Born in Warren County, Virginia, John Newman Edwards got started in the newspaper business at an early age learning typesetting at the Front Royal Gazette. When he was about 15 years old, Edwards moved to Lexington, Missouri, to work as a printer at the Lexington Expositor. By the time he turned twenty, Edwards had become the newspaper's editor. During the summer of 1861, Edwards enlisted in the Missouri State Guard as a private and fought at Carthage, Wilson's Creek, Lexington and Pea Ridge. In July 1862, Edwards was a member in Capt. Joseph O. Shelby's company and mustered into Confederate service a month later when Shelby organized the 5th Missouri Cavalry (CSA). When Shelby was promoted to brigade command, he appointed Edwards as brigade adjutant with the rank of major. In 1863 during Marmaduke's Second Missouri Raid, Edwards was wounded in the leg and captured at Cape Girardeau. After being exchanged, Edwards returned to service as Shelby's adjutant. During the lead up to Price's 1864 invasion of Missouri, Edwards served as the assistant inspector general for Shelby's Cavalry Division. After the war, Edwards refused to surrender and went into exile in Mexico where he published a newspaper, The Mexican Times. While in Mexico, Edwards wrote his book about Shelby's exploits, Shelby and His Men, publishing it in 1867 when he returned to the United States. In 1860, Edwards founded the Kansas City Times with another former Confederate, John C. Moore. In September 1875, while editing the St. Louis Times, Edwards fought a duel with Emory S. Foster, editor of the St. Louis Journal newspaper. During the duel, neither shot found its mark.
Banasik, Michael E., and Brenda F. Banasik, eds. “John N. Edwards.” In Confederate “Tales of the War” in the Trans-Mississippi Part Five: May 1864–August 1865, 265–67. Unwritten Chapters of the Civil War West of the River, VII. Iowa City, IA: Camp Pope Bookshop, 2019.
Plattenburg, George. “John Newman Edwards: Biographical Sketch.” In John N. Edwards: Biography, Memoirs, Reminiscences and Recollections, 9–36. Kansas City, MO: Jennie Edwards, 1889.
Rolle, Andrew F. The Lost Cause: The Confederate Exodus to Mexico. Norman, OK: University of Oklahoma Press, 1992.