Colonel Edwin Augustus Osborne - 4th North Carolina

CSA Today

Brev. Brig. Gen'l
Honored Fallen Comrade
Joined
Dec 3, 2011
Location
Laurinburg NC
12088497_938229696264704_1731635120028874565_n[1].jpg


Colonel Edwin Augustus Osborne - 4th North Carolina

Edwin Augustus Osborne writes of the 4th North Carolina at the battle of Seven Pines:

"It would be a privilege to record the list of the gallant men who fell in this fight, but time and space forbids. Their names may not be known to history or fame, but their comrades knew them and loved them. We believe the world is better and humanity is honored and ennobled by the lives of such men, and that both are the poorer by their untimely loss.

The figures in regard to the number of the men engaged and those killed and disabled are taken from Colonel G.B. Anderson's official report of the battle. In all this carnage these heroic men never for an instant wavered or showed the slightest trepidation. It was as if some superhuman spirit had been infused into them, and nothing but death itself could stop them. The writer shall never forget his feelings as he lay upon that bloody field wounded and helpless, and saw those brave men pressing on in the face of that death-dealing fire.

On they went, their ranks growing thinner and thinner, until within a few paces of the enemy's works, behind which masses of bayonets were gleaming. Surely they will all be made prisoners. But no. The forest of gleaming steel begins to waver, and then to move away in confusion; and the works are ours! Three color-bearers were among the killed, and Major Grimes then took the flag and carried it through the remainder of the fight."


Photo: Edwin A. Osborne.
 
Is this the same Edwin Osborne on the Find A Grave site?



http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=37600552

He is listed as Rev. Edwin Augustus Young Osborne.

He was in North Carolina State Troops. Later was a teacher, lawyer, Episcopal Priest and founder and superintendent of the Thompson Orphanage in Charlotte.
 
Last edited:
View attachment 81053

Colonel Edwin Augustus Osborne - 4th North Carolina

Edwin Augustus Osborne writes of the 4th North Carolina at the battle of Seven Pines:

"It would be a privilege to record the list of the gallant men who fell in this fight, but time and space forbids. Their names may not be known to history or fame, but their comrades knew them and loved them. We believe the world is better and humanity is honored and ennobled by the lives of such men, and that both are the poorer by their untimely loss.

The figures in regard to the number of the men engaged and those killed and disabled are taken from Colonel G.B. Anderson's official report of the battle. In all this carnage these heroic men never for an instant wavered or showed the slightest trepidation. It was as if some superhuman spirit had been infused into them, and nothing but death itself could stop them. The writer shall never forget his feelings as he lay upon that bloody field wounded and helpless, and saw those brave men pressing on in the face of that death-dealing fire.

On they went, their ranks growing thinner and thinner, until within a few paces of the enemy's works, behind which masses of bayonets were gleaming. Surely they will all be made prisoners. But no. The forest of gleaming steel begins to waver, and then to move away in confusion; and the works are ours! Three color-bearers were among the killed, and Major Grimes then took the flag and carried it through the remainder of the fight."


Photo: Edwin A. Osborne.
Yes, also, he was later a chaplain for a North Carolina regiment during the Spanish - American War.
 
Is this the same Edwin Osborne on the Find A Grave site?



http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=37600552

He is listed as Rev. Edwin Augustus Young Osborne.

He was in North Carolina State Troops. Later was a teacher, lawyer, Episcopal Priest and founder and superintendent of the Thompson Orphanage in Charlotte.
Nice find.

"...On March 26,1915,Edwin was an honorary pallbearer at the funeral of Mary Jackson,widow of Stonewall Jackson..."
 
The full account by Col. (then captain) Osborne of the 4th NC at Seven Pines can be read online here:
http://www.archive.org/stream/cu31924092908536#page/236/mode/2up

The 4th North Carolina was making the assault upon Casey's Redoubt at Seven Pines; and according to Col. Osborne they lost 339 men and officers out of 678 engaged, which is a casualty rate of 50%.
 
**** I'm presuming but is the "Major Osborne" described in this article below the same as Edwin A Osborne, later Col of the 4th NC? Does anyone know where more information can be found? Preferably contemporary accounts?****

Edwin A Osborn was promoted to Lt. Col. of the 4th North Carolina on May 19, 1864.

Here, a couple of weeks earlier, at the Wilderness - 2 pm on May 6, 1864 - we find Major Osborne leading a battalion of Ramseur's brigade sharpshooters in a charge .... on an entire Division of the enemy.

...Burnside moved a force at about 2 o'clock, with the view of crushing our line from right to left. Ewell, who is gifted with the instincts of a military genius, stood, however, prepared at all points. As the flanking force of the enemy came up, moving perpendicularly to Rode's line of battle, a battalion of sharpshooters, from Ramseur's brigade of North Carolinians, following their bold commander, Major Osborne, had the audacity to charge whole division of the Federal army. A whole division of the Federal army, advancing on that handful of men, fled before Osborne's fellows at the top of their speed, leaving behind it in its flight all its knapsacks, and as many as fifteen hundred muskets. Burnside's movement against Ewell's right flank, thus defeated by an amusing boldness, a repetition of such an enterprise was prevented by an immediate junction with the line of battle that had just been restored on the right wing.​
Source: Excerpted from article "Battle of the Wilderness," published in the Memphis Daily Appeal., June 03, 1864, page 1. Excerpt from column 6.​
1567817327409.png

1567817262119.png
 
Last edited:
According to his service record, Osborne was promoted Colonel of the 4th North Carolina on July 18, 1864.

Colonel
**** I'm presuming but is the "Major Osborne" described in this article below the same as Edwin A Osborne, later Col of the 4th NC? Does anyone know where more information can be found? Preferably contemporary accounts?****

Edwin A Osborn was promoted to Lt. Col. of the 4th North Carolina on July 23, 1864.

Here, a few months earlier, at the Wilderness - 2 pm on May 6, 1864 - we find Major Osborne leading a battalion of Ramseur's brigade sharpshooters in a charge .... on an entire Division of the enemy.

...Burnside moved a force at about 2 o'clock, with the view of crushing our line from right to left. Ewell, who is gifted with the instincts of a military genius, stood, however, prepared at all points. As the flanking force of the enemy came up, moving perpendicularly to Rode's line of battle, a battalion of sharpshooters, from Ramseur's brigade of North Carolinians, following their bold commander, Major Osborne, had the audacity to charge whole division of the Federal army. A whole division of the Federal army, advancing on that handful of men, fled before Osborne's fellows at the top of their speed, leaving behind it in its flight all its knapsacks, and as many as fifteen hundred muskets. Burnside's movement against Ewell's right flank, thus defeated by an amusing boldness, a repetition of such an enterprise was prevented by an immediate junction with the line of battle that had just been restored on the right wing.​
Source: Excerpted from article "Battle of the Wilderness," published in the Memphis Daily Appeal., June 03, 1864, page 1. Excerpt from column 6.​
View attachment 324388
View attachment 324387

Edwin Augustus Osborne's service record:
“Previously served as Captain of Company H. of this regiment. Promoted to Major to rank from December 23, 1862, and transferred to Field and Staff. Promoted to Lieutenant Colonel on May 19, 1864, and was wounded in the right hand at Spotsylvania Court House, Virginia the same date. Ring and middle fingers amputated. Promoted to Colonel on July 18. 1864. Reported absent wounded until retire to the Invalid Corps on April 1, 1865, by reason of wounds received at Spotsylvania Court House.”.

North Carolina Troops, 1861-1865, A Roster, Vol. IV infantry, 4th eight Regiments, p. 9.
 
Back
Top