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Civil War Soldiers - Edwards
| Edwards, John, brigadier-general, U.S.
Army, was born in Jefferson county, Ky., Oct. 24, 1815. He received a
common school education, studied law, and entered upon the practice of
his profession in Indiana, becoming a representative in the state
legislature, 1845-49. In 1849 he removed to California and was at once
made an alcalde, and then, returning to Indiana in 1852, he served in
the state senate. Subsequently he moved to Iowa, was a member of the
state constitutional convention there in 1855, and a representative in
the state legislature in 1856-60, being speaker of the house, 1859 and
1860. He was appointed member of Gov. Kirkwood's staff in 1861, and in
May, 1862, organized the 18th Iowa volunteers, became colonel of the
regiment, and led it to the front. He was promoted brigadier-general
of volunteers, Sept. 24, 1864, and served in this capacity until
mustered out of the service, Jan. 15, 1866. After the war he settled
at Fort Smith, Ark., and was appointed United States assessor, Aug. 6,
1866. He was elected by the Republicans a member of the 42nd Congress,
but his seat was successfully contested by Thomas Boles, the
Democratic candidate, who took his seat, Feb. 9, 1872. Gen. Edwards
died April 8, 1894. Source: The Union Army: A History of Military Affairs in the Loyal
States 1861-1865, Volume 8 Biographical, 1908
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| Edwards, Oliver, brigadier-general,
U.S. Army, was born in Springfield, Mass., Jan. 30, 1835. At the
beginning of the Civil war he was commissioned 1st lieutenant and
adjutant of the 10th Mass. regiment, and in Jan., 1862, he was
appointed senior aide-de-camp on the staff of Gen. Darius N. Couch. He
was commissioned major of the 37th Mass. regiment, Aug. 9, 1862, was
promoted colonel soon afterward; was brevetted brigadier-general of
volunteers, Oct. 19, 1864, "for gallant and distinguished services at
the battle of Spottsylvania Court House, and for meritorious services
at the battle of the Opequan;" was given the brevet rank of
major-general of volunteers, April 5, 1865, for "conspicuous gallantry
in the battle of Sailor's creek, Va.," and on May 19, 1865, was given
the full rank of brigadier-general of volunteers. After serving
through the Peninsular campaign of 1862, and the Fredericksburg and
Gettysburg campaigns, Gen. Edwards was ordered to New York city to
quell the draft riots of July, 1863, and was placed in command of
Forts Hamilton and Lafayette. Returning then to the Army of the
Potomac, he took part in the battle of Rappahannock, and then
distinguished himself at the battle of the Wilderness, when, on the
second day, he made a charge at the head of the 37th Mass. regiment
and succeeded in breaking through the Confederate lines; and at
Spottsylvania, May 12, 1864, when he held the "bloody angle" during
twenty-four hours of continuous fighting. He subsequently participated
in all the battles of the overland campaign, and accompanied the 6th
corps when sent to the defense of Washington against the advance of
Early. He was afterwards in Sheridan's campaign in the Shenandoah
valley, took part in the battle of Winchester and was placed in
command of that city by Gen. Sheridan. He distinguished himself at the
final assault on Petersburg, when his brigade captured the guns in
front of three of the enemy's brigades, and he received the surrender
of the city, April 3, 1865. At Sailor's creek, on April 6, with the 3d
brigade of the 1st division, he captured Gen. Custis Lee and staff
with his entire brigade, Lieut.-Gen. Ewell and staff, and many others.
Gen. Edwards was mustered out of the army in Jan., 1866, and after the
war engaged in mercantile pursuits both in England and the United
States.
Source: The Union Army: A History of Military Affairs in the Loyal
States 1861-1865, Volume 8 Biographical, 1908
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