, and emerged about two inches below the external malleolus, comminuting the astragalus and involving the ankle joint. Syme's operation was performed." Five weeks after the reception of the injuries the patient was transferred to Camp Letterman, whence Acting Assistant Surgeon A. B. Shekell reported that the wounds discharged freely and that the patient continued in a weak state, his condition and the stump of the leg improving but slightly, though stimulants, quinine, and iron were freely administered. Simple dressings were applied. On September 2d an abscess was opened on the inner side of the right thigh, which discharged about a pint of pus. The case terminated fatally on September 12, 1863." -- The Medical and Surgical History of the War of the Rebellion. Part III, Volume II. (3rd Surgical volume) by U. S. Army Surgeon General's Office, 1883.