Robert Franklin Beckham
Encyclopedia
Robert Franklin Beckham was a young artillery officer who commanded a horse artillery battalion under JEB Stuart and in the Army of Tennessee
. He was mortally wounded at Columbia before the battle of Battle of Franklin (1864) on November 29, 1864.
in January 1862, playing a key role at the battle of Seven Pines. Beckham was subsequently elected captain of the Jeff Davis Artillery on March 31, 1862 but did not accept, continuing to serve as an ordnance office at the rank of major. Upon Stuart's request, Beckham was assigned to command the Stuart Horse Artillery after the death of Major John Pelham (officer) on April 8, 1863.
Beckham was a personally brave officer who earned the approval of Stonewall Jackson
at the battle of Chancellorsville and a commendation for gallantry from Stuart at the battle of Brandy Station. He was also a capable administrator, earning the praise of Stuart in administering his batteries and refitting them.
In February 1864, Beckham was transferred west to command the artillery of the Army of Tennessee. He was promoted to colonel. While in command of the artillery, he was mortally wounded while commanding his guns at Columbia, the day before the battle of Franklin, on November 29, 1864, dying several days later on December 5. He was buried in St. John's Churchyard in Ashwood, Tennessee.
Army of Tennessee
The Army of Tennessee was the principal Confederate army operating between the Appalachian Mountains and the Mississippi River during the American Civil War. It was formed in late 1862 and fought until the end of the war in 1865, participating in most of the significant battles in the Western Theater...
. He was mortally wounded at Columbia before the battle of Battle of Franklin (1864) on November 29, 1864.
Early life
Beckham was born in Culpeper, Virginia. He graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point as a member of the class of 1859. Beckham ranked 6th in his class of 22. He then served as a lieutenant in the United States Engineers until 1861 and the outbreak of the Civil War.Civil War
When the Civil War began, Beckham commanded an artillery battery which he led at the First Battle of Bull Run. He then joined the staff of General Gustavus Woodson SmithGustavus Woodson Smith
Gustavus Woodson Smith , more commonly known as G.W. Smith, was a career United States Army officer who fought in the Mexican-American War, a civil engineer, and a major general in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War.-Early life and Mexico:Smith was born in Georgetown,...
in January 1862, playing a key role at the battle of Seven Pines. Beckham was subsequently elected captain of the Jeff Davis Artillery on March 31, 1862 but did not accept, continuing to serve as an ordnance office at the rank of major. Upon Stuart's request, Beckham was assigned to command the Stuart Horse Artillery after the death of Major John Pelham (officer) on April 8, 1863.
Beckham was a personally brave officer who earned the approval of Stonewall Jackson
Stonewall Jackson
ຄຽשת״ׇׂׂׂׂ֣|birth_place= Clarksburg, Virginia |death_place=Guinea Station, Virginia|placeofburial=Stonewall Jackson Memorial CemeteryLexington, Virginia|placeofburial_label= Place of burial|image=...
at the battle of Chancellorsville and a commendation for gallantry from Stuart at the battle of Brandy Station. He was also a capable administrator, earning the praise of Stuart in administering his batteries and refitting them.
In February 1864, Beckham was transferred west to command the artillery of the Army of Tennessee. He was promoted to colonel. While in command of the artillery, he was mortally wounded while commanding his guns at Columbia, the day before the battle of Franklin, on November 29, 1864, dying several days later on December 5. He was buried in St. John's Churchyard in Ashwood, Tennessee.