Page:Confederate Military History - 1899 - Volume 3.djvu/912

852 of 1849," died in California in the year 1851. His wife was Mary A. Jones, a native of Massachusetts, who died in 1860. Major Edwards was born in Surry county, Va., where his family had resided since early colonial days. He was direct descendant of William Edwards, who with his brothers, John and Henry, came from England and went into possession of a large tract of land opposite Jamestown, by grant from the London company. Walter A. Edwards, orphaned at an early age, found employment at the, age of ten years in the office of the Southern Argus newspaper at Norfolk, and was there occupied as a printer until the spring of 1861, when with other patriotic youth of Norfolk he was eager to enter the service of the State. He became a private in the Independent Grays, afterward mustered in as Company H of the Sixth Virginia regiment of infantry, and becoming part of the famous brigade of Gen. William Mahone, the first colonel of the regiment. During most of his service, Edwards held the rank of orderly-sergeant of his company. He participated in all the battles of the army of Northern Virginia, excepting those of Chancellorsville, when he was disabled from duty, and the affair of the "Crater" when he was absent upon a well-deserved furlough. He took part in the battle of Drewry's Bluff, the Seven Days' fight before Richmond, and at Malvern Hill, then in the northward operations, fighting at Second Manassas, Crampton's Gap, Sharpsburg, Bristoe Station, Fredericksburg, Gettysburg and Falling Waters. In the campaign of 1864 he fought from the Wilderness to Cold Harbor and subsequently in the engagements about Petersburg. At the "Crater", when he was absent as has been stated, his company was almost annihilated. At Hatcher's Run and Burgess' Mill he took part, and in February, 1865, served with his division upon the Appomattox line. After the evacuation of Richmond he was in action at Jetersville, and on April 7th took part in the affair near Farmville, in Prince Edward county, where he was captured. The surrender of Lee immediately following, he was paroled at Burkeville, April 12th, but on returning to Norfolk was put under guard on account of the excitement attending the assassination of President Lincoln. He was released, and returned to civil life, April 19, the fourth anniversary of his enlistment. He then resumed his former employment, soon becoming a foreman, and so was engaged until in 1876 he formed a partnership with Col. J. Richard Lewellen (who afterward withdrew) and Joseph G. Fiveash, and established the Evening Public Ledger, which has steadily grown in circulation and influence until it now ranks as one of the best daily papers of Norfolk. He has also served the community in an official capacity as commissioner of the fire department, member of the city council, and representative in the State legislature. He is now a member of the board of visitors of William and Mary college. Mr. Edwards is prominently connected with various fraternal organizations, being past commander, with rank of colonel, of the Pickett-Buchanan Camp, U. C. V., and having received many honors from the orders of Masons, Knights Templars, Knights of Pythias, Improved Order of Red Men, and the Royal Arcanun.

W. E. Edwards, D. D., a chaplain of the Confederate army, now conspicuous in the ministry of the Methodist church, was born in Prince Edward county, Va., in 1842. In his professional work he continues the career of his father, the Rev. John E. Edwards, D. D.,