Beverly Robertson: Difference between revisions

Beverly Holcombe Robertson
Beverly Holcombe Robertson
	Portrait of Robertson ca. 1863
Born	June 5, 1827; Amelia County, Virginia
Died	December 12, 1910 (aged 83); Washington, D.C.
Allegiance	United States of America; Confederate States of America;
Service / branch	United States Army; Confederate States Army
Years of service	1849-1861 (USA); 1861-1865 (CSA)
Rank	Captain (USA); Brigadier General (CSA)
Commands	Robertson's Brigade
Battles / wars	American Civil War Valley Campaign; Battle of New Bern; Battle of White Hall; Battle of Fredericksburg; Battle of Brandy Station; Battle of Gettysburg; Carolinas Campaign;
Other work	Insurance Businessman

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Beverly Holcombe Robertson (June 5, 1827 – December 12, 1910) was a cavalry officer in the United States Army on the Western frontier and a Confederate States Army general during the American Civil War.

Early life

Robertson was born on a plantation in Amelia County, Virginia. He received an appointment to the United States Military Academy and graduated in 1849. Assigned to the 2nd U.S. Dragoons as a second lieutenant, he attended the cavalry school at Carlisle Barracks. He then served on the frontier at various outposts in New Mexico Territory, Kansas Territory, and Nebraska Territory, fighting at various times with the Apache and Sioux. Reassigned to the 5th U.S. Cavalry, Robertson was promoted to first lieutenant. He became adjutant of the regiment while serving in Utah Territory and soon was elevated to acting assistant adjutant general for the Department of Utah. He was promoted to captain in March 1861, but a few months later accepted a captaincy in the Confederate Adjutant General's Department. Robertson was at one point engaged to the woman who became his future superior JEB Stuart's wife, and Stuart's dislike may have influenced Robertson's Brigade being sidelined at a crucial point in the Gettysburg Campaign.

Civil War

He was elected colonel of the 4th Virginia Cavalry in August 1861 and served in the Valley Campaign. He was promoted to brigadier general on June 9, 1862.^[1] He fought at the Second Battle of Bull Run in August 1862, and the early part of the Maryland Campaign in September 1862. Prior to the Battle of Antietam, he was ordered to North Carolina to recruit and train new cavalry regiments. He participated in the Battle of New Bern in March 1862.

During the Gettysburg Campaign, he commanded a brigade of two North Carolina cavalry regiments primarily assigned to scout for Robert E. Lee. At the Battle of Brandy Station, his men failed to significantly delay a Union column approaching Brandy Station from the southeast. He fought in J.E.B. Stuart's delaying actions in the Loudoun Valley at Middleburg and Upperville. His men helped cover Lee's retreat following the Battle of Gettysburg, but suffered severe losses during the campaign.

He was assigned in October 1863 to command the Second Military District, which encompassed South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida. He helped defend Charleston from enemy attack. Robertson served in the Carolinas Campaign and surrendered with Gen. Joseph E. Johnston.

Postbellum career

After the war, Robertson moved to Washington, D.C., and worked in the insurance business for several decades. He is buried in Robertson Cemetery near Scott's Fork, Amelia County, Virginia.^[1]

Notes

^ ^a ^b Eicher, p. 456.

References

Eicher, John H., and David J. Eicher, Civil War High Commands. Stanford: Stanford University Press, 2001. ISBN 978-0-8047-3641-1.
Text from Clement Evans' biography of Robertson
Sifakis, Stewart. Who Was Who in the Civil War. New York: Facts On File, 1988. ISBN 978-0-8160-1055-4.
Warner, Ezra J. Generals in Gray: Lives of the Confederate Commanders. Baton Rouge: Louisiana State University Press, 1959. ISBN 978-0-8071-0823-9.

External links

"Beverly Robertson". Find a Grave. Retrieved 2008-02-13.

[Eicher-1] Eicher, p. 456.

[1]

@@ Line 29: / Line 29: @@
 ==Early life==
-Robertson was born on a [[plantations in the American South|plantation]] in [[Amelia County, Virginia]]. He received an appointment to the [[United States Military Academy]] and graduated in 1849. Assigned to the [[2nd U.S. Dragoons]] as a [[second lieutenant#United States|second lieutenant]], he attended the cavalry school at [[Carlisle Barracks]]. He then served on the frontier at various outposts in [[New Mexico Territory]], [[Kansas Territory]], and [[Nebraska Territory]], fighting at various times with the [[Apache]] and [[Sioux]]. Reassigned to the [[5th U.S. Cavalry]], Robertson was promoted to [[first lieutenant#United States|first lieutenant]]. He became adjutant of the regiment while serving in [[Utah Territory]] and soon was elevated to acting assistant adjutant general for the Department of Utah. He was promoted to [[Captain (United States)|captain]] in March 1861, but a few months later accepted a captaincy in the [[Confederate States of America|Confederate]] Adjutant General's Department. Robertson was at one point engaged to the woman who became his future superior JEB Stuart's wife, and Stuart's dislike may have influenced Robert's Brigade being sidelined at a crucial point in the Gettysburg Campaign.
+Robertson was born on a [[plantations in the American South|plantation]] in [[Amelia County, Virginia]]. He received an appointment to the [[United States Military Academy]] and graduated in 1849. Assigned to the [[2nd U.S. Dragoons]] as a [[second lieutenant#United States|second lieutenant]], he attended the cavalry school at [[Carlisle Barracks]]. He then served on the frontier at various outposts in [[New Mexico Territory]], [[Kansas Territory]], and [[Nebraska Territory]], fighting at various times with the [[Apache]] and [[Sioux]]. Reassigned to the [[5th U.S. Cavalry]], Robertson was promoted to [[first lieutenant#United States|first lieutenant]]. He became adjutant of the regiment while serving in [[Utah Territory]] and soon was elevated to acting assistant adjutant general for the Department of Utah. He was promoted to [[Captain (United States)|captain]] in March 1861, but a few months later accepted a captaincy in the [[Confederate States of America|Confederate]] Adjutant General's Department. Robertson was at one point engaged to the woman who became his future superior JEB Stuart's wife, and Stuart's dislike may have influenced Robertson's Brigade being sidelined at a crucial point in the Gettysburg Campaign.
 ==Civil War==