CSA Bios: Roberts, Roane, Ripley, Richardson

[Battleline]

Brig. Gen. William P. Roberts, CSA (b. 1841, d. 1910) The youngest general officer in the Confederacy, William Paul Roberts achieved the brigadier general rank prior to his 24th birthday. Legend has it that Gen. Robert E. Lee presented his own gauntlets to Roberts on the occasion of his promotion to brigadier general. Born in Gates County, N.C., July 11, 1841, Roberts was 19 when he enlisted in the 19th North Carolina Volunteers, which later became the Second North Carolina. His unit first served in North Carolina and later moved to the Army of Northern Virginia after the fall of 1862. Meanwhile, Roberts advanced through the grades from junior second lieutenant to major. He was commissioned colonel in 1864 and received praise for his conduct at Reams’ Station, where he led his men on a charge of Federal rifle pits. Roberts earned promotion to brigadier general to rank from Feb. 21, 1861. He was given command of a brigade in the division of Gen. W.H.F. Lee. At Five Forks, Roberts’ command was overwhelmed by a much larger Federal force. He was paroled at Appomattox Court House and returned home. In 1875, Roberts represented Gates County in the constitutional convention. In 1876, he was elected to the state legislature. Roberts was the North Carolina state auditor from 1880-1888. Roberts died in Norfolk, Va., March 28, 1910.

Brig. Gen. John S. Roane, CSA (b. 1817, d. 1867) John Selden Roane lived a very active life before the Civil War ever broke out. Born in Wilson County, Tenn., Jan. 8, 1817, Roane received his education at Kentucky’s Cumberland College. He followed an older brother to Arkansas, where he was elected to the state legislature in 1844. he eventually became its speaker. In 1846, Roane went to Mexico as lieutenant colonel of Col. Archibald Yell’s Arkansas volunteer regiment. When Yell was killed during the Battle of Buena Vista, Roane took over. He fought a duel against Capt. Albert Pike (later a general) over the conduct of Roane’s command at Buena Vista. Both combatants escaped uninjured. Roane was elected governor of Arkansas in 1849, serving until 1852. His administration was lauded for advocating a state system of roads and educational facilities. An opponent of secession, Roane was not among the first to enlist in Confederate service. He did received a Confederate commission as a brigadier general March 20, 1862. He fought at Prairie Grove under Gen. Hindman, who had superseded him in command of the District of Arkansas. Roane’s conduct was called honorable. After that battle, he served in Arkansas, Louisiana and Texas, mainly on garrison and detached duty. He was paroled at Shreveport, La., June 11, 1865. Retiring, Roane died at his home in Pine Bluff, Ark., April 8, 1867.

Brig. Gen. Roswell S. Ripley, CSA (b. 1823, d. 1887) Ohio-born Roswell Sabine Ripley had his differences with superiors and subordinates during his Confederate service, which resulted in him bouncing around to different commands. Despite that, Ripley earned the reputation of being a skillful and competent field officer. Ripley was born in Worthington, Ohio, March 14, 1823. Big things were expected from Ripley, who graduated seventh in the U.S. Military Academy Class of 1843. First military assignments were with the Second and Third Artillery. During the Mexican War, he served on the staffs of Gen. Zachary Taylor and Gen. Gideon Pillow. He was twice breveted for gallantry at Cerro Gordo and Chapultepec. Following the war, he wrote the two-volume “The War With Mexico” in 1849. In 1852, Ripley married into the Middleton family of Charleston, S.C., and left the army in 1853 to engage in business in his new hometown. He became active in the South Carolina militia. In 1860, he was a major in ordnance of state forces, something which ran in the family. His uncle, Gen. James W. Ripley, was the U.S. Army chief of ordnance from 1861 until his retirement in 1863. A lieutenant colonel in 1861, Ripley had command of 30 cannon at Fort Moultrie and 22 guns and mortars on Sullivan’s Island during the bombardment of Fort Sumter. He received his Confederate commission as a brigadier general Aug.. 15, 1861, and was given command of South Carolina until he was replaced in 1862 by Gen. Pemberton. Ripley had a brigade in D.H. Hill’s Division of the Army of Northern Virginia starting with the Seven Days Campaign. He was badly wounded at Sharpsburg. On duty in South Carolina in 1863 and 1864, he was ordered to join Gen. Joseph Johnston’s army in the spring of 1865 and joined the day of the Battle of Bentonville. After the war ended, Ripley went to England, but his manufacturing venture failed. He returned home, splitting time between Charleston and New York, N.Y. He died in the latter city March 29, 1887.

Brig. Gen. Robert V. Richardson, CSA (b. 1820, d. 1870) Robert Vinkler Richardson briefly served as a brigadier general in Tennessee from Dec. 3, 1863 until Feb. 9, 1864, when his nomination was returned by the Confederate Senate at the request of President Jefferson Davis. No reason was given for this action, but Richardson resumed his regimental command. Richardson was born in Granville County, N.C. Nov. 4, 1820, but moved with his family to Hardeman County, Tenn. as a youth. He was educated there and studied law. He was admitted to the Memphis bar in 1847 and was associated in business with both Nathan Bedford Forrest and Gideon Pillow. Entering service, he served under Pillow. Richardson saw service with Pillow and forces in Missouri, at Shiloh and Corinth. He formed the 12th Tennessee Cavalry (First Tennessee Partisan Rangers) either in late 1862 or early 1863 and was elected colonel. Operating in western Tennessee, Richardson’s unit was accused of being no better than bandits by Unionists. Adjutant General Samuel Cooper order Richardson’s authority revoked March 16, 1863, but before the order could be enacted, the unit was mauled by Federals at Bolivar, Tenn. Acting as an agent for the Bureau of Conscription in Mississippi, Richardson built a new unit which included the survivors of the 12th Tennessee Cavalry. This unit became part of Gen. Forrest’s command in the fall of 1863. After the Meridian Campaign, Richardson was removed from command in a dispute with Forrest during reorganization of the command. Richardson returned to the 12th Tennessee Cavalry Aug. 30, 1864 and led it during Hood’s Tennessee Campaign (in the command of Gen. Chalmers). It was during this time that he briefly served as a brigadier general. Richardson held the title of brigade commander, but not the rank, briefly January 1865. After the war, Richardson went abroad for a time, returning to engage in levee and railroad building, once again associating with Forrest. He became involved with the Selma, Marion & Memphis Railroad and was traveling through the Missouri bootheel in January 1870. Stopping at a tavern in Clarkton, Mo., Richardson was shot in the back by an unknown assailant Jan. 5, 1870. He died of his wounds the next morning.

[Gil R.]

Thanks, as always.

[Gil R.]

Here are these four. Only Richardson's bio has any problems.


Brig. Gen. William Paul Roberts (b. 1841, d. 1910). The youngest general officer in the Confederacy, Roberts achieved the brigadier general rank prior to his 24th birthday. Legend has it that Gen. Robert E. Lee presented his own gauntlets to Roberts on the occasion of this promotion. Born in Gates County, N.C., on July 11, 1841, Roberts was nineteen when he enlisted in the 19th North Carolina Volunteers, which later became the 2nd North Carolina. His unit first served in North Carolina and later moved to the Army of Northern Virginia in late 1862. Meanwhile, Roberts advanced through the grades from junior 2nd Lieutenant to Major. He was commissioned Colonel in 1864 and received praise for his conduct at Reams’ Station, where he led his men on a charge of Federal rifle pits. Roberts earned promotion to Brigadier General to rank from Feb. 21, 1865, and was given command of a brigade in the division of Gen. W.H.F. Lee. At the Battle of Five Forks on April 1, Roberts’ command was overwhelmed by a much larger Union force. He was paroled at Appomattox Court House and returned home. In 1875, Roberts represented Gates County in his state’s constitutional convention, and in 1876, he was elected to the state legislature. Roberts was the North Carolina state auditor from 1880-1888. He died in Norfolk, Virginia, on March 28, 1910. (Bio by Bill Battle)

Leadership: 4
Tactics: 2
Initiative: 2
Command: 3
Cavalry: 0

Start date: 99

Teaches: Chargers (13)


Brig. Gen. John Selden Roane (b. 1817, d. 1867). Roane lived a very active life before the Civil War ever broke out. Born in Wilson County, Tennessee, on Jan. 8, 1817, Roane received his education at Kentucky’s Cumberland College. He followed an older brother to Arkansas, where he was elected to the state legislature in 1844, eventually becoming its Speaker. In 1846, Roane went to Mexico as lieutenant colonel of Col. Archibald Yell’s Arkansas volunteer regiment. When Yell was killed during the Battle of Buena Vista, Roane assumed command, but his conduct led to a duel against future Confederate general Capt. Albert Pike, from which both combatants escaped uninjured. Roane was elected Governor of Arkansas in 1849, serving until 1852. His administration was lauded for advocating a state system of roads and educational facilities. An opponent of secession, Roane was not among the first to enlist in Confederate service. He did received a Confederate commission as a Brigadier General on March 20, 1862. Roane fought at Prairie Grove under Gen. Thomas C. Hindman, who had superseded him in command of the District of Arkansas. Roane’s conduct was called honorable. After that battle, he served in Arkansas, Louisiana and Texas, mainly on garrison and detached duty. He was paroled at Shreveport, Louisiana, on June 11, 1865. Retiring, Roane died at his home in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, on April 8, 1867. (Bio by Bill Battle)

Leadership: 3
Tactics: 1
Initiative: 1
Command: 1
Cavalry: 0

Start date: 29


Brig. Gen. Roswell Sabine Ripley (b. 1823, d. 1887). Ripley had his differences with superiors and subordinates during his Confederate service, which resulted in his bouncing around to different commands. Despite that, he earned the reputation of being a skillful and competent field officer. Ripley was born in Worthington, Ohio, on March 14, 1823. Big things were expected from Ripley, who graduated seventh in the U.S. Military Academy Class of 1843. His first military assignments were with the 2nd and 3rd Artillery. During the Mexican War, he served on the staffs of Gen. Zachary Taylor and Gen. Gideon Pillow. He was twice brevetted for gallantry at Cerro Gordo and Chapultepec. Following the war, he wrote the two-volume “The War With Mexico” in 1849. Three years later, Ripley married into the Middleton family of Charleston, South Carolina, and left the army in 1853 to engage in business in his new hometown, though he remained militarily active by joining the state militia. In 1860, he was made a Major in Ordnance of state forces, something which ran in the family: his uncle, Gen. James W. Ripley, was the U.S. Army Chief of Ordnance from 1861 until his retirement in 1863. A Lieutenant Colonel in 1861, Ripley had command of 30 cannon at Fort Moultrie and 22 guns and mortars on Sullivan’s Island during the bombardment of Fort Sumter. He received his Confederate commission as a Brigadier General Aug.. 15, 1861, and was given command of South Carolina until he was replaced in 1862 by Gen. John Pemberton. Ripley then commanded a brigade in Gen. D.H. Hill’s division of the Army of Northern Virginia, starting with the Seven Days Campaign. He was badly wounded at Antietam six week later. On duty in South Carolina in 1863 and 1864, Ripley was ordered to join Gen. Joseph E. Johnston’s army in the spring of 1865, which he did on the day of the Battle of Bentonville, the last major battle fought by Johnston’s men. After the war ended, Ripley went to England, but his manufacturing venture failed. He returned home, splitting time between Charleston and New York City, where Ripley died on March 29, 1887. (Bio by Bill Battle)

Leadership: 3
Tactics: 5
Initiative: 2
Command: 4
Cavalry: 0

Start date: 14


Brig. Gen. Robert Vinkler Richardson (b. 1820, d. 1870). Richardson briefly served as a Brigadier General in Tennessee from Dec. 3, 1863 until Feb. 9, 1864, when his nomination was returned by the Confederate Senate at the request of Pres. Jefferson Davis. No reason was given for this action, but Richardson resumed his regimental command. Richardson was born in Granville County, North Carolina, on Nov. 4, 1820, but moved with his family to Hardeman County, Tennessee as a youth. Having studied law, he was admitted to the Memphis bar in 1847 and was associated in business with future Confederate generals Nathan Bedford Forrest and Gideon Pillow. Entering service when the Civil War began, Richardson initially served under Pillow in Missouri, later seeing action at Shiloh and Corinth. The way this was phrased made it seem that Pillow was at Shiloh and Corinth, which he wasn’t. I assume my revised sentence is accurate? He formed the 12th Tennessee Cavalry, or 1st Tennessee Partisan Rangers, either in late 1862 or early 1863 and was elected Colonel. Operating in western Tennessee, Richardson’s unit was accused by Unionists of being no better than bandits. Adjutant General Samuel Cooper ordered Richardson’s authority revoked on March 16, 1863, but before the order could be enacted, the unit was mauled by Union forces at Bolivar, Tennessee. Acting as an agent for the Bureau of Conscription in Mississippi, Richardson raised a new unit, which included the survivors of the 12th Tennessee Cavalry. This unit became part of Forrest’s command in the fall of 1863. After the Meridian Campaign, Richardson was removed from command in a dispute with Forrest during reorganization of the command. Richardson returned to the 12th Tennessee Cavalry on Aug. 30, 1864 and led it during Gen. John B. Hood’s Tennessee Campaign, under the command of Gen. James R. Chalmers. It was during this time that he briefly served as a brigadier general: Richardson held the title of brigade commander, but not the rank, briefly January, 1865. This doesn’t compute: in the first sentence, you say he was a BG in winter 1863-64, but here you say it was 1865. After the war, Richardson went abroad for a time, returning to engage in levee and railroad building, once again associating with Forrest. He became involved with the Selma, Marion & Memphis Railroad and was traveling through the Missouri boot heel in January, 1870. Stopping at a tavern in Clarkton on January 5, Richardson was shot in the back by an unknown assailant, and died of his wounds the next morning. (Bio by Bill Battle)

Leadership: 3
Tactics: 3
Initiative: 2
Command: 3
Cavalry: 4

[Gil R.]

Battleline, please see my comments on Richardson. Thanks.

[Gil R.]

(Bump)

[Battleline]

Richardson led a brigade in 1865, but did not hold the rank of brigadier. He lost his job when Forrest reorganized his command. As a leader of partisan troops, Richardson has a pretty shady war record without a lot of documentation to back things up!
Battleline

[Gil R.]

Okay, thanks. In retrospect, Richardson could have been left out of the game. But heck, we have a bio, we have a photo, so he stays.

[Battleline]

How Richardson made Warner's book escapes me. I've run across a few who have been nominated and have served at least briefly as brigadiers, but were not confirmed. I guess they were good enough for Warner, but since Ezra is deceased, we can't ask him!