Edward Ferrero

Edward Ferrero
Edward Ferrero
	United States of America; Union
Service/branch	United States Army; Union Army
Years of service	1861–1865
Rank	Brevet Major General
Battles/wars	American Civil War Battle of Roanoke Island; Battle of New Bern; Northern Virginia Campaign Second Battle of Bull Run; ; Battle of South Mountain; Battle of Antietam; Battle of Fredericksburg; Knoxville Campaign Battle of Fort Sanders; ; Siege of Petersburg Battle of the Crater; ;

Edward Ferrero (January 18, 1831 – December 11, 1899) was one of the leading dance instructors,

choreographers, and ballroom operators in the United States. He also served as a Union Army general in the American Civil War, being most remembered for his conduct unbecoming in the Battle of the Crater

(July 1864), where he was reported to have been drinking with another general behind the lines as both their units were virtually destroyed.

Early life and career

Ferrero was born in Granada, Spain. His parents were natives of Italy, and had just arrived in Spain when their son was born. Thirteen months later, the family moved to the United States and settled in New York City. Ferrero's father, a noted dancer and a personal friend of the revolutionary General Giuseppe Garibaldi, soon opened a dance academy. When the elder Ferrero retired in his early fifties, Edward took over operation of the academy. He educated the wealthy and elite of New York society in the art of dance, and originated many dances that spread in popularity throughout the country. Ferrero became renowned as one of America's leading experts in dance. He worked part-time as a dance instructor at the United States Military Academy and was the author of The Art of Dancing in 1859.

Ferrero was interested in military affairs from his association as a youth with Garibaldi, and from his uncle, Colonel Lewis Ferrero, who had served in the Crimean War and the Italian campaign. Edward Ferrero became the lieutenant colonel of the 11th New York Militia Regiment, serving for six years in the militia organization. With his skills in choreography and instruction, his troops soon became known for their parade ground precision and military drill.

Civil War

With the outbreak of the Civil War in early 1861, Ferrero raised a

New Bern under Brig. Gen. Jesse L. Reno

.

Transferred northward with his brigade to

IX Corps and stormed Burnside's Bridge. For his personal bravery at Antietam, the dancer-turned-warrior was promoted to brigadier general of volunteers on September 19, 1862. (This commission expired in March 1863, but he was reappointed to rank from May 6. The latter appointment was revoked on July 21, 1864).^[1] His first action as a general was at Fredericksburg

.

Sent to the

Winfield S. Hancock cited Ferrero for "being in a bomb-proof habitually, where he could not see the operation of his troops [nor know] the position of two brigades of his division or whether they had taken Cemetery Hill or not."^[2]

On December 2, 1864, Ferrero was

Appomattox Campaign

in early 1865.

Postbellum

Ferrero mustered out of the army on August 24, 1865, and returned home to New York City. He chose not to reopen his previous dance academy, but instead leased a building in a new location, eventually turning it into a world-famed ballroom known as Apollo Hall, 31 West 28th Street at Broadway. In 1872, he terminated his lease and the building was converted into a theater.

Ferrero leased the ballroom of

Freemasons

. He published a second best-selling book, The History of Dancing, which remains in print today.

He leased the Lenox Lyceum in January 1889 and continued as one of the country's foremost dance instructors for another decade. He retired in May 1899 when he became ill with a variety of ailments that claimed his life by the end of the year.

Ferrero died in New York City and is buried in Green-Wood Cemetery, Brooklyn.