Civil War Union Army Officer. Born at Green Lane Forge, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, he was one of 14 children of a wealthy iron industrialist. After the family relocated to Norristown, Pennsylvania, he purchased a local newspaper, "The National Defender", in February of 1859. Active in the Pennsylvania militia, he had joined the state's 1st Regiment, 2d Brigade, 2d Division, prior to the Civil War. When that conflict started, the 1st Pennsylvania Militia regiment offered their services immediately following the Confederate bombardment of Fort Sumter, and it became the core of the 4th Pennsylvania (Three Month) Volunteer Infantry. Edwin Schall was commissioned as the regiment's Lieutenant Colonel and second in command to Colonel John F. Hartranft (four of his brothers also served in the 4th Pennsylvania, including Edwin's twin brother, Edward, who was the regiment's Major). The unit served in Northern Virginia, losing several men in skirmishes with rebel pickets. Just prior to the Battle of Bull Run the question of when the regiment's enlistment expired brought divisiveness within the troops, and it was decided to allow them to return. Edwin Schall led them back to Pennsylvania to be mustered out while Colonel Hartranft remained to served as a staff officer during the Battle. Mustered out of service on July 27, 1861, he joined with much of the men as they re-enlisted in the three year regiment 51st Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry. Commissioned Major of the unit, he was again under the command of Colonel Hartranft, and four of his brothers also served with him. After drilling and garrison duty the 51st Pennsylvania was assigned to Major General Ambrose E. Burnside's North Carolina Expedition, and fought in the February 1862 Battle of Roanoke and the March 1862 Battle of New Bern. In the summer of 1862 it was brought to the Virginia theatre, where it fought at the Battles of Groveton, 2nd Bull Run and Antietam. In the latter battle the unit's Lieutenant Colonel, Thomas S. Bell, was killed, and Edwin Schall was promoted to replace him. He would commanded the regiment a number of times, and commanded the 2nd Brigade, 2nd Division, IX Corps, Army of the Ohio from August to December 1863. During the June 1864 Battle of Cold Harbor, Virginia, he was leading his men in an attack on Confederate positions when he was shot in the neck and instantly killed.