Samuel M. Edwards had a varied military record. His first service was with Mexia at Tampico, as a member of Captain John M. Allen's Company of Grenadiers. He came with it from Tampico to Texas, but transferred from it to Chenoweth's Company, organized specially for a garrison at Copano. Prior to the massacre he transferred to Burke's Company. Captain Chenoweth, as administrator, collected his pay for services as a private from Nov. 2, 1835 to March 27, 1836. [CMSR, No. 9113; State Library; Muster Roll, Captain John Chenoweth's Company, LOMR, p. 68.]
 

This soldier's name appears as "Eilles" on LOMR, is not found at all on original T&TR roll of Fannin's men, but his pay was collected Jan. 29, 1855 by Leander Eels, on proper proof of heirship, and the certificate of James S. Gillett, Adjutant General, that the name of "Otis G. Eilles" appears as a private on original muster rolls of Captain Ira Westover's Company on file in his office. [Public Debt Papers, State Library.] There is other evidence in the General Land Office that the proper spelling of the soldier's name is "Eells." He was killed at Goliad, March 27, 1836.