Edwin Augustus Rigg (1822–1882), 49er, was a military officer in the American Civil War and the Apache Wars.
Edwin Agustus Rigg was born Jan 15, 1822 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He went to California in 1849.
By September, 1852, he was an employee of the San Francisco custom house. Later that year he ran as a Whig for the office of City Tax Collector of San Francisco.
He joined the Marion Rifles, an outstanding military unit of the California Militia and one of the oldest volunteer companies in the State. He became an officer on November 7, 1855, serving as a First Lieutenant. Became its Captain April 19, 1856, and was reelected December 17, 1856 and in 1861.
On August 5, 1861, Captain Rigg with four other Militia Captains offered the services of their companies to the United States Government to protect the Overland Mail Route.
Joined the 1st California Infantry, with many of his militia company August 15, 1861. He was made Captain of Company B, formed largely from men from the Marion Rifles and other militia companies in San Francisco and others recruited at Camp Latham, near Los Angeles.
Promoted Major, 1st California Infantry, Sept. 5, 1861. He was sent to Fort Yuma to relieve Lt. Col. Joseph R. West as commander of Fort Yuma on November 26, 1861. While its commander he saw to the gathering of supplies of food and forage for the advance of the California Column between the Fort and the Pima Villages with the help of Ammi M. White.
Promoted Lt. Colonel commanding 1st California Infantry, on April 28, 1862 during the California Column march from Fort Yuma to Fort Barrett at the Pima Villages. After the Californians had recovered New Mexico Territory and captured Franklin, in West Texas, they settled into occupation garrisons and fought to defend the territories of Arizona and New Mexico and West Texas from Apache and Navaho raiders.