A cousin of my gr gr grandfather Joseph Benedict Edelen was a Lt. "Tip" Edelen from either Charles or PG county, Md.. My grandmother's aunt was engaged to "Tip" at the time of his death. I am not sure what unit Tip was in either. In 1864 he and a cousin, Pvt. Jesse R. Edelen of Co. "E" 1st Maryland Cavalry, CSA were out looking for horses or something and got chased by some yankees and cornered. Lt. Tip Edelen's last words were, "I'll never surrender to a damned yankee!" as he drew his sword and charged them. He was killed and Jesse was captured. One time while at the National Archives in D.C. I was reading some report, either by or to Gen Jubal Early in 1864. In one part who ever wrote it said, "We lost Lieutenant Edelen at Woodstock today, a gallant young fellow from Charles County, Maryland."

Now, my question is this: What was "Tip" Edelen's real name? I have heard three different names, one I forget, the other was his name was William Marshall Edelen, the other, what my grandmother thought it was, was William Henry Harrison Edelen. Several years ago, in the mid '90s, I met a distant Edelen cousin in Piscataway, a Joe Edelen. He talked about a spot, or lake or pond, near there that is still known as "Tip Edelen's Ice Pond". Does anyone know anything about that? Or by chance what his real complete name was? I am just curious. I want to find out all I can about this "Tip" Edelen. I wonder who owns that "Tip Edelen's Ice Pond" today? I wonder if they might know anything of its history or Tip's history. Oh if only I had've talked more and asked more questions of my wonderful grandmother and great aunts about all that. They were so knowledgable on all this!
Thanks,
David Middleton Edelen II
Alabama