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Contributed by: Diane Siniard Name: Robert Frederick Hoke State Served: North Carolina Highest Rank: Major-Gen Birth Date: 1837 Death Date: 1912 Birth Place: Lincolnton, North Carolina Army: Confederacy Promotions: Promoted to Full 2nd Lieut (1st NC Inf) Promoted to Full Major Promoted to Full Lt Colonel (33rd NC Inf) Promoted to Full Colonel (21st NC Inf) Promoted to Full Brig-Gen Promoted to Full Major-Gen Biography: HOKE, ROBERT F. NORTH CAROLINA. Colonel, Twenty-first North Carolina Infantry. Major, lieutenant colonel and colonel of the Thirty-third North Carolina Infantry. Major, First North Carolina Infantry (six months men). Brigadier general, P. A. C. S., January 17, 1863. Major general, P. A. C. S., April 20, 1864. Commands. Brigade composed of the Sixth, Twenty-first, Fifty-fourth, and Fifty-seventh North Carolina Regiments, and First North Carolina Battalion Infantry, Early's Division, Jackson's (afterward Ewell's) Corps, Army of Northern Virginia. Commanding District of North Carolina. Division composed of the brigades of Martin, Hagood, Clingman and Colquitt, Army of Northern Virginia. Source: General Officers of the Confederate States of America Major-General Robert F. Hoke was born at Lincolnton, N. C., May 27, 1837, and was educated at the Kentucky military institute. He entered the military service of the State in April, 1861, as a member of Company K, of the First regiment, was immediately commissioned second lieutenant, and as captain was commended for "coolness, judgment and efficiency" in D. H. Hill's report of the battle of Big Bethel. In September he became major of this regiment. At the reorganization he was commissioned lieutenant-colonel of the Thirty-third regiment, Col. C. M. Avery. He had command of five companies at the battle of New Bern, March 14, 1862, and was distinguished for gallantry. The colonel being captured here, he subsequently had command of the regiment, and in that capacity participated with Branch's brigade in the Virginia battles of Hanover Court House, Mechanicsville, Gaines' Mill, Frayser's Farm and Malvern Hill. With promotion to colonel he took part in the campaigns of Second Manassas and Sharpsburg. On the return of Colonel Avery to his regiment, Colonel Hoke was assigned to the command of the Twenty-first regiment of Trimble's brigade, Early's division. This brigade he commanded in the battle of Fredericksburg, and won the unstinted praises of Early and Jackson by the prompt and vigorous manner in which he drove back Meade's troops after they had broken the Confederate right. He pursued the enemy, capturing 300 prisoners, until he found himself exposed to a flank attack, when he retired in good order, leaving part of his command to hold the railroad cut from which the Federals had been ousted. In January following he was promoted brigadier-general and assigned to the command of Trimble's brigade, including the Sixth, Twenty-first, Fifty-fourth, Fifty-seventh North Carolina regiments and the First battalion. During the battle of Chancellorsville he fought at Fredericksburg, where he was wounded May 4th, so seriously as to prevent his participation in the Pennsylvania and Rappahannock campaigns. In January, 1864, he reported to General Pickett at Petersburg, where his brigade was sent, and forwarded to North Carolina. In the latter part of the month he organized the movement against New Bern from Kinston. At the head of one column he successfully surprised and captured the enemy's outposts, and defeated the troops which were thrown against him, but on account of the delay of the other column, was unable to reduce the post. On April 17th, in command of the Confederate forces, he attacked the Federal forts at Plymouth, and vigorously pushed the assaults, aided by the ram Albemarle against the enemy's gunboats, until the garrison of 3,000 men was surrendered April 20th For this brilliant achievement, which was of great value in moral effect at this critical period in the war, Congress voted him a resolution of thanks, and he was promoted major- general, the commission bearing the date of his victory. General Lee wrote to President Davis: "I am very glad of General Hoke's promotion, though sorry to lose him, unless he can be sent to me with a division." Now, Petersburg and Richmond being threatened by Butler, he was called to that field, and joining Beauregard May 10th, was put in command of the six brigades sent forward to Drewry's bluff. Upon the further organization of the hastily-collected army he had charge of one of the three divisions, the front line being composed of his division and Ransom's. In the battle of May 16th he handled his command with resolution and judgment, one of his brigades, Hagood's, capturing five pieces of artillery. At Cold Harbor he held one of the most important parts of the Confederate line with his division, repelling repeated furious assaults, and again before Petersburg fought in the battles of June. From the Petersburg trenches he moved in December with his division to Wilmington to confront Butler, who was frightened away from Fort Fisher by part of his command. After the landing of the second expedition under Terry, he advanced his two brigades and drove in the enemy's pickets, and according to the accounts of the Federal officers, might have relieved Fort Fisher had he not been ordered back by General Bragg. He subsequently opposed the advance of Cox from New Bern. On March 8th, while wading a swamp, his column was suddenly met by a fire from the enemy, when he displayed his presence of mind by ordering his officers to "make all the men cheer. " By his coolness, what might have been a disaster to his own division was converted into a defeat of the enemy. Moving on Bragg's right flank he vigorously assailed the enemy on the 10th, and on the 19th, in the battle of Bentonville, his division sustained gallantly and hurled back the heaviest attack of the Federals. On the 20th, Sherman's whole army being up, the attacks were renewed, mainly on Hoke's division, but were repulsed on every occasion. His services and those of his men at this famous battle are among the most illustrious examples of Confederate generalship and valor in the whole course of the war. As General Hampton has said: "Bragg, by reason of his rank, was in command of this division, but it was really Hoke's division, and Hoke directed the fighting." On May 1st General Hoke issued a farewell address to his division, in the course of which he said: "You are paroled prisoners, not slaves. The love of liberty which led you into the contest burns as brightly in your hearts as ever. Cherish it. Associate it with the history of your past. Transmit it to your children. Teach them the rights of freemen and teach them to maintain them. Teach them the proudest day in all your proud career was that on which you enlisted as Southern soldiers." Upon the return of peace he devoted himself to the development of the material resources of the State, becoming the principal owner of the Chapel Hill iron mine, and obtaining a large interest in the Cranberry iron mine, in Mitchell county. Source: Confederate Military History, vol. V, p. 317 |