Robert V. Richardson
Encyclopedia
Robert Vinkler Richardson (November 4, 1820 – January 6, 1870) was a brigadier general in the Confederate States Army
during the American Civil War
.
, on November 4, 1820. His family moved to Hardeman County, Tennessee, when Richardson was a child. Richardson was admitted to the bar and moved to Memphis, Tennessee
, in 1847 to practice there. He made business connections with Nathan Bedford Forrest
and Gideon J. Pillow.
. Richardson engaged in the Battle of Shiloh
and the Siege of Corinth
. He was attached to Forrest's command in the fall of 1863. On December 3, he was appointed brigadier general; however, after being confirmed his nomination was returned by the Confederate Senate at the request of President Jefferson Davis
on February 9, 1864. From then to the remainder of the War, his regiment was attached to James R. Chalmers' command.
A communication from Richardson dated October 28, 1863 at Water Valley, MS indicated the difficult living conditions experienced during the War: “For God and the country’s sake, make your fair promising but never complying Quartermaster send me skillets, ovens, pots, or anything else that will bake bread or fry meat. I want clothing, shoes and blankets for my naked and freezing men. . . . I cannot fight any more until I get something to cook in.”
and railroad construction with Forrest. After stopping at a tavern
in Clarkton, Missouri
, on January 5, 1870, he was shot by an unknown assailant who fired a shotgun
at him from behind a wagon in the tavern yard. He died the next day and is buried in Elmwood Cemetery in Memphis.
Confederate States Army
The Confederate States Army was the army of the Confederate States of America while the Confederacy existed during the American Civil War. On February 8, 1861, delegates from the seven Deep South states which had already declared their secession from the United States of America adopted the...
during the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
.
Early life
Richardson was born in Granville County, North CarolinaGranville County, North Carolina
-Demographics:As of the census of 2010, there were 59,916 people in 20,628 households residing in the county. The population density was 111.6 people per square mile . There were 22,827 housing units at an average density of 42.5 per square mile...
, on November 4, 1820. His family moved to Hardeman County, Tennessee, when Richardson was a child. Richardson was admitted to the bar and moved to Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis is a city in the southwestern corner of the U.S. state of Tennessee, and the county seat of Shelby County. The city is located on the 4th Chickasaw Bluff, south of the confluence of the Wolf and Mississippi rivers....
, in 1847 to practice there. He made business connections with Nathan Bedford Forrest
Nathan Bedford Forrest
Nathan Bedford Forrest was a lieutenant general in the Confederate Army during the American Civil War. He is remembered both as a self-educated, innovative cavalry leader during the war and as a leading southern advocate in the postwar years...
and Gideon J. Pillow.
Civil War
During the early part of the War, Richardson served under Pillow and recruited the 12th Tennessee Cavalry (also known as the 1st Tennessee Partisan Rangers) and was elected that unit's colonelColonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
. Richardson engaged in the Battle of Shiloh
Battle of Shiloh
The Battle of Shiloh, also known as the Battle of Pittsburg Landing, was a major battle in the Western Theater of the American Civil War, fought April 6–7, 1862, in southwestern Tennessee. A Union army under Maj. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant had moved via the Tennessee River deep into Tennessee and...
and the Siege of Corinth
Siege of Corinth
The Siege of Corinth was an American Civil War battle fought from April 29 to May 30, 1862, in Corinth, Mississippi.-Background:...
. He was attached to Forrest's command in the fall of 1863. On December 3, he was appointed brigadier general; however, after being confirmed his nomination was returned by the Confederate Senate at the request of President Jefferson Davis
Jefferson Davis
Jefferson Finis Davis , also known as Jeff Davis, was an American statesman and leader of the Confederacy during the American Civil War, serving as President for its entire history. He was born in Kentucky to Samuel and Jane Davis...
on February 9, 1864. From then to the remainder of the War, his regiment was attached to James R. Chalmers' command.
A communication from Richardson dated October 28, 1863 at Water Valley, MS indicated the difficult living conditions experienced during the War: “For God and the country’s sake, make your fair promising but never complying Quartermaster send me skillets, ovens, pots, or anything else that will bake bread or fry meat. I want clothing, shoes and blankets for my naked and freezing men. . . . I cannot fight any more until I get something to cook in.”
Post-War and murder
After the War, Richardson travelled abroad and lived overseas. He returned to Memphis and worked in leveeLevee
A levee, levée, dike , embankment, floodbank or stopbank is an elongated naturally occurring ridge or artificially constructed fill or wall, which regulates water levels...
and railroad construction with Forrest. After stopping at a tavern
Tavern
A tavern is a place of business where people gather to drink alcoholic beverages and be served food, and in some cases, where travelers receive lodging....
in Clarkton, Missouri
Clarkton, Missouri
Clarkton is a city in Dunklin County, Missouri, United States. The population was 1,330 at the 2000 census. The local Clarkton public school was founded in 1871, and the school mascot is the reindeer...
, on January 5, 1870, he was shot by an unknown assailant who fired a shotgun
Shotgun
A shotgun is a firearm that is usually designed to be fired from the shoulder, which uses the energy of a fixed shell to fire a number of small spherical pellets called shot, or a solid projectile called a slug...
at him from behind a wagon in the tavern yard. He died the next day and is buried in Elmwood Cemetery in Memphis.
See also
- List of American Civil War generals