Edward Brush Fowler

Edward Brush Fowler (May 29, 1826 – January 16, 1896) was an officer in the Union Army during the American Civil War. He is best known for his command of the 14th Brooklyn and a demi-brigade during the Battle of Gettysburg in July 1863.

Fowler enlisted into the Union Army as the lieutenant colonel of the 14th Brooklyn on April 18, 1861, at the age of 35. On February 22, 1862, he was promoted to colonel of the regiment after Col. Alfred M. Wood was wounded at the First Battle of Manassas.

Colonel Fowler was very active after the war with veterans' affairs and the 14th Brooklyn Association, helping veterans of the 14th Brooklyn with pension funds. He always attended the funerals of fallen 14th Brooklyn soldiers post-war. He was very highly respected in Brooklyn, New York and was a beloved hero of the Civil War.

Colonel Fowler died on January 16, 1896. His body was shown at Brooklyn City Hall, and he was buried with full military honors at Green-Wood Cemetery.

On May 18, 1902, the City of Brooklyn dedicated a statue of Fowler by Henry Baerer in Fort Greene Park. In 1974 it was repaired and reinstalled at Lafayette Avenue and Fulton Street.

Time with 14th Brooklyn
As mentioned above E.B. Fowler enlisted into the Union Army as the lieutenant colonel of the 14th Regiment (New York State Militia) on April 18, 1861, at the age of 35. He fought alongside his men under the command of Colonel Alfred Wood. On February 22, 1862, he was promoted to colonel of the regiment after Col. Alfred M. Wood was wounded at the First Battle of Manassas.

Sometime in 1862, E.B. wrote a letter home commenting on the regiment, a bit about the uniforms, and the tactics in which he had to use. It was later placed in the regimental history.

''"In 1860 the Board of Officers adopted the French 'chasseur' uniform, consisting of ashy red trousers, white leggings, a blue jacket, red chevrons and shoulder knots. A fixed to the head was to be a french style kepi with blue band, red above and blue top.

This change of uniform for the regiment was the first in many progressive steps of conformity. Later in early 1861, when the regiment arrived in Washington, D.C., these improvements were matched by the introduction of the rifled musket and minie ball which took the place of the smoothbore with its round ball and buckshot.

A mixture of William Gilham's militia Tactics and William J. Hardee's translation of the French tactics were substituted for the old Winfield Scott "heavy infantry" tactics, as well as its accompaniment of leather stock and pipe-clayed belts.

Little did the officers of that board dream that the uniform that they then adopted would become historic, sung of in poets' lays and transferred to the artist's canvas as that of the "red-legged devils," the Brooklyn Fourteenth."''