january april machine company executive inventor volunteer officer union_army american_civil_war raised springfield massachusetts edwards moved illinois young man pursue career manager manufacturing start civil war adjutant 10th later aide camp brigadier general couch fall took command 37th colonel led unit numerous major battles including july placed command provisional brigade sent assist spring placed command brigade briefly placed command division service campaigns edwards awarded honorary rank brigadier general later promoted grade brigadier general awarded honorary rank major general rank april service war edwards returned career manufacturing notably manager massachusetts machine gun company england early career edwards born springfield massachusetts son edwards early age strong interest mechanics attend college obtained springfield age edwards moved american midwest establish eventually settling warsaw illinois partner new known civil war service adjutant start civil war edwards returned massachusetts intention enlist private early june recruited company men springfield 10th 10th massachusetts edwards offered officer commission lieutenant assigned role adjutant primarily administrative position assisting colonel commanded regiment edwards saw little action service 10th fall regiment primarily occupied building fortifications vicinity washington time january brig command division 10th massachusetts belonged asked edwards aide camp edwards occupied administrative position assisting couch coordinating movements division 37th massachusetts august edwards promoted major recalled massachusetts assist organizing 37th regiment organized edwards promoted colonel command 37th massachusetts regiment arrived washington week september soon attached army assigned 2nd brigade edwards seen numerous battles experience field commander combat occurred december regiment played minor role fight brigade held reserve battle edwards 37th massachusetts took second battle engagement 37th occupied extreme left union line exposed dangerous position battle extended 37th holding ground 37th massachusetts fought battle july day fighting 37th assigned new position battle line route confederate heavy preceding charge began unlike union regiments took cover 37th forced march new position bombardment taking heavy casualties edwards credited keeping regiment courage dangerous march new_york draft riots july 37th massachusetts small number regiments army hand picked duty new_york wake draft riots time 37th reached new_york worst rioting ended strong presence required peace october time new_york edwards commanded brigade stationed fort hamilton brooklyn hearing presence massachusetts troops spark violence edwards requested permission place regiment prominently guards draft office intending demonstrate bravery men face threats despite rumors presence edwards regiment violence brigade command returning army october col edwards 37th massachusetts took settled winter camp rest army spring 37th engaged rapid series severe battles attempted grind confederate army capture confederate capital richmond battle wilderness edwards ordered lead 37th massachusetts dangerous charge check confederate advance provide cover brig retreating division edwards led 37th forward cleared yards ground surrounded retreat regiment orderly keeping constant fire edwards direction regiment suffered percent casualties engagement participating edwards promoted command 4th brigade edwards commanded unit remainder including engagements close july edwards brigade organized divisions transferred command took summer fall turning point campaign union_army came battle winchester virginia september engagement edwards temporarily promoted command 1st performed earning attention subsequently commandant winchester december president abraham_lincoln nominated edwards award honorary grade brigadier general rank october gallantry battle battle winchester confirmed award february embarked southward offensive october asked edwards marshal general edwards preferred retain command brigade return edwards brigade returned army midst long siege april edwards brigade union unit break confederate works outside evacuated fortifications edwards personally received surrender city mayor president nominated edwards grade brigadier general rank president present nomination edwards promotion senate january edwards mustered january senate confirmed promotion february july president nominated edwards award honorary grade major general rank april capturing confederate lieutenant general son captured 37th command entire brigade confederate soldiers battle creek virginia confirmed award july close war edwards continued service army remainder offered permanent position declined resigned commission january mustered day post war career war edwards returned warsaw illinois wife married september leave army children julia spent years warsaw returned massachusetts continue career manufacturing edwards hired massachusetts eventually general superintendent company time edwards patented number including florence ice florence oil resigned position returned warsaw went early retirement years plans changed offered position general manager machine gun company england company manufactured guns invented united_states rights purchased british_army edwards managed company years poor health required resign return warsaw retirement remaining years spent pursuing leisure interests supporting organizations republic edwards died warsaw april
Oliver Edwards