Edwin Augustus Young Osborne was born on May 6, 1837, a son of Dr. Ephraim Brevard Osborne, M.D. and Nancy Smith Osborne. The family moved to Hill County, Texas in 1855. In 1858, the young man began quite a journey. He walked alone from Texas to Charlotte, N. Carolina, to live with his Aunt Peggy Davidson, who offered to help further his education. His autobiography gives a day- to- day account of his journey!

Osborne arrived in N. Carolina in March of 1859. He enrolled in a Military School in Statesville, NC.

When War broke out, school was suspended in 1861, and Edwin "Gus" Osborne entered the Confederate Army as Captain of Co. H, N. Carolina State Troops, formed in Iradell County, N.C. Capt. Osborne was then appointed Colonel be the office of General Robert E. Lee on July 18, 1864!

The many Battles that Edwin "Gus" Osborne participated include: Manassas Junction, Yorktown, Williamsburg, Seven Pines, Maryland, South Mountain, Sharpsburg, Chancellorsville, and Spotsylvania Court House!

In the course of battle he suffered from Measles in camp, early in the War, wounded in the Thigh at Seven Pines, wounded in the Leg at Sharpsburg, shot thru the Boot at

Spotsylvania Court House. He also was slightly wounded in the side when a shot passed thru his Canteen, and latter shot in the hand, causing the loss of 2 fingers!

Each time he returned to his command, but the last injury caused him much suffering and brought about the end of his Battlefield service.

Towards the end of the War, Col. Osborne tried unsuccessfully to be reassigned, rather than be classified "Invalid". His Service Record includes a letter he wrote asking for clerical or any other kind of non-combat duty he could perform in service of his Country. He was appointed a Marshal of the Court.

After the War Col. Osborne became a School Teacher, Court Clerk, Episcopal Priest, founded the Thompson Orphanage in Charlotte that is still there today! He also served as a Chaplain in the Spanish American War.

He wrote the "4^th NC. Infantry Regimental history" pages 228-280 in the Histories of the Several Regiments and Battalions from North Carolina in the Great war 1861-1865 and "The 4^th NC. Regiment" article in the June 1898 Confederate Veteran Magazine.

Enroute back to North Carolina, from California, in 1907, Osborne retraced the route he walked from Texas to North Carolina. He also attended a Church Conference in Europe. Reverend Osborne was very proud to have been one of those officiating at the funeral of Mrs. Stonewall Jackson!

On October 12, 1926, this Compatriot passed on from this life and is buried in the Elmwood Cemetery, Charlotte, NC. The Sunday in May preceding Rev. Osborne’s Birthday, was designated as a time of special Offering in the Episcopal Church, with the proceeds going to the Thompson Orphanage that he organized!

Col. Osborne’s Brother, James Campbell Osborne, a Baptist Minister in Emmett, TX. is the Great Grandfather of S.W. "Dub" Osborne, A WW2 Veteran & member of SCV. Camp Terry’s Texas Rangers, #1937, Cleburne, TX.