The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-11-09
George Mathews Edgar, LII. D.,
Commander of "Edgar's Battalion" C. S. A.

, ter fierce hand-to-hand struggle with
The color-Euard. while tho colonel.
though bayonctcd ana captured. cs-
capped b; rusc from his caDtors IN
DER n shower OF bullets from tho Con
tolerate reserve that rushed forward
and restored tho broken line: the bat
NC OF Winchester. the 18th OF Septcm
per, 4e'' where when tho tide of
oatti" was turned in favor Of the Union
Army by flank movement around
BrcckinridEc's left By Shcridan.s Cnval
~ Corps of twelve thousand men. tho
movement was shorn of it's full fruit;
By the rallylng OF Il portion Of tho di
vision In an old redoubt by ColoneIs
Edgar and Derrick hy which tho en-
emys advance was checked and tho
retreat OF the centre and right Of the
I confederate right prcatl;. aided.
though by tho sacrifice OF not :, few.
killed. wounded and prisoners. the lat
ter including these officers
Then followed Colonel Edgars i'm
prisonment ut Fort Delaware. where.
"ith scant clothing, no fire ana barely
on Il thlrd OF q soldiers ration to sub
slst on. his suffering was often acute:
but lts very severity brought relief I'm
ms reaching stage of Ill health. which
placed him on the roll or tho 1000
prisoners who were declared by the
ftdera! surgeons unit for further serv-
- "ii sent SCUM on parole. For
tunately for him, the Judgment OF these
officers was faulty in his case for
through the Inspiration OF freedom.
careful nursing and adequate food his
health was soon restored, ana in two
months lie WAS exchanged ana recruit
lny h!s brigade: ana, when General
Lee surrendered, was commanding his
brigade IN General Echois's Division Of
TX Thousand men. marching to the re-
LIEF OF Tho Army OF Northern Viz
einia.
Two days later ne was at Charlotte.
y G.. where the President and Cabinet
and other government officials. with
various attachments OF troops, were
awaiting the result OF negotiations for.
the surrender OF General Johnston's
Army, only yielding to the logic OF
events when he read the doom OF tho
Coniedcracy in the reply Of General
bFecklnrldge to the query, What shall
VIC do general?' put 10 him by :, CO.
tcric OF officers: Gentlemen. II were
TO kentucky You must decide for
yourselves what course you should
pursue"
Acting on the obvious meaning OF tho
generals words, he and his staff lost
no time In turning their faces toward
virginia who at no other period OF her
history had greater need OF tho p,isa
foresight and loyal service OF her sons
After few months spent In study
ing conditions, Colonel Edgar deter
mined 10 resume tho profession Of
teaching; and, TO prepare himself more
i"!iy' ne resolved TO rc-cnter college
again. His cherished alma mater wa
III Fuins-the work OF tho vandal Hum
ter ana By no stretch OF the imagina-
uoh could II be assumed that she
would ever he restored 10 life and
usefulness. The University OF V!r-
sinIa. however, was in operation. and
ne determined TO 40 there TO frcshen
up for his work OF teaching
Accordingly. in the fall OF 1868 he
went to the University OF Virginia. and
devoted the greater part of one wear
only 10 laborious. scientific study.
Before the close of the session he
was elected professor OF mathematics in
Oakland College Mississippi, where he
won golden opinions for his efficient
work IN teaching. as we'll as in adj
mlni"tration rs chairman OF the fac
witty. whose functions dcvolved on him
on the death of the executive
1T was while here he married. No
vycinbcr !, 1861 Miss Rebccca Fry. OF
l-ewisbure, w Va, daughter OF
Judge Joseph l.. Fry. an eminent iurIst
formerly OF Wheeling. six children
We're the fruit of this marriage. all OF
whom received thorough college train
ins and entered upon successful
-. - I ~ % incSc children are
living now as is also Mrs Edgar.
In 1865 Colonel Edgar resigned his
position 1T Oakland College. and in
1859 removed 10 Kentucky. where for
niteen years he conducted schools OF
hish grade for boys and girls, upon
M OF which he bestowed assiduous la
Dor with good results--notably, Frank
I'm Female College and Edgar Military
Institute.
In June. 1884, he was elected to sue
coed General y. H. Hill as president
OF me Arkansas University. His adj
u! or the institution was
strong, progressive and conservatives
resulting In manifest Improvement in
the work, discipline and moral tone
OF inc student body, receiving strong
commentator from the board 81
trustees. who fully approved of his
plcas Tor the development OF the uni
Nersity on a broad basis. But these
pleas. being defeated by drastic legis
iation brought about by de,narorI,ns
limiting the aims OF the institution
ana hampering its administration h.,
specific rules, he resigned the presi-
dcncy in Juno. 1857.
y few weeks later he accentod ~,
presidency Of The Florida State semi
nary. where lie was professor Mt the
beginning of the War Between tho
states. The development of this school
rom thc low condition in which ho
''"Hu ~ W one OF clHcIcnCy and worth
was the work of five years durinr
which valuable additions were nadc
TO its buildings and equipment, the
course OF instruction extended and tho
STANDARD OF graduation raised. In no
period OF his professional career was
ms abllity as an organizer. teacher and
executive more conspicuouslv shown
or his efforts more fruitful OF results
tnan during these five years
In 1S92 Colonel Edgar was elected
professor of physics and astronomy I'm
the University OF Alabama. on his
urgent solicitation the board OF trus-
tees added largely TO the cabinet of
put the astronomical instru
ments in thorough repair and supplied
every department with every needed
accessory to promote flrst-class in
struction.
This made possible tho progressive
growth I'm efficiency and attractivcness
OF these departments from year 10
year which, added to the high stand
ard OF scholarship maintained. con
tributed no little to the reputation Of
this university; and Colonel Edgars
retirement from the chair I'm 1905
was generally regretted by tho
friends OF sound learning throughout
the state.
After that time he scrvod for Diff