VMI Archives Historical Rosters: Edward Dunscomb Christian

Historical Rosters Database

Edward Dunscomb Christian

Roster ID 1392
This is a summary. Contact the Archives for additional biographical information.

First Name:	Edward
Middle Name:	Dunscomb
Last Name:	Christian
Suffix:
Affiliation:	Class of 1867
Biography & Genealogy:	Edward Dunscomb Christian, Class of 1867. New Market Cadet. Genealogy: Born- May 15, 1848 in Richmond, Va. Father- Dr. Andrew Henry Christian; Mother- Mary Anne Whitfield. Pat. Grandfather- Henry Asbury Christian; Pat. Grandmother- Lucy Wood Dunscomb. Mat. Grandfather- Richard Whitfield; Mat. Grandmother- Ann Booker Jeffries. Married- Helen Campbell Palmer, daughter of George Sidney Palmer of Richmond, Va. in Nov. 1872. Children- 1- Edward Dunscomb Christian, Jr.; 2- Richard Henry Christian; 3- Seddon Christian; 4- Helen Dunscomb Christian; 5- Dorothy Ann Christian Campbell, who married Frederick Scott Campbell 6- Rev. George Palmer Christian. VMI RECORD: Entered VMI- Jan. 2, 1864; Resigned to join Confederate Army Feb. 28, 1865. Civil War Service: Fought as Cadet Private in Co. B of the Corps of Cadets in the Battle of New Market and was slightly wounded in action. Later listed as 2nd Lt. of Co. C in the 8th Confederate States Battalion. Anecdote published in The Confederate Veteran Dec. 1909: "Wartime Romance- The Pennsylvania Regiment held their Reunion in Richmond, Va. and incidentally a wartime romance was discovered. In a lobby of a hotel, one of the veteran Pennsylvania officers, Capt. Roach, met Capt. E. D. Christian of Richmond. The two men had last met where in the heat of battle at Cold Harbor they fought a desperate hand-to-hand duel with swords, only being seperated by the rush of the charging columns of Federals. The recognition was mutual, and the one time enemies, now friends, clasped hands and went off together to tell each other the history of their lives since this momentous meeting." Post War Career- Tobacconist; Vice-President of the New York and Southern Construction Company; President of the Richmond Paper Manufacturing Company. Died- Jan. 12, 1899.

About the Database

The database currently includes the names of all enrolled students (both graduates and non-graduates) from VMI's opening in 1839 through the World War II era. In addition, you will find biographical and genealogical information, including a summary of military service during the Civil War, for many individuals who attended in the 19th century. The database also includes some historical Faculty and Board of Visitors members, as well as U. S. Army students sent to VMI for training during World Wars I and II. The latter groups were not VMI cadets. For further information about an ancestor listed in the database, please contact the VMI Archives. We can check the complete record, let you know if other information available, and provide copies of original documents. This database is for historical research. We do not release information about living individuals.