Douglas Fowler was born January 26, 1826, in Guilford, Connecticut. In 1850 he was a locksmith, and at the start of the war in 1861 lived in Norwalk.

He joined the 3rd Connecticut Infantry Regiment, a 3 months regiment. He then became a Captain in the 8th Connecticut Infantry Regiment until its muster out in February 1862.

On August 28, 1862 he became Captain of Co. A, 17th Connecticut Infantry Regiment. He was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel, and on July 1, 1863 was killed commanding the regiment at Gettysburg. His name is on the monument on Barlow’s Knoll on the Gettysburg battlefield.