The Maryland in the Civil War Message Board

Jessie and William Marshall Edelen
In Response To: Re: 1st Md Cav ()

Hello Bryan,
If you are looking for CS graves, then my gr gr grandfather Dr. Alexius Llewellyn Middleton who served in the 2nd Texas as an Asst Surgeon in the Trans Miss Dept is also buried there near Jessie.

I have been to that cemetary a few times, the last time at my grandmother's funeral in 1994, and have seen Jessie's grave. There is an old family story handed down to me by my grandmother about what happened to Jessie and his cousin Wm "Tip" Edelen when some yankees got after them while looking for horses in 1864. A story of gallantry and dedication of old by them and the Yankee officer who cornered them. If interested let me know and I will tell you the story. Hartzler's book "Marylanders in the Confederacy" have "Tip" listed as "William 'Tip' Edelen" and another guy listed as William Henry Harrison Edelen. My grandmother, whose aunt was engaged to Tip before and during the war and at the time of his death, said she believed it was W.H.H.Edelen that was nicknamed "Tipton" or "Tip" for short.

Back to St. Mary's cemetery in Piscataway, many of my family and ancestors are buried there. The church is in Piscataway, but beings as I grew up in and still live in Alabama I can not tell you how to get to it unless I have a map handy (Keep in mind there is also a St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery and church in Bryantown, Charles Co., Md also).

But as far as William Marshall Edelen goes, I am not sure if you are looking for how he ties into the vast Edelen/Edelin family tree or if you are just interested in his military career. I am not sure about the family connection, other than the fact I know we are "kin" because we (Edelens/Edelins) and the Marhalls, Middletons, Berrys and Montgomerys of Charles and Pr. Georges Counties, Md are all tied in through marriage and blood.

But as for his miltary records, I do have the great book by Daniel Hartzler, Marylanders in the Confederacy. It has like 13 Edelen/Edelins listed in the index, some erroniously spelled with the "in". The book even has my gr gr grandfather Pvt. Joseph Benidict Edelen, who was first a Lieutenant in Co. "H", 2nd Bn, Maryland Guard pre-war militia, in a company called the "Washington Volunteers", and then as a private in Co. "H" (still his old company the Washington Vols), 7th VA Inf. Vols., spelled as "Edelin" instead of "Edelen" in his book. But I understand, because in my own research, trips to the National Archives, etc, I have seen where people have mispelled it over the years, perhaps military recruiting officers and NCOs, etc.. Also, there is indeed a branch of our family who spell it with an "in", but that can be explained. I have also seen it spelled "Edlen" in Ft. Campbell, Ky.. Somewhere along the generations someone left an "e" out.

As for the rest of my Mayrland ancestors serving in The War for Southern Independence, my gr gr grandfather Edelen from Pr. Georges County, Md. is explained in the previous paragraph. My gr gr grandfather Dr. Alexius Llewellyn Middleton, also from PG County, was an Asst Surgeon with the 2nd Texas in the Trans-Miss Dept.. I saw a pic of an older man with the same name as my gr gr grandfather Berry, from Charles County, Md, who was an officer in some Va cavalry unit and he favored a pic of his son as an older man, my gr grandfather, which I saw one time. But I am unsure if it was him or not. My gr gr grandfather Benj. Franklin Montgomery, from Bryantown, Charles Co., Md was of age, but I have not found any records pertaining to him so I don't know if he served or not.

While a lot of my Edelen, Berry and Middleton people are buried at that same cemetary in Piscataway, I have never found my gr gr grandfather Joseph Benidict Edelen's grave. His grandson with the same name is indeed buried at St. Mary's in Piscataway, but not my gr gr grandfather.

But anyway, as for Pvt. Wm. Marshall Edelen, the index says this about him:

Edelin, William Marshall; 2nd VA Cav, Co (?); Res: Leonardstown, St. M. Cty; Ref: 1, 2, 7, 19, 21, 735, 1555.

I looked in the references section and looked the references up he referred to. Here they are:

Ref. 1: National Archives, Military Records, Washington, D.C.
Ref. 2: Goldsburg, W.W.; The Maryland Line in the Confederate Army.
Ref. 7: Beitell, Edwin, W.: List of Confederate prisoners at Point Lookout Prison Camp for Confederates. 1972. Unpulbished; private list.
Ref. 19: Newman, Harry Wright, comp. Maryland Soldiers, Sailors and Marines Who Served in the Confederate States of America. Unpublished; in the private collection of the compiler (deceased).
Ref. 21: Booth, George W.; Society of the C.S.A. Army and Navy of Maryland. Illustrated Souvenir--Maryland Line Confederate Soldiers' Home. 1894.
Ref. 735: Confederate Record Book--Marylanders Who Were in the Confederate Services Outside of Maryland Commands. Held by Maryland Historical Society, Baltimore, Md.
Ref. 1555: 1862--1864 U.S. Enrollment Records-- St. Mary's County, Hall of Records, Annapolis, Md. Viliianws designated as "Gone South" or Serving in the C.S.A.".

I would dearly like to read those old records and books he mentions! I have a couple of oldies I found under my grandmother's bed after she died. Books like "The Lost Cause" by Pollard, Stonewall Jackson, another similar book by Calhoun, etc.. These books were written immediately after The War for Southern Independence.

Well, I have to go. I hope the above info is of some help or interest. Let me know.
Take care,
David Middleton Edelen II
Alabama
-----------------------------------------------------------
What do I know of cultured ways, the gilt, the craft and the lie?
I, who was born in a naked land and bred in the open sky.
The subtle tongue, the sophist guile, they fail when the broadswords sing;
Rush in and die dogs--I was a man before I was a king!
---From The Road of Kings

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Jessie and William Marshall Edelen