Born in Maine, at the time the Regiment was formed,
Albert M. Edwards was a 26 year old journalist from Detroit. Smith (p. 9) says that he left college
in his second year to enlist as a sergeant in the first Michigan
Infantry. He was captured at first Bull Run and was later exchanged.
Smith also states that he was by profession a "comer".
Whatever the case, Albert M. Edwards was instrumental in raising the new regiment, Captain Edwards recruited his company, the last to be organized, in only 2 days. In recognition of his efforts, he was appointed captain of Company F, to rank from July 26. Before leaving Detroit, the men of his company presented him with a sword. This sword may still exist in the hands of a private collector.
He was Acting Assistant Inspector General from June 11 to June 13, 1863. On June 25, Captain Edwards was sent to Alexandria, Virginia to bring back convalescents for the First Corps. He returned on June 29, with 1219 men who would be desperately needed in the coming fight.
On July first the 24th Michigan played a key role at the battle
of Gettysburg. In this action, the Regiment suffered horrible
casualties, the largest number sustain by any of the 400 Union
regiments that participated in the three day battle. By 4:30 in
the afternoon of July 1st, Albert Edwards was ranking officer
still on his feet, and took over the Regiment. He led them during
their "last and hopeless stand" and during the chaotic
retreat back to Cemetery Hill.
"Soon after assuming command, Captain
A. M. Edwards saw the flag lying on the ground in the hand of
a dead or dying soldier boy, who was reclining on his right side,
his gun being near him. Captain Edwards took the flag from the
young soldier's hands which were grasping it with a deathlike
grip, and after rallying the men to it amid a shower of bullets,
bore it through town to the Cemetery where he planted it near
a battery , and sat down on a gravestone while the remnants of
the regiment rallied about its bullet-riddled folds." (Curtis, p. 165)
In the aftermath of the fighting on July 1, the only officers left unwounded were Captain Edwards, and Lieutenants George Hutton and John Witherspoon.
Colonel Morrow who had been both wounded and captured was left behind by the retreating Confederates, and briefly returned to take command of the regiment. Morrow's condition was not good, however and Edwards commanded the Regiment from July 14 to August 9 and from August 21 to 23. He was again in command from October 10 to December 6, 1863. During the Mine Run campaign, the Regiment was involved in heavy skirmishing. Captain Edwards took the opportunity to "liberate" a fine pistol from a captured Confederate officer. Edwards was promoted to Major on February. 1, 1864 to rank from November 22, 1863. Along with his promotion, he received a leave of absence from February 10 to 25, 1864.
During the fighting on in the Wilderness on May 5, 1864. "The
Iron Brigade with its old-time yell, charged the enemy... capturing
300 prisoners, the Twenty-Fourth Michigan securing the battle
flag of the Forty-Eighth Virginia of Jones' Brigade. This flag
was taken from a Confederate color-bearer by Major Albert M. Edwards...
Major Edwards carried the flag to the rear. When Colonel Morrow
was brought to the regiment on a stretcher after he was wounded,
he made a brief good-bye speech to the boys. Major Edwards tore
the flag from its staff and put it in Colonel Morrow's haversack.
The latter took it to the hospital in Washington with him, and
then to Detroit where it was put on exhibition. It was later placed
in the archives of the War Department at Washington." (Curtis p. 231). By the criteria
commonly used in the Civil War, capturing a confederate battle
flag could have entitled Edwards to a medal of honor.
After
the fighting during the Battle of Laurel Hill (Usually included
as part of the Battle of Spottsylvania), on May 12, 1864 Major
Edwards, virtually dead on his feet, though that he saw a log
in the darkness and decided to rest himself. After resting for
a moment, he discovered that it was not a log, but was actually
a corpse. The next day Frederick Chavey, of Company F was struck
by a solid shot. Major Edwards, who happened to be with his old
company at the time, was "bespattered" with his blood,
but was not himself wounded. Later, near Bethesda Church, Edwards
had another brush with death: "As Sergeant Eaton was getting
some requisitions signed by Major Edwards, a solid shot buried
itself in the tree at the foot of which they were sitting."
(Curtis p. 257) During the siege
of Petersburg "... Major Hutchinson was wounded within fifteen
minutes after his return from hospital, while drinking a cup of
coffee with Lieutenant-Colonel Edwards." (Curtis
p. 263) Albert Edwards was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel on July
17, 1864 to rank from June 9, 1864.
During the fight at Dabney's Mill, Lt. Colonel Edwards had another close brush with death. According to Smith (p. 240). "Lieutenant Colonel Edward's horse was shot out from under him early in the contest by a Minie ball which passed through Edwards' boot and trousers, before killing his steed. He also received a shot through his coat but was unwounded..." Smith (p. 241) also notes "That battle had not dulled the sensibilities of the men was proven by Lieutenant Colonel Edwards. Noticing that the soldiers on the right flank of the Regiment had stopped firing, he went over to seek the cause. There he found them helping their comrades from the Seventh Wisconsin, who were engaged in burying their pet dog which had just been killed by a Minie ball in the midst of a hail of shot and shell. The dog, a mongrel, was known throughout the Brigade for his courage under fire, and despite the bullets whizzing past, the men paused long enough to give their small friend a hasty but honorable burial."
Albert received a leave of absence from December 22, 1864 to
January 16, 1865, and spent Christmas at home with his family in 1864, he had be in command of the Regiment from January 1 to February
1; May 9 to 23; June 9 to November 13.
He was sent to New York with recruits from April
5 to April 12, 1865, and was in command of Camp Butler Illinois,
from April 14 to 25, 1865. He served a term as President of the
General Court Martial at Springfield, Illinois from April 24,
to June 17, 1865. He was given the great honor of standing Guard
of Honor over the body of President Lincoln at the Illinois statehouse
on May 3, 1865. In 1865 he was in command of the Regiment from
January 17 to 20; January 24 to March 31, and from April 14 to
22. May 4, and from June 17 to 30, 1865. He was given the rank
of "Brevet Colonel" on March 13, 1865 "for Gallant
and meritorious services during the war." When the Regiment
returned to Detroit to be mustered out, Colonel Edwards was in
command.
After the war, Colonel Edwards was very active in the 24th
Regimental Association, and was responsible for having this now
missing state flag released into his care for use at reunions
and veterans events. He attended Michigan
Day at Gettysburg.
Albert M. Edwards was never wounded in action, and was present in every battle and march of the regiment.
He was in command of the regiment during the following actions:
He led the Regiment during:
Descendant: Jeff1LTU@aol.com
Edwards photograph taken from Smith.
Gettysburg flag photograph courtesy of the Dearborn Historical Museum, used with permission
Signed Edwards CDV courtesy of John Baril, J712BARIL@aol.com,
used with permission
"Missing" Michigan State Flag courtesy of David Finney,
used with permission
Last Updated: 12/25/00
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