John Newman Edwards

[Patrick H]

This week I spent a couple of days in Lafayette County, Missouri--specifically in and around Lexington. The town of Dover is situated a short drive East of Lexington. I had long wanted to go there and visit the grave of John Newman Edwards. In my view, he was a fascinating character.

Major Edwards was an unrepentant rebel. He was J.O. Shelby's Adjutant and recorded a journal of their activities throughout the war. He was, by many accounts, a superb logistics officer. In addition, he reportedly managed one of the largest and best intelligence networks of the war. His intelligence network is partially credited for the success of Shelby's Great Raid of Autumn, 1863.

He was a prolific author and usually a very bombastic one. His flowery prose is difficult to read and sometimes hard to believe, but worth the effort for those who are searching for information about Shelby.

He was the founder of the Kansas City Times newspaper and was a key player (with Jesse himself) in the creation of the Jesse James / Robin Hood of Missouri myth.

He died relatively young--I believe partially as a result of alcoholism.

 

[Private Watkins]

Excellent, thanks so much for sharing this Patrick, I didn't know where he was buried. I agree with your thoughts on the difficulties of his style, and I also agree that he is an invaluable source on Shelby and well worth the effort of reading...

 

[Patrick H]

Excellent, thanks so much for sharing this Patrick, I didn't know where he was buried. I agree with your thoughts on the difficulties of his style, and I also agree that he is an invaluable source on Shelby and well worth the effort of reading...
View attachment 109340
View attachment 109342

Wow! You have an original edition. I've got the 1980s reprint edition.

 

[Private Watkins]

Wow! You have an original edition. I've got the 1980s reprint edition.

Perhaps what we need is something like a "New Living Translation" to bridge the modern reader from his flowery "King James" style...

Having said that, I admit that I do sometimes find beauty in the old fashioned, ornate and verbose meandering that often seems lacking in modern writing. One of my favorite passages from the book illustrates this, as we go from "exquisite music" and being "radiant with ten thousand beacons" to falling out of the saddle in a "stolid stupor" with "blotched, bloated faces." In my humble opinion, his flowery prose rises to the occasion in this case...

 

[Boonslick]

There is a relatively rare compilation of his writings entitled, John M. Edwards- Life, Writings and Tributes, by his wife, Jennie Edwards, which appeared after his death (from alcoholism).

I have attached his story, "The Killing of Jesse James" which appeared in the Sedalia Democrat- April,1881, shortly after Jesse's untimely death.

 

[Buckeye Bill]

Great stuff, guys!

Bill

 

[Patrick H]

Perhaps what we need is something like a "New Living Translation" to bridge the modern reader from his flowery "King James" style...

Having said that, I admit that I do sometimes find beauty in the old fashioned, ornate and verbose meanderings that often seems lacking in modern writing. One of my favorite passages from the book illustrates this, as we go from "exquisite music" and being "radiant with ten thousand beacons" to falling out of the saddle in a "stolid stupor" with "blotched, bloated faces." In my humble opinion, his flowery prose rises to the occasion in this case...
View attachment 109344

What a perfect example of the flowery yet beautiful prose this man wrote. It illustrates my point better than anything I might have picked out on my own. Thank you!

 

[Patrick H]

There is a relatively rare compilation of his writings entitled, John M. Edwards- Life, Writings and Tributes, by his wife, Jennie Edwards, which appeared after his death (from alcoholism).

I have attached his story, "The Killing of Jesse James" which appeared in the Sedalia Democrat- April,1881, shortly after Jesse's untimely death.

View attachment 109355 View attachment 109357 View attachment 109358 View attachment 109362 View attachment 109364 View attachment 109365 View attachment 109368

Thank you, James! I will be over to your house soon enough, to review this volume with my own eyes!!!

 

[Patrick H]

After reading some of these page scans, you folks undoubtedly see what I mean about Major Edwards's bombastic writing. ....and yet, I believe there is a strong element of truth running through all of it. I believe this thread of truth runs through everything he wrote. But, how do we recognize the truth amidst the flowery, bombastic writing? The problem for all of us is discerning the truth from the bombast! The truth must be there. It's just not easy to recognize.

 

[Private Watkins]

There is a relatively rare compilation of his writings entitled, John M. Edwards- Life, Writings and Tributes, by his wife, Jennie Edwards, which appeared after his death (from alcoholism).

I have attached his story, "The Killing of Jesse James" which appeared in the Sedalia Democrat- April,1881, shortly after Jesse's untimely death.

View attachment 109355 View attachment 109357 View attachment 109358 View attachment 109362 View attachment 109364 View attachment 109365 View attachment 109368

"Into all the warp and woof of the devil's work there were threads woven by the fingers of a harlot..." Now that's some high falutin postulation!

 

[Boonslick]

I, myself, like the idealized profound indignation of Edwards last paragraph in the Jesse James story:

Tear the two bears from the flag of Missouri. Put thereon, in place of them, as more appropriate, a thief blowing out the brains of an unarmed victim, and a brazen harlot, naked to the waist and splashed to the brows in blood.

Yeah! I love the sound of vitriol in the evening...

 

[shane-o]

I love this!!!! He was such an excellent writer....I love noted guerrillas....its the best....THIS IS GREAT THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SHARING THIS

 

[Boonslick]

When John N. Edwards died he left a profound effect upon the people of Missouri. More than 130 death notices and obituaries appeared in both Missouri and National papers.

The Boonville (Mo) Advertiser of May 10, 1889, written in the 'Edwardian' style perhaps offers the best glowing tribute of the man...

 

[Patrick H]

When John N. Edwards died he left a profound effect upon the people of Missouri. More than 130 death notices and obituaries appeared in both Missouri and National papers.

The Boonville (Mo) Advertiser of May 10, 1889, written in the 'Edwardian' style perhaps offers the best glowing tribute of the man...

View attachment 109442 View attachment 109443

That's excellent, Boonslick!

 

[Borderruffian]

He did use flowewry purple prose and he did heavily favor the Southern Cause, most a Shelbys reports were written by Edwards. But he does give a seldom seen look at the war and Shelby's going to Mexico.