 He was reelected and in 1860 was chosen Speaker of the House of the Eighth General Assembly.When the Civil War began Edwards was appointed as lieutenant colonel May 21, 1861 and served as aide on the staff of Governor Kirkwood of Iowa protecting the Missouri border from invasion.On August 8, 1862 he was commissioned colonel of the 18th Iowa Volunteer Infantry, serving through the war, after which he was brevetted brigadier general of volunteers to date from September 26, 1864.