Fearless Farnum

By the age of 38, Col. J. Egbert Farnum had fought in the Mexican, Crimean and American Civil wars, served a stint in jail and escaped and was shot 19 times.

Among his less dangerous feats included signing a wall on the second floor of the Graffiti House in Brandy Station during a tour of duty in Culpeper.

The embattled infantryman began his military career enlisting in the Excelsior Brigade where he served under Union Major Gen. Daniel Sickles with the 70th New York Infantry volunteers, according to his great grand nephew.

Edward Kelley, a descendent of Farnum, talked about his adventurous ancestor on Sunday during the lecture series at the Graffiti House.

“He’s an unknown hero,” Edward said.

Nearly 20 people crammed into the tiny Ankers Learning Center room to hear Edward, 65, and his wife, Mary, 61, reminisce about Farnum and his wife, Amanda.

Edward — sporting a navy blue infantry frock coat, a maroon colonel sash and a white buttondown under his vest with matching trousers cap — spoke for the majority of the 90-minute presentation.

His wife, Mary, wearing a plaid hoop skirt with matching top, petticoat, privacy slip, corset, black gloves and black snood over her hair, talked about Amanda, Farnum’s second wife, who cared for the embattled soldier until his death in 1870.

“I’m dressed in what a woman from Manhattan would have worn,” Mary explained. “The women dressed very proper in those days and you would have never have shown your ankles.”

The Kelleys, both retired educators from Massachusetts, donate all proceeds to the Civil War Preservation Trust, which purchases battlefield land to protect and maintain.

Mike Block, Brandy Station Foundation board member, said Farnum was quite a unique man.

“If he was alive today, the biography channel would be talking about him because of all of the different things that he did and all of the things that he was involved in,” Block said.

Early life
A New Jersey native, Farnum was born in 1824 to James Farnum and Mary Cook.

A few years later, the family moved to Pennsylvania where Farnum received a reasonable education.

He briefly studied law.

During the Mexican War, Farnum enlisted in the 2nd Pennsylvania Infantry volunteers serving under his uncle.

The tall infantryman became an express rider for the federal government, delivering U.S. mail from San Francisco to Mexico after that war.

“My love for adventure led me to accept the offer,” Edward said referring to his great grand uncle’s decision in taking the dangerous job.

Upon his return to the East Coast, Farnum married his first wife, who died shortly after delivering the couple’s daughter, who lived with relatives while Farnum resumed to the battlefields.

After the Crimean War, Farnum returned to New York where he got involved in what his descendents deem as a “ horrible mistake.”

The Wanderer Incident
The 122-foot extravagant schooner was built as a pleasure yacht for Col. John Johnson in 185.

Johnson sold the cruise ship to William Corrie of Charleston, S.C., a year later.

But Corrie had other plans for the luxury liner offering Farnum to take a pleasure trip with him.

Farnum accepted.

Unbeknownst to Farnum, the Wanderer left Port Jefferson, N.Y., in the spring of 1858 on its way to pick up about 400 slaves to return to Jekyll Island, Ga.

After six weeks of traveling, the ship landed back in the states.

Even though the U.S. banned the slave trade in 1808, maritime authorities didn’t aggressively enforce the law until 1859.

“While sailing, I was in fear of losing my life, so I went along with the scheme,” Edward said, impersonating Farnum.

Upon arrival in the states, southern planter Charles Lamar, Corrie and others were arrested.

Farnum narrowly escaped from jail to try and prove his innocence. He did with the help of President James Buchanan and his lawyers.

“He was one of the best Union soldiers that I have in the United States Army,” Edward said reciting Buchanan’s words. “He really wanted to do a good job for the Union.”

After a lengthy trial in 1860, Farnum was acquitted of all charges.

“I am truly sorry that I was ever associated with this incident,” he said.

The later years
In 1861, Farnum enlisted as a major in the Union Army. A few months later, he was promoted to lieutenant colonel.

At Williamsburg, Farnum was hit in both legs by two miniball bullets. After he recuperated in the field, Farnum later fought at the Battle of Gettysburg.

He was badly wounded during the Battle of Chantilly. In fact, he was shot 19 times. Farnum was known to have downed a half a pint of whiskey each day.

Farnum met Amanda in New York through their families. She even visited the colonel during his stint at Brandy Station.

Farnum retired as a colonel in the 11th Regiment Veteran Corp as he was promoted to a brevet brigadier general on Jan. 3, 1866.

The Farnums married at the Trinity Church in Manhattan in 1868, while the colonel was working at the U.S. Custom House.

Farnum died two years later in 1870 from his war wounds.

“I outlived my general for quite a few years,” said Mary portraying Amanda, who died in 1892. “It took a tame Lowell girl to take down the big general.”

Rhonda Simmons can be reached at 825-0771 ext. 125 or .