John Newman Edwards
Encyclopedia
Major John Newman Edwards, CSA, (January 4, 1839 – May 4, 1889) was famed General Joseph O. Shelby
’s adjutant
during the American Civil War
, an author, a journalist and the founder of the Kansas City Times
. He is perhaps best known for contributing to the folk hero status of outlaw Jesse James
.
. As a child, he learned type-setting in Front Royal, Virginia
. He moved to Missouri
about 1855. Settling in Lexington, Missouri
, Edwards became a printer for "The Expositor".
, raised a cavalry
regiment
near Waverly, Missouri
, in Lafayette County. Edwards joined it. In September 1863, he was appointed brigade adjutant, with the rank of major
. When Shelby was promoted to command a division
, Edwards became the division's adjutant. He held the position until the war ended in May 1865, when Shelby's command disbanded.
. He spent the next two years in Maximilian
's ill-fated Empire. Edwards obtained a land grant from Maximilian, which enabled Shelby to found the Colony of Carlotta. Edwards and ex-Governor Allen of Louisiana printed the colony's newspaper, "The Mexican Times". Edwards wrote his first book while in Mexico, "An Unwritten Leaf of the War".
Returning to Missouri in 1867, Edwards joined "The Republican" as a reporter. The following year, he began the Kansas City Times
, a staunch Democratic paper in a state now ruled by the Radical Republicans. He was sympathetic in reporting the James gang's robberies, claiming they were a response to the excesses of Republican rule in Missouri. On March 28, 1871, Edwards married Mary Virginia Plattenburg. They were the parents of two sons and a daughter.
Edwards remained at the Times until 1873. He then moved to St. Louis to edit "The Dispatch". On September 4, 1875 he fought a pistol duel with Col. Emory S. Foster
, editor of the "St. Louis Journal", who had accused him in print of lying. Neither man was injured.
Edwards left the Dispatch, planning to move to Santa Fe
and raise sheep. However, he was persuaded by friends and family to remain in Missouri.
In 1877, Edwards published "Noted Guerrillas," a basically fictional account of Confederate partisan warfare during Civil War in Western Missouri & border Kansas. He later moved to Sedalia to become editor of "The Democrat". He next became editor of the "St. Joseph Gazette".
In 1887, Edwards returned to Kansas City as editor of the paper he had founded. Two years later, he died unexpectedly of natural causes at the age of 50. He was buried in Dover, Missouri.
Joseph O. Shelby
Joseph Orville Shelby was a noted Confederate cavalry general in the Trans-Mississippi Theater of the American Civil War.-Early life and education:...
’s adjutant
Adjutant
Adjutant is a military rank or appointment. In some armies, including most English-speaking ones, it is an officer who assists a more senior officer, while in other armies, especially Francophone ones, it is an NCO , normally corresponding roughly to a Staff Sergeant or Warrant Officer.An Adjutant...
during the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, an author, a journalist and the founder of the Kansas City Times
Kansas City Times
The Kansas City Times was a morning newspaper in Kansas City, Missouri, that was published from 1867 to 1990.The morning Kansas City Times, under ownership of afternoon The Kansas City Star, won two Pulitzer Prizes and was actually bigger than its parent when its name was changed to the...
. He is perhaps best known for contributing to the folk hero status of outlaw Jesse James
Jesse James
Jesse Woodson James was an American outlaw, gang leader, bank robber, train robber, and murderer from the state of Missouri and the most famous member of the James-Younger Gang. He also faked his own death and was known as J.M James. Already a celebrity when he was alive, he became a legendary...
.
Early life
John N. Edwards was born in Warren County, VirginiaWarren County, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 31,584 people, 12,087 households, and 8,521 families residing in the county. The population density was 148 people per square mile . There were 13,299 housing units at an average density of 62 per square mile...
. As a child, he learned type-setting in Front Royal, Virginia
Front Royal, Virginia
Front Royal is a town in Warren County, Virginia, United States. The population was 13,589 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Warren County.-Geography:Front Royal is roughly west of Washington, D.C....
. He moved to Missouri
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
about 1855. Settling in Lexington, Missouri
Lexington, Missouri
Lexington is a city in Lafayette County, Missouri, United States. The population was 4,453 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Lafayette County. Located in western Missouri, Lexington lies about 40 miles east of Kansas City and is part of the Greater Kansas City Metropolitan Area...
, Edwards became a printer for "The Expositor".
War years
In 1862, Confederate General Joseph O. ShelbyJoseph O. Shelby
Joseph Orville Shelby was a noted Confederate cavalry general in the Trans-Mississippi Theater of the American Civil War.-Early life and education:...
, raised a cavalry
Cavalry
Cavalry or horsemen were soldiers or warriors who fought mounted on horseback. Cavalry were historically the third oldest and the most mobile of the combat arms...
regiment
Regiment
A regiment is a major tactical military unit, composed of variable numbers of batteries, squadrons or battalions, commanded by a colonel or lieutenant colonel...
near Waverly, Missouri
Waverly, Missouri
Waverly is a city in Lafayette County, Missouri, United States. The population was 806 at the 2000 census.It is the location of Baltimore Bend Winery, one of the many excellent small wineries established in the state since the 1960s...
, in Lafayette County. Edwards joined it. In September 1863, he was appointed brigade adjutant, with the rank of major
Major (United States)
In the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, major is a field grade military officer rank just above the rank of captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel...
. When Shelby was promoted to command a division
Division (military)
A division is a large military unit or formation usually consisting of between 10,000 and 20,000 soldiers. In most armies, a division is composed of several regiments or brigades, and in turn several divisions typically make up a corps...
, Edwards became the division's adjutant. He held the position until the war ended in May 1865, when Shelby's command disbanded.
In Mexico
Edwards followed Shelby to MexicoMexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
. He spent the next two years in Maximilian
Maximilian I of Mexico
Maximilian I was the only monarch of the Second Mexican Empire.After a distinguished career in the Austrian Navy, he was proclaimed Emperor of Mexico on April 10, 1864, with the backing of Napoleon III of France and a group of Mexican monarchists who sought to revive the Mexican monarchy...
's ill-fated Empire. Edwards obtained a land grant from Maximilian, which enabled Shelby to found the Colony of Carlotta. Edwards and ex-Governor Allen of Louisiana printed the colony's newspaper, "The Mexican Times". Edwards wrote his first book while in Mexico, "An Unwritten Leaf of the War".
Returning to Missouri in 1867, Edwards joined "The Republican" as a reporter. The following year, he began the Kansas City Times
Kansas City Times
The Kansas City Times was a morning newspaper in Kansas City, Missouri, that was published from 1867 to 1990.The morning Kansas City Times, under ownership of afternoon The Kansas City Star, won two Pulitzer Prizes and was actually bigger than its parent when its name was changed to the...
, a staunch Democratic paper in a state now ruled by the Radical Republicans. He was sympathetic in reporting the James gang's robberies, claiming they were a response to the excesses of Republican rule in Missouri. On March 28, 1871, Edwards married Mary Virginia Plattenburg. They were the parents of two sons and a daughter.
Edwards remained at the Times until 1873. He then moved to St. Louis to edit "The Dispatch". On September 4, 1875 he fought a pistol duel with Col. Emory S. Foster
Emory S. Foster
Emory S. Foster was a major in the 7th Missouri State Militia Cavalry during the American Civil War. Afterwards he was a St. Louis, Missouri newspaper editor who fought a duel with rival editor and former Confederate John N...
, editor of the "St. Louis Journal", who had accused him in print of lying. Neither man was injured.
Edwards left the Dispatch, planning to move to Santa Fe
Santa Fe, New Mexico
Santa Fe is the capital of the U.S. state of New Mexico. It is the fourth-largest city in the state and is the seat of . Santa Fe had a population of 67,947 in the 2010 census...
and raise sheep. However, he was persuaded by friends and family to remain in Missouri.
In 1877, Edwards published "Noted Guerrillas," a basically fictional account of Confederate partisan warfare during Civil War in Western Missouri & border Kansas. He later moved to Sedalia to become editor of "The Democrat". He next became editor of the "St. Joseph Gazette".
In 1887, Edwards returned to Kansas City as editor of the paper he had founded. Two years later, he died unexpectedly of natural causes at the age of 50. He was buried in Dover, Missouri.