The Butler weekly times., 1889-05-08

The individual instances # his
bravery in battle, his wisdom in
council, his tender solicitule for his
men, his self sacrificing spnit, would
fill Il volume, Major J. +. Stone
street of this city, who was with him
til he crossed the Rio Granle into
Mexico. tells well the story Of his
part i'll the great struggle,
Il cannot speak of John Edwards
without emotion" he said last night
He was the nobiest man of the
many noble men who took part i'll
the great struggle i'll the west. l
cannot begin to tell of ali the in
stances of his valor i'll battle, his
kindness in camp, his care for his
comrades, his noble self-sacritice.
his great brain and noble heart
No one but those who We're with
him III those dark hours can appre
ciate his magnificent spirit. He was
only boy when he joined Gordon's
regiment, but he soon became the
hero of Shelby's old brigade r.
was a grand sight to see him in bat
tie. He was always where the fight
was thickest. He was absolutely
devoid Of fear. The men had the
confidence in him thai they would
have had had he been aGod. Their
trust in him was sublime. He had
genius for war While he was as
brave as a lion his courage was not
of the rash, impetuous sort that
led him into foolhardv undertakings.
His wisdom was as great as his
bravery. No one appreciates more
the character and achievements of
General Shelby than I, but when
the dark days came it was John Ed
wards who. more than anybody else,
inspired hope in the hearts of men.
cheered and encouraged them and
spurred them on to renewed eXer-
tons
Hi WALKED THAT A SOLDIER MIGHT RIDE.
This self sacrifice was noted. |
have seen him dismount and give
his horse away to a tired trooper.
In "A hospital once | saw him take off
his shirt and tear it up for bandages
for the wounded. not knowing when
or how he was to get another one
have seen him take off his coat and
give it to a soldier who, he thought,
was more in need of it. His spirit
was so gentle that it hurt him more
to see others suffer than to suffer
himself. What heroism he display
ed in that awful retreat from West
port, Smallpox broke out among
the men. John Edwards feared it
as little as he did the bullets of the
enemy. He would take a soldier
with the smallpox in his arms. carry
him to the most comfortable place
that could be secured and nurse
him with the care of woman He
would brave anything to secure a
delicacy for a sick soldier. When
We were eating horsefesh on that
awful march, and the men We're
starving. naked and ready to give
up. it was he who cheered and en-
couraged them and held them to-
sether. His heart was so big that
he thought of everybody before him.
self.
In battle he was very Mars: III
camp he was as gentle as woman.
The men loved him. and little Won
der He could never do enough for
them. Brave men all Of them thev
recognized HIM as the bravest and
brainiest Follow me, boys. I have
> heard him cry. and I will take you
where the bullets are the thickest
aud the Sahres the sharpest'. and
then. his sword flashing in his hand.
he would be off t where the fight
was the hottest. Aud the men
would be after him with a confidence
and devotion that insured victory.
He was the bravest man in war and
the gentlest IN peace that I ever saw
He was one man in a million He
was the Chevaliers Bayard OF Mis-
souri,