Clarence Ransom Edwards

Major General Clarence Ransom Edwards (January 1, 1859 – February 14, 1931) was a senior United States Army officer, known as the first Chief of the Bureau of Insular Affairs, and commander of the 26th Division in World War I.

Early career Edwards was born in Cleveland, Ohio, the son of local merchant William Edwards, and Lucia Ransom. Upon his graduation from West Point, Edwards was appointed a second lieutenant in the United States Army Infantry Branch, serving with the 23rd Infantry Regiment. For the next several years Edwards served at various posts, including Fort Union, Fort Porter, Cleveland, Ohio (commanding the guard at the tomb of President Garfield), and Fort Davis. While stationed at Fort Porter he met Bessie Rochester Porter, a member of the family that included Peter Buell Porter, for whom the fort was named, and they were married in 1889.

He was promoted to first lieutenant on February 25, 1891

Spanish–American War, the Philippines, and after At the outbreak of the Spanish–American War, Edwards moved with his regiment to New Orleans, Louisiana. In May 1898, he was given the rank of major, U. S. Volunteers, and assigned as Adjutant General of the 4th Army Corps at Mobile, Alabama (and, later, Tampa, Florida, and Huntsville, Alabama) under the command of Major General John J. Coppinger. The 4th Army Corps was to have been part of the invasion of Cuba, but was unable to obtain transport.

Brigadier General Clarence Ransom Edwards in military uniform with his medals, sometime in 1917. alt=A black and white image showing Edwards in his military uniform with medals.

In 1900, due in part to his knowledge of the conditions in the Philippines, he was promoted to lieutenant colonel and named Chief of the Division of Customs and Insular Affairs in the War Department. In July 1902 he was promoted to colonel and named the first chief of the new Bureau of Insular Affairs. He retained this office until 1912, by which time he had risen to the rank of brigadier general. In August 1917, four months after the American entry into the war, he was promoted to the rank of major general in the National Army and given the task of organizing the 26th Division.

Going back to his days at West Point, Edwards had earned a reputation for being sharp-tongued and contentious. General John Joseph "Blackjack" Pershing, Commander-in-Chief (C-in-C) of the American Expeditionary Forces (AEF) on the Western Front, in particular despised him. Edwards made another enemy in Major General Robert Lee Bullard during the 26th Division's relief of Bullard's 1st Division near Toul in April 1918. Edwards found fault with everything he saw, and accused the 1st Division of leaving behind classified documents. Bullard was enraged, but General Pershing always favored the 1st Division, and reassured him, and nothing came of the incident. In July 1918, during the Second Battle of the Marne, the I Corps commander, Major General Hunter Liggett found that, although the 26th Division did not lack for heroism and fought valiantly, he could not depend on its commanders, especially Edwards, to subjugate his unit to Regular Army divisions.

Major General Clarence Ransom Edwards, pictured here together with members of his division staff at Boucq, France, May 3, 1918.

Edwards' final demise came in October 1918, when he reported an incident to Liggett involving information two of his soldiers had obtained from German soldiers with whom they had been fraternizing. The Germans had expressed their belief that the war would be over soon, and that they were reluctant to continue fighting. While Edwards thought he was reporting the enemy's poor morale to Liggett, he instead gave Liggett an excuse to get rid of Edwards for his zeal in supporting the National Guard. Liggett reported the incident to the AEF commander, General Pershing, who took the opportunity to act on his personal vendetta and relieve Edwards of his command. His successor was Brigadier General Frank E. Bamford, formerly the commander of the 1st Division's 2nd Brigade of the 1st Division, who had been informed that he would be getting, apparently, "the worst division in the AEF." Somewhat strangely, Edwards, who had a history of saying whatever was on his mind, did not say anything at all about his dismissal from command, choosing instead to simply say nothing.

World War I came to an end soon afterwards on November 11, 1918, due to the Armistice with Germany, by which time Edwards was already in the United States, having arrived there on November 1.

Distinguished Service Medal citation Citation

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pride in presenting the Army Distinguished Service Medal (Posthumously) to Major General Clarence R. Edwards, United States Army, for exceptionally meritorious and distinguished services to the Government of the United States, in a duty of great responsibility during World War I. After having organized the 26th Division, General Edwards commanded it with distinction during all but 18 days of its active service at the front. The high qualities of leadership and unfailing devotion to duty displayed by him were responsible for the marked espirit and morale of his command. To his marked tactical ability and energy are largely due the brilliant successes achieved by the 26th National Guard Division during its operations against the enemy from 4 February 1918 to 11 November 1918.

Other honors Edwards received honorary Doctor of Laws degrees from Syracuse University, Trinity College, Syracuse University, Middlebury College, Boston College, Norwich College, and Fordham College. !! Rank The General Edwards Bridge carries Massachusetts Route 1A into Lynn, Massachusetts. A second General Edwards bridge in Springfield, Massachusetts carries Roosevelt Avenue over the watershops pond Edwards Parade is located on the campus of Fordham University. Camp Edwards, a training camp for the Massachusetts National Guard located in Falmouth, Massachusetts, was named for him in 1938. There is a monument to Edwards in Rutland, Vermont; located at the intersection of South Main and Washington Streets, it was installed in 1934 by the third national reunion of the 26th "Yankee" Division. General Edward's evening dress uniform is in the museum collection of the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company of Massachusetts.