Saturday, April 21, 2012

William McKendree Robbins, Class of 1851 (A.B.) and 1854 (A.M.)

Robbins, brother of Julius Alexander Robbins (student 1851-1852)  taught for several years in North Carolina and Alabama after his graduation from R-MC and then became a lawyer in Selma, Alabama. He enlisted on April 24, 1861 as 1st lieutenant in Co. G of the 4th AL Infantry, a unit he helped organize. He was promoted to captain on May 2, 1862 and to major on October 3, 1863. He was wounded in the face and head May 6, 1864 at the Battle of the Wilderness. Robbins  surrendered at Appomattox Court House, VA on April 9, 1865.

William was one of only 2 of the 6 Robbins brothers to survive the war. After the war, he moved from Alabama back to his native North Carolina, where he practiced law and served in both the state legislature and in the US Congress. He also served an important role from 1894 until his death in 1905 as the Confederate representative on the three-member Gettysburg National Military Park Commission, also known as the Gettysburg Battlefield Commission.  He died May 3, 1905 and is buried in Oakville Cemetery in Statesville, NC.

1 comment:

  1. Anonymous7/23/2012

    Thank you for this information about my great grandfather. I did not realize he obtained an A.M. degree in 1854. Do you know what the degree was in? Would appreciate any other info you have. Again, thanks!

    ReplyDelete