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Brig. Gen. Philip D. Roddey, CSA (b. 1826, d. 1897) A cavalry commander who served under both Joseph Wheeler and Nathan B. Forrest, Philip Dale Roddey served for most of his career in north Alabama. Roddey was born in Moulton, Ala., April 2, 1826, and received little or no formal education. He worked as a tailor, was sheriff of Lawrence County, Ala. and worked in steamboating on the Tennessee River. In 1861, Roddey organized a cavalry company and was elected the captain. In the early part of the war, Roddey’s unit was employed in semi-independent scouting missions. In December 1862, Roddey was commissioned colonel. He recruited and organized the Fourth Alabama Cavalry. That unit served under both Wheeler and Forrest. Roddey was elevated to brigadier general Aug. 3, 1863. His unit operated within the larger army role and as an independent force. He fought in the Atlanta Campaign and Hood’s Tennessee Invasion. He fought with Forrest at Selma, Ala., as the units tried to stave off Federal Gen. James Wilson’s forces. When the Confederate defenses crumbled, Roddey and Forrest escaped by swimming across the Alabama River under the cover of darkness. Paroled May 17, 1865, Roddey moved to New York, N.Y., and engaged in business. While in England negotiating the sale of a patent for a pump, Roddey became ill and died (uremia was the cause of death) at Westminster Hospital in London July 20, 1897.

Brig. Gen. Jerome B. Robertson, CSA (b. 1815, d. 1891) A doctor by trade, Jerome Bonaparte Robertson had many chances to operate against Federal opposition during the Civil War. Nicknamed “Polly” and the father of Brig. Gen. Felix H. Robertson, Jerome Robertson had practiced medicine for 34 years prior to the outbreak of the Civil War. Robertson was born in Woodford County, Ky., March 14, 1815. When his father died, the young Robertson was left penniless. He was apprenticed to a hatter for many years before attending Transylvania University to study medicine. He graduated in 1835 and moved to Texas the next year. He served in the Republic’s army before settling in Washington County, Texas. Besides practicing medicine, Robertson developed a reputation as an Indian fighter. He was a member of both houses of the Texas legislature and a delegate to the 1861 secession convention. He joined the Confederate ranks as a captain in the Fifth Texas Infantry. He was promoted to lieutenant colonel in November 1861 and colonel June 1, 1862. He received his promotion to brigadier general Nov. 1, 1862. His combat included the Seven Days Campaign, Second Manassas and commanding the Texas Brigade at Gettysburg. He was wounded at Second Manassas and at Gettysburg. When Gen. Longstreet’s Corps was temporarily assigned to action in Tennessee and Georgia, Robertson’s unit fought at Chickamauga and in the Knoxville Campaign. After those actions, Robertson was transferred west and returned to Texas to take charge of the state’s reserve corps. He served out the remainder of the war in the Trans-Mississippi Theater. After the war, Robertson returned to his medical practice for some time. He was the superintendent of the state bureau of immigration in 1874. In 1879, he moved to Waco and became active in railroad building in west Texas. He died in Waco, Jan. 7, 1891.

Brig. Gen. Felix H. Robertson, CSA (b. 1839, d. 1928) Felix Huston Robertson’s major claim to fame was that he was the last surviving Confederate general officer to die, passing away in Waco, Texas, April 20, 1928. It was reported he was the only native Texan to achieve a wreath around his stars. Another odd fact about the second-generation Confederate general was that the Confederate Senate did not confirm Robertson at any grade from major to brigadier general, rejecting the final nomination Feb. 22, 1865. Reasons for those actions were not made evident. That did not prevent Robertson from serving in those grades. The son of Jerome Bonaparte Robertson, Felix H. Robertson was born in Washington, Texas, March 9, 1839. He attended Baylor University when the school was located in Independence, Texas. Appointed to the U.S. Military Academy in 1857, he left West Point Jan. 29, 1861, to offer his services to the Confederacy. The young nation took that offer and commissioned him as a second lieutenant of artillery and sent him to the siege of Fort Sumter. After that, he went to serve on the staff of Gen. Gladden at Pensacola, Fla. At Shiloh, he commanded a battery with the rank of captain. After distinguishing himself at Murfreesboro, Robertson was promoted to major. He was a battalion commander in Longstreet’s command at Chickamauga. He received another promotion to lieutenant colonel in January 1864 and was given command of the artillery for Wheeler’s Cavalry Corps. He stayed in this role through the Atlanta Campaign. Robertson was promoted to brigadier general July 26, 1864. He first served as Wheeler’s chief of staff before being placed in command of a cavalry brigade. He later ran a division until being wounded at Buckhead Creek, near Augusta, Ga., Nov. 29, 1864. That wound knocked him out of active service. His final service came when he was asked by Gen. Howell to negotiate the surrender of Macon, Ga. to former West Point classmate Federal Gen. James H. Wilson. After the war, Robertson studied law. He was the dean of the local bar in Waco, Texas, when he died.

Brig. Gen. Beverly H. Robertson, CSA (b. 1827, d. 1910) Beverly Holcombe Robertson held the distinction of being commissioned in two armies at the same time. While serving as an officer in the U.S. Second Dragoons, Robertson also held the role of captain in the Confederate adjutant general’s department (to rank from March 16, 1861). That led to his dismissal from the U.S. Army Aug. 8, 1861, “having given proof of his disloyalty.” Robertson was born at “The Oaks” Amelia County, Va., June 5, 1827. He was a member of the U.S. Military Academy’s Class of 1849 and served virtually his entire pre-war career with the Second Dragoons. He was a favorite of Col. Philip St. George Cooke, who regularly commended him in dispatches. Soon after Robertson’s dismissal from the U.S. Army, he was elected colonel of the Fourth Virginia Cavalry. He fought in Jackson’s Valley Campaign in 1862. When Turner Ashby was killed, Robertson assumed command of Jackson’s cavalry. He was promoted to brigadier general June 9, 1862. With the Army of Northern Virginia, he served under Gen. JEB Stuart in the Second Manassas Campaign. Ordered to North Carolina, he was back for most of the Gettysburg Campaign. Out of favor with Stuart, who called him “troublesome,” Robertson was transferred to South Carolina. He stayed there until his district was evacuated as Sherman approached. Some time after the war, Robertson moved to Washington, D.C. and engaged in the insurance business. He died in Washington, D.C., Nov. 12, 1910.

Here's Roddey. No significant changes:

Brig. Gen. Philip Dale Roddey (b. 1826, d. 1897). A cavalry commander who served under both Gen. Joseph Wheeler and Gen. Nathan B. Forrest, Roddey served for most of his career in north Alabama. He was born in Moulton, Alabama, April 2, 1826, and received little or no formal education. He worked as a tailor, served as sheriff of Lawrence County, Ala. and worked in steamboating on the Tennessee River. In 1861, Roddey organized a cavalry company and was elected the captain. In the early part of the war, Roddey’s unit was employed in semi-independent scouting missions. In December 1862, Roddey was commissioned Colonel. He recruited and organized the 4th Alabama Cavalry, which served under both Wheeler and Forrest. Roddey was elevated to Brigadier General on Aug. 3, 1863. His unit operated within the larger army and as an independent force. He fought in the Atlanta Campaign and Gen. John B. Hood’s Tennessee Invasion, and then with Forrest at Selma as the units tried to stave off Union Gen. James Wilson’s forces. When the Confederate defenses crumbled, Roddey and Forrest escaped by swimming across the Alabama River under the cover of darkness. Paroled May 17, 1865, Roddey moved to New York City and engaged in business. While in England negotiating the sale of a patent for a pump, Roddey became ill and died (uremia was the cause of death) at Westminster Hospital in London on July 20, 1897. (Bio by Bill Battle)

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

Start date: 62

Robertson #1. The only significant change was that I reworked the first two sentences a bit for rhetorical reasons.


Brig. Gen. Jerome Bonaparte “Polly” Robertson. (b. 1815, d. 1891). A doctor by trade, Robertson had many chances to operate against Union opposition during the Civil War – as did his son, Brig. Gen. Felix H. Robertson. The elder Robertson had practiced medicine for thirty-four years prior to the outbreak of the Civil War. He was born in Woodford County, Kentucky, on March 14, 1815. When his father died, the young Robertson was left penniless. He was apprenticed to a hatter for many years before attending Transylvania University to study medicine. Robertson graduated in 1835 and moved to Texas the next year, where he served in the Republic’s army before settling in Washington County. Besides practicing medicine, Robertson developed a reputation as an Indian fighter. He was a member of both houses of the Texas legislature and a delegate to the 1861 secession convention. When the Civil War began, Robertson joined the Confederate ranks as a captain in the 5th Texas Infantry. He was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel in November 1861, Colonel June 1, 1862 and finally Brigadier General a year later, on Nov. 1, 1862. His combat experiences included the Seven Days Campaign, Second Manassas and commanding the Texas Brigade at Gettysburg. Robertson was wounded at Second Manassas and at Gettysburg. When Gen. James Longstreet’s Corps was temporarily assigned to action in Tennessee and Georgia, Robertson’s unit fought at Chickamauga and in the Knoxville Campaign. After those actions, Robertson was transferred west and returned to Texas to take charge of the state’s reserve corps. He served out the remainder of the war in the Trans-Mississippi Theater. After the war, Robertson returned to his medical practice for some time. He was the superintendent of the state bureau of immigration in 1874. In 1879, he moved to Waco and became active in railroad building in west Texas. He died in Waco, Jan. 7, 1891. (Bio by Bill Battle)

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

Start date: 44

Robertson #2:

Brig. Gen. Felix Huston Robertson (b. 1839, d. 1928). Robertson’s major claim to fame was that he was the last surviving Confederate general officer to die, passing away in Waco, Texas, on April 20, 1928. It was reported he was the only native Texan to achieve a wreath around his stars. Another odd fact about the second-generation Confederate general, whose father was Brig. Gen. Jerome Bonaparte Robretson, was that the Confederate Senate did not confirm Robertson at any grade from major to brigadier general, rejecting the final nomination on Feb. 22, 1865. Reasons for those actions were not made evident. That did not prevent Robertson from serving in those grades. The younger Robertson was born in Washington, Texas, on March 9, 1839. He attended Baylor University when the school was located in Independence, Texas. Appointed to the U.S. Military Academy in 1857, he left West Point on Jan. 29, 1861, to offer his services to the Confederacy. The young nation took that offer and commissioned him as a second lieutenant of artillery and sent him to the siege of Fort Sumter. After that, Robertson went to serve on the staff of Gen. Adley H. Gladden at Pensacola, Fla. At Shiloh, he commanded a battery with the rank of captain. After distinguishing himself at Murfreesboro, Robertson was promoted to major. He was a battalion commander in Gen. James Longstreet’s command at Chickamauga. Robertson then received another promotion to lieutenant colonel in January 1864 and was given command of the artillery for Gen. Joseph Wheeler’s Cavalry Corps, a role he held through the Atlanta Campaign. Robertson was promoted to brigadier general on July 26, 1864. He first served as Wheeler’s chief of staff before being placed in command of a cavalry brigade. He later ran a division until being wounded at Buckhead Creek, near Augusta, Georgia, on Nov. 29, 1864. That wound knocked him out of active service. His final service came when he was asked by Gen. Howell You mean Howell Cobb, right? to negotiate the surrender of Macon, Georgia to his former West Point classmate, Union Gen. James H. Wilson. After the war, Robertson studied law. He was the dean of the local bar in Waco when he died. (Bio by Bill Battle)

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

Start date: 85

And the final Robertson (no relation). I enjoyed the reason for his being kicked out of the U.S. Army -- nice and understated.



Brig. Gen. Beverly Holcombe Robertson (b. 1827, d. 1910). Robertson held the distinction of being commissioned in two armies at the same time. While serving as an officer in the U.S. 2nd Dragoons, Robertson also held the role of captain in the Confederate adjutant general’s department (to rank from March 16, 1861). That led to his dismissal from the U.S. Army on Aug. 8, 1861, “having given proof of his disloyalty.” Robertson was born at “The Oaks” in Amelia County, Virginia, on June 5, 1827. He was a member of the U.S. Military Academy’s Class of 1849 and served virtually his entire pre-war career with the 2nd Dragoons. Robertson was a favorite of Col. Philip St. George Cooke, who regularly commended him in dispatches. Soon after Robertson’s dismissal from the U.S. Army, he was elected Colonel of the 4th Virginia Cavalry. He fought in Jackson’s Valley Campaign in 1862. When Gen. Turner Ashby was killed, Robertson assumed command of Jackson’s cavalry, and was promoted to Brigadier General on June 9, 1862. Serving in the Army of Northern Virginia, he served under Gen. J.E.B. Stuart in the Second Manassas Campaign. Having been ordered to North Carolina for a time, Robertson was back for most of the Gettysburg Campaign, but was transferred to South Carolina because he had fallen out of favor with Stuart, who called him “troublesome.” He stayed there until his district was evacuated as Union Gen. William T. Sherman approached. Some time after the war, Robertson moved to Washington, D.C. and engaged in the insurance business. He died there on Nov. 12, 1910. (Bio by Bill Battle)

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

Start date: 34

Yes, should be Howell Cobb.