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Robert E. Rodes (b. 1829 d. 1864) "No single death -- save that of Jackson, caused such deep regret and bitter sorrow," wrote Brig. Gen. Cullen A. Battle (Third Alabama!, edited by Brandon H. Beck) following the death of Maj. Gen Robert Emmett Rodes at the Third Battle of Winchester Sept. 19, 1864. Lynchburg, Va., native Rodes attended Virginia Military Institute, graduating in 1848. He instructed at VMI until 1851, when he took a civil engineer's job. He later became the chief engineer of the Northeast & Southwest Alabama Railroad, but left that post just prior to the start of conflict to return to VMI as a professor. At the start of the war, Rodes was commander of the "Warrior Guards" company of the Fifth Alabama Regiment, but was elected colonel of the Fifth Alabama. Combined with the Sixth Alabama and Sixth Louisiana, the units combined in Ewell's Brigade, fighting at the First Battle of Manassas (Bull Run). In the reorganization of units, Rodes was given command of an Alabama brigade in the division of D.H. Hill Oct. 21, 1861. His brigade saw action in the Peninsular campaign, and Rodes was wounded (right arm) at Seven Pines (Fair Oaks). The brigade also fought at Gaines' Mill and Malvern Hill under the command of Col. John B. Gordon. During the invasion of Maryland, Rodes' Brigade was thrown into action defending Turner's Gap during the Battle of Boonsborough (South Mountain), holding back the Army of the Potomac's veterans long enough for Southern units to capture Harpers Ferry and concentrate in the town of Sharpsburg. The brigade fought in the Sunken Road (Bloody Lane) at the Battle of Sharpsburg (Antietam). While the brigade wasn't featured at Fredericksburg, Rodes had a new role for the Battle of Chancellorsville, taking over as temporary division commander. After Rodes' Division, under Jackson's Corps, played a starring role in the victory, Rodes was made full division commander with his promotion to major general May 7, 1863. His first action with the new rank was not his shining moment. Failure to recon cost his division dearly in the opening hours of Gettysburg, but success came in a shattering attack on Paul's Brigade, which opened the path into Gettysburg. The division was on the northern part of the Confederate lines for the rest of the battle. Returning to Virginia, Rodes commanded his division in the Overland Campaign at The Wilderness and Spotsylvania Courthouse. At the latter fight, Rodes commanded the Bloody Angle and counterattack at the Mule Shoe. Sent to the Valley with Early's troops, Rodes' Division fought at actions against Hunter's Army in the Shenandoah Valley. Advancing north of the Potomac River, the division fought at the battles of Monocacy and Cool Springs, among other skirmishes. As Early's army retreated back into Virginia, it fought units under the command of Maj. Gen. Philip H. Sheridan at the Third Battle of Wnchester (Opequon Creek) Sept. 19, 1864. While leading a charge that opened the lines of the Federal XIX and VI Corps, Rodes was fatally wounded by artillery. He was buried in Lynchburg, Va.

Looks good. I'm hoping to take time off from the rest of the forum to go through this and the other recent bios. Perhaps tomorrow...

And here's the edited version, complete with ratings and teaching abilities:

Maj. Gen. Robert E. Rodes (b. 1829, d. 1864). "No single death – save that of Jackson, caused such deep regret and bitter sorrow," wrote Brig. Gen. Cullen A. Battle (in “Third Alabama!,” edited by Brandon H. Beck) following the death of Maj. Gen Robert Emmett Rodes at the Third Battle of Winchester on Sept. 19, 1864. Lynchburg, Virginia, native Rodes attended Virginia Military Institute, graduating in 1848. He instructed at VMI until 1851, when he took a civil engineer's job. He later became the chief engineer of the Northeast & Southwest Alabama Railroad, but left that post just prior to the start of conflict to return to VMI as a professor. At the start of the war, Rodes was commander of the "Warrior Guards" company of the Fifth Alabama Regiment, but was elected Colonel of the Fifth Alabama. Combined with the Sixth Alabama and Sixth Louisiana, the units comprised Ewell's Brigade, fighting at the First Battle of Manassas (Bull Run). In the reorganization of units, Rodes was given command of an Alabama brigade in the division of Gen. D.H. Hill on Oct. 21, 1861. His brigade saw action in the Peninsular campaign, and Rodes was wounded in his right arm at Seven Pines (Fair Oaks). The brigade also fought at Gaines' Mill and Malvern Hill under the command of Col. John B. Gordon. During the invasion of Maryland, Rodes' Brigade was thrown into action defending Turner's Gap during the Battle of Boonsborough (South Mountain), holding back the Army of the Potomac's veterans long enough for Southern units to capture Harper’s Ferry and concentrate in the town of Sharpsburg. The brigade fought in the Sunken Road (or “Bloody Lane”) at the Battle of Antietam. While the brigade wasn't featured at Fredericksburg, Rodes had a new role for the Battle of Chancellorsville, taking over as temporary division commander. After Rodes' Division, under Jackson's Corps, played a starring role in the victory, Rodes was made full division commander with his promotion to major general May 7, 1863. His first action at the new rank was not his shining moment: failure to conduct reconnaissance cost his division dearly in the opening hours of the Battle of Gettysburg, but success came in a shattering attack on Paul's Brigade, which opened the path into Gettysburg. The division was on the northern part of the Confederate lines for the rest of the battle. Returning to Virginia, Rodes commanded his division in the Overland Campaign at The Wilderness and Spotsylvania Courthouse. At the latter fight, Rodes commanded the Bloody Angle and counterattack at the Mule Shoe. Sent to the Valley with Gen. Jubal Early's troops, Rodes' Division fought in actions against Hunter's Army in the Shenandoah Valley. Advancing north of the Potomac River, the division fought at the battles of Monocacy and Cool Springs, among other skirmishes. As Early's army retreated back into Virginia, it fought units under the command of Maj. Gen. Philip H. Sheridan at the Third Battle of Wnchester (Opequon Creek) on Sept. 19, 1864. While leading a charge that opened the lines of the Federal XIX and VI Corps, Rodes was fatally wounded by artillery. He was buried in his native Lynchburg.


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