Oliver Evans Edwards

Commander of the 13th South Carolina Infantry in Gregg / McGowan's famous Gamecock brigade, Colonel Oliver Evans Edwards was, like Maxcy Gregg, also a politican and lawyer.

Born on November 9, 1819 (the same day of the year as his corps commander A.P. Hill) in the Spartanburg District of South Carolina, Edwards grew up in Cass County, Georgia. Returning to South Carolina, he became a lawyer. He was elected colonel of the 36th Milita in 1850, following his father. In 1854, he became brigadier-general of the 9th Brigade of the South Carolina milita.

Mirroring his success in milita matters, Edwards was also elected to the state House of Representatives for the Spartanburg District in 1856, 1858, and 1860. Sometime after June of 1861, Edwards joined the 5th South Carolina regiment. With it, he fought at First Manassas. Returning home, he organized five companies from Spartanburg that would become part of the 13th Regiment.

Edwards fought in the major 1862 and 1863 battles of the Light Division and was slightly wounded at Second Manassas. On May 3, 1863, he was wounded at the battle of Chancellorsville. His wife, R. Jane Gary Edwards, came to Virginia and an attempt was made to transport him back to Spartanburg from Virginia via train. He became so weak on the trip, however, that he had to be taken from the train in Goldsboro, North Carolina. Edwards was carried to the home of a friend where he died on June 21, 1863.