Confederate Military History/Volume 3/Biographical/R

by Clement Anselm Evans

Brigadier-General Alexander Welch Reynolds was born in Clarke county, Va., in August, 1817, and was graduated at the United States military academy in 1838, in the class of Generals Beauregard, Hardee, Edward Johnson and Stevenson. He was promoted second lieutenant First infantry on graduation, and first lieutenant a year later; served in the Florida war as adjutant of his regiment in 1838-40, and again in 1840-41; subsequently was on frontier duty in the northwest, and then on recruiting service until 1847, when he was promoted captain and assigned to quartermaster duty. In the latter capacity he served at Philadelphia, in the Mexican war, and in Indian Territory and New Mexico. He was on duty as a quartermaster at various points, mainly in Texas, from 1857, until he left the United States service to enter the Confederate army, in which he received the rank of captain of infantry. In July, 1861, he was commissioned colonel of the Fiftieth Virginia infantry, Floyd's brigade, with which he participated in Floyd's campaign in West Virginia. He was in command of the post at Lewisburg during the winter following. After the men had returned from the Fort Donelson campaign. Colonel Reynolds was ordered in April to collect his regiment and go to the support of Gen. E. Kirby Smith, at Knoxville. A few weeks later, he was in command of a brigade composed of the Thirty-ninth and Forty-third Georgia infantry, to which was added Latrobe's Maryland battery. With this command he was sent to Chattanooga, and thence to Vicksburg, where he was assigned to Stevenson's division, in command of a brigade of four Tennessee regiments. He was commended officially for this faithful service during the siege of Vicksburg. Being exchanged in July, 1863, he resumed command of his brigade, when it was restored to the service, with the rank of brigadier-general. After the battle of Chickamauga he was assigned to a brigade composed of the Fifty-eighth and Sixtieth North Carolina and the Fifty-fourth and Sixty-third Virginia, which he commanded in the battle of Missionary Ridge. Subsequently his brigade was attached to Stevenson's division, Hardee's corps, with which he was actively engaged in the Atlanta campaign, until painfully wounded at New Hope church. Upon the close of hostilities he went to Egypt, and in 1866 was appointed a brigadier-general in the army of the khedive. After serving in the Abyssinian war he resided for a time at Cairo, and died at Alexandria, Egypt, May 26, 1876.

 

Brigadier-General Beverly Holcombe Robertson, a native of Virginia, was graduated at the United States military academy in 1849, promoted to brevet second lieutenant of the Second dragoons. After a year at the cavalry school at Carlisle, Pa., he was promoted second lieutenant, and ordered to the West. He served in New Mexico, Kansas and Nebraska, participating in battle with the Apache Indians at Jornado del Muerto, and with the Sioux at Blue Water, and earning promotion to first lieutenant, until 1859, when, being ordered to Utah, he became adjutant of his regiment and acting assistant adjutant-general of the department of Utah. He was promoted captain March 3, 1861, but in August, having severed his connection with the United States service, he accepted a commission as colonel, Virginia volunteer cavalry. In the cavalry brigade organized by General Stuart in the latter part of 1861, he commanded the Fourth regiment, Virginia cavalry. After Yorktown had been abandoned, and the Federal lines were close to Richmond, he made a gallant fight at New Bridge, in an attempt to repossess Mechanicsville, exercising brigade command in the action. In June, Jackson having concluded his Valley campaign, Robertson was promoted brigadier-general and sent to Mount Jackson to take command of Ashby's cavalry, and protect that region. From Ashby's command was organized the Seventh cavalry regiment, Col. W. E. Jones; the Twelfth regiment, Col. A. W. Harman; and the Seventeenth battalion (later the Eleventh regiment), Maj. O. R. Funsten. These, with the Sixth regiment. Col. P. S. Flournoy, and the Second regiment, Col. T. T. Munford (which had accompanied Jackson), constituted Col. Robertson's brigade when he rejoined Stuart on the Rapidan river in August. Very soon afterward he participated in the victory at Brandy Station, and was congratulated by Stuart upon the superior discipline and stability of the command he had organized. During the battle of Groveton he was in command on the right holding back Porter, and on the 30th of August, made a handsome cavalry fight against Buford's brigade, on the Federal left flank, driving the enemy and capturing 300 prisoners. On September 5th, General Robertson was ordered to the department of North Carolina for the organization and instruction of cavalry troops. In this capacity he displayed excellent ability, also participating in the demonstration against New Bern in March, 1863. Of his brigade he led two regiments, the Fourth and Fifth North Carolina cavalry, to reinforce Stuart in May, 1863; took an important part in the fight at Upperville, and during the Gettysburg campaign, commanded the cavalry division left with the main army, with orders to watch the enemy, and follow in the rear of Lee, after Stuart started on his raid through Maryland. This division consisted of his North Carolina brigade and his former Virginia brigade, now commanded by W. E. Jones. On the last day of the Gettysburg battle his command fought a cavalry battle near Fairfield, and during the retreat was engaged in repeated skirmishes, particularly at Funkstown and Hagerstown. After the return to Virginia, his two regiments having been reduced to 300 men, he asked to be transferred to another field, and was assigned in October to the command of the Second district of South Carolina. In this field he remained, with enlarged command, during the remainder of the war, defeating the Federal attempt to possess John's island in July, 1864, commanding the cavalry forces which covered the retreat of Hardee from Charleston, and participating in several engagements with Sherman's troops. General Robertson is now engaged in the insurance business at Washington, D. C.

 

Major-General Thomas Lafayette Rosser was born upon a farm in Campbell county, Va., October 15, 1836, the son of John and Martha M. (Johnson) Rosser. The family removed from Virginia to Texas in 1849, and from that State Rosser was appointed to the United States military academy in 1856. The course of study being then five years, he was in the graduating class when it was ordered into the field by President Lincoln. He immediately resigned, and proceeding to Montgomery was commissioned first lieutenant in the regular army of the Confederate States. Being assigned as instructor to the Washington artillery of New Orleans, he commanded the Second company of that organization at the battles of Blackburn's Ford and Manassas in July, 1861, and with Stuart at Munson's hill and the battle of Lewinsville. His success in shooting down McClellan's observation balloon won him promotion to captain, and in this rank he commanded his battery in the defense of Yorktown and on the retreat up the peninsula. At the battle of Mechanicsville he was severely wounded, and was soon promoted to lieutenant-colonel of artillery, and a few days later to colonel of the Fifth Virginia regiment of cavalry. Thus began his career as a cavalryman, in which he won great distinction as a dashing, intrepid and skillful officer. He commanded the advance of Stuart's expedition to Catlett's Station, in the campaign against Pope, and captured the latter's orderly and horses; in the fight at Groveton, Va., August 28, 1862, commanded

Brig.-Gen. P. T. Moore.	Brig.-Gen. Daniel Ruggles.	Maj.-Gen. Edward Johnson.
Maj.-Gen Wm. Mahone.	Brig.-Gen. W. H. F. Lee.	Maj.-Gen. Carter L. Stevenson.
Brig.-Gen. W. E. Jones.	Brig.-Gen. D. A. Weisiger.	Brig.-Gen. R. Lindsay Walker.
Maj.-Gen. G. W. C. Lee.	Maj.-Gen. Geo. E. Pickett.	Brig.-Gen. Edwin G. Lee.

the only cavalry with Jackson; and confronted and held in check the forces of Fitz John Porter on August 29th. At South Mountain he commanded the only cavalry at Crampton's gap, and with Pelham's artillery took a prominent part in the gallant fight. He participated in the battle of Sharpsburg, and subsequently for a time led Fitzhugh Lee's brigade during the fighting against Pleasanton. At the opening of the battle at Kelly's ford, he was upon court-martial duty, with Stuart and Pelham, but rode immediately to the front with those officers, and finding his regiment in the rear, charged with it upon the enemy who was crowding back the Confederate front, and drove him back some distance. The Federals, reaching a wood, dismounted and opened a heavy fire, in which Rosser fell severely wounded, and Pelham was killed while leading his regiment in another charge. Rosser was disabled until the Pennsylvania campaign, when he rode with Stuart around Hooker and Meade, and participated in the three days' fight at Gettysburg. After this battle he was promoted to brigadier-general, and assigned to the old brigade of Turner Ashby, "the Laurel brigade." With this gallant command he was conspicuous in the campaigns of 1864. On May 5th, the opening day in the Wilderness, "a large force of cavalry and artillery on our right flank was driven back by Rosser's brigade," and on June 2d he "fell upon the rear of the enemy's cavalry" near Hanover Court House, and "charged down the road toward Ashland, bearing everything before him," quoting the telegraphic reports of Gen. R. E. Lee. At Trevilian's station he drove Custer back against Fitz Lee and captured many prisoners, but was painfully wounded while leading a charge at the head of his brigade. He also took part in the famous "cattle raid," while Grant was about Petersburg. He won all the distinction possible in the desperate struggle against Sheridan's overwhelming forces in the Shenandoah valley, and in command of Fitzhugh Lee's division saved Early's army at the battle of Cedar Creek, holding the line and checking the enemy's pursuit until 9:30 p. m., then taking position in the works at Fisher's hill, and safely conducting Early's retreat to New Market next day. He was promoted major-general in November, 1864. He conducted the successful expedition against New Creek, W. Va., taking many prisoners and great quantities of Stores, and in January, 1865, with 300 men, crossed the mountains in deep snow and bitter cold, and surprised and captured two infantry regiments in their works at Beverly, W. Va. Returning to the vicinity of Petersburg in the spring of 1865, he commanded a division of cavalry during the remainder of the struggle, fighting with honor at Five Forks, and at High Bridge, April 6th, defeating and capturing the entire command of General Read, who fell in combat with General Dearing. On April 7th, Rosser captured General Gregg, and rescued a wagon train near Farmville, and in the last hour of battle at Appomattox, a little after daylight April 9, 1865, charged the Federal cavalry and escaped from the fatal field with his command. Under directions from the secretary of war, he began a reorganization of the scattered troops of the army of Northern Virginia, but was made a prisoner about the time of Johnston's surrender. After the return of peace he was for a time superintendent of the National express company under General Johnston, was assistant engineer in the construction of the Pittsburg & Connellsville railroad, and in the spring of 1870 became connected with the construction of the Northern Pacific railroad. Beginning in an humble capacity he became chief engineer of the eastern division in 1871, and built the main part of the road. Later he was chief engineer of the Canadian Pacific, and located and built the road west of Winnipeg. Since 1886 he has resided near Charlottesville, Va.

 

Brigadier-General Daniel Ruggles, a native of Massachusetts who tendered his services to Virginia at the beginning of the great war, was born January 31, 1810, and was graduated at the United States military academy in the class of 1833. His military service was rendered mainly with the Fifth infantry in the Northwest until the Florida war of 1839-40, in which he participated with the rank of first lieutenant. He was then stationed in Wisconsin and Michigan until 1845, when he took part in the military occupation of Texas. Going into the Mexican war next year, he took part in the battles of Palo Alto and Resaca de la Palma, and won promotion to captain. In 1847 he served at Vera Cruz, San Antonio and Molino del Rey, and was promoted brevet major for gallantry at Contreras and Churubusco, and brevet lieutenant-colonel for his services at Chapultepec. From the close of that war until 1858 he was on duty mainly in Texas. After taking part in the Utah expedition, he was on sick leave of absence until the outbreak of the Confederate war, when he resigned from the United States army. He was commissioned brigadier-general of Virginia volunteers in April, and assigned to the command of the State forces along the line of the Potomac from Mount Vernon south, and in May was put in command of troops from the counties surrounding Fredericksburg, where he was stationed. His rank then became that of colonel in the provisional army. The troops under his command repulsed the attacks of Federal vessels at Aquia creek and Mathias point in June, 1861. In August following he was commissioned brigadier-general, provisional army. Confederate States, and ordered to Pensacola, Fla., and two months later to New Orleans, where he organized a brigade which was sent to Corinth early in 1862, General Bragg desiring the benefit of the experience and soldierly ability of Ruggles in that quarter. He reported the landing of Grant's army at Shiloh, March 16th, and in the great battle which followed, in April, he commanded the first division of Bragg's corps, consisting of the brigades of Anderson, Gibson and Pond, and was conspicuous through the two days' fight for the skill and gallantry with which he handled his troops. After he had driven the enemy from his front, a rally was made, which would have resulted disastrously to the Confederates if Ruggles had not made a rapid and masterly concentration of artillery at a point enfilading the right flank of Prentiss' division. The artillery, thus admirably placed, worked havoc in Prentiss' command, and drove back the reinforcements coming to his assistance, so that within an hour the entire command surrendered to the infantry attack, in which Ruggles' men had an important part. During the next day his troops fought valiantly, and he shared their danger, on one occasion leading the charge of the Seventeenth Louisiana, with its regimental flag in his hand. He fought the successful battle of Farmington, May 9th, and continued in division command during the siege of Corinth, but on June 26th was assigned to the district comprising the gulf counties of Mississippi and Louisiana east of the river. He commanded the left wing of Breckinridge's army in the successful battle of Baton Rouge; in August was put in command at Port Hudson, and later was given command of the First military district of Mississippi, with headquarters at Jackson. In April, 1864, he made his headquarters at Columbus, where he had a force of about 3,000 men, and was in the field opposing various Federal expeditions during the Vicksburg campaign. Subsequently he remained for some time unassigned, though anxious for duty in spite of his advanced age, but finally accepted the post of commissary-general of prisoners of war. After the close of hostilities he resided at Fredericksburg, Va., except four years when in charge of a large estate in Texas. He was a member of the board of visitors of the United States military academy in 1884. His death occurred at Fredericksburg in 1897.