Edwin Janes Barden (Ned) enlisted in the Union army at 26 years old, with the locally formed 7th Connecticut Infantry Regiment Volunteers, and was assigned to Company G, from his hometown of Canaan, Connecticut. The U.S. Army Regiment was formed in New Haven Connecticut on 13 September 1861 and consisted of 1,018 officers and men.

The next day they began a movement to Washington, DC where it was brigaded with the Sixth Connecticut and Third New Hampshire and Seventh New Hampshire regiments, under command of Yale Law School graduate BGEN Alfred Terry.

Edwin Barden signed on for a three-year enlistment, as did the bulk of the men. Many were men that had previously signed on for three months. "The three months men" had signed on before the government realized the enormity of the rapidly building rebellion. He had a love interest at the time. Sarah Maria Jones (written to as 'Sara') was his dominant interest and saving grace during his four years of war. His older brother Jesse Barden enlisted later on 20 December 1863 with Company H, 2nd Connecticut Heavy Artillery Regiment, and served until 18 August 1865.