Robert E. Rodes personifies the best of those brave men, north and south, who gave the full measure of their life to their cause. Rodes’ accomplishments in brigade command were legendary. His divisional leadership earned him ranking with the elite of the Confederacy’s generals and officers.

Born in 1829 in Lynchburg, Virginia, Rodes attended the Virginia Military Institute and worked as a civil engineer before the outbreak of the Civil War. In May 1861, he fought in First Manassas and quickly rose to brigadier general. His fighting leadership at Seven Days, South Mountain, and Antietam added to his reputation. Rodes was given divisional command just in time to attack in the opening offensives of the Battle of Gettysburg. One of Robert E. Lee’s strongest fighting generals, he fought in the Wilderness and Spotsylvania Campaigns. There his respect and popularity continued to grow.

Rodes was killed fighting near Winchester, Virginia during Jubal Early’s 1864 Shenandoah Valley Campaign.

About: James K. Swisher

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