History of Lincolnton, (Lincoln County) North Carolina United States of America

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Biographies:

Robert Frederick Hoke, soldier, was born in Lincolnton, N.C., May 27, 1837; son of Michael and Frances (Burton) Hoke; grandson of John and Barbara Hoke and of the Hon. Robert and Mary Burton; great grandson of Col. Robert Burton, delegate to the Continental congress, 1787-88, and a descendant of Judge Williams, one of the first judges of the supreme court of North Carolina, whose only child, a daughter, married Col. Robert Burton. He joined the Confederate army in 1861 as a private and was made 2d lieutenant of Co. K, 1st N.C. regiment, and was promoted major of this regiment. He was later transferred to the 33d infantry, in which organization he served. He subsequently became colonel of the 11th infantry, and when the regiment was reorganized as the 21st he was continued in command as major, lieutenant-colonel and colonel. On Jan. 17, 1863, he was promoted brigadier-general and on April 20, 1864, major-general on his capture of Plymouth, N.C. His promotion to major-general was directly from President Davis by telegram to the field of battle, being the only such promotion during the war. His brigade served in General Early's division, Jackson-Ewell's corps, 1863-64. In 1864 he conmmanded a division made up of the brigades of Generals Martin, Hagood, Clingman and Colqnitt, which met the principal part of the battle at Cold Harbor, 1864, against General Grant. He commanded a district in North Carolina in 1865 and surrendered with Johnston at Durham station, April 26, 1865. He then engaged in business in North Carolina, was prominent in railroad and transportation interests and served as president of the Seaboard Air Line system.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

Stephen Dodson Ramseur, soldier, was born in Lincolnton, N.C., May 31, 1837; son of Jacob A. and Lucy M. (Wilfong) Ramseur. He was a student at Davidson college, N.C., 1853?55; was graduated at the U.S. Military academy, fourteenth in a class of 41, in 1860, and was assigned to the artillery. He served in garrison at Fort Monroe, Va., and at Washington, D.C., 1860?61; was promoted 2d lieutenant, 4th artillery, Feb. 1, 1861, and resigned from the U.S. army, April 6, 1861, entering the Confederate service as captain of artillery. Early in 1862 he reported to Gen. John B. Magruder on the Peninsula with the 10th North Carolina artillery, having been promoted major. He was transferred to the 49th North Carolina infantry as colonel, April 12, 1862, which he commanded in Robert Ransom's brigade, Holmes's division, Magruder's command in the seven days' battles before Richmond, June 25?July 1, 1862, where he was wounded. He was promoted brigadier-general. Nov. 1, 1862, and commanded the third brigade, composed of the 2d, 4th, 14th and 30th North Carolina regiments in D. H. Hill's divisions, Jackson's corps, in the Chancellorsville campaign, and was again wounded. He commanded his brigade in Rodes's division. Ewell's 2d corps at Gettysburg, and from the Wilderness to Cold Harbor, and was promoted major-general, June 1, 1864. When the second corps was transferred from Ewell to Early, June 12, 1864, for the invasion of Maryland and attack on Washington. Ramseur's division was made up of the brigades of Lilley, Johnston and Lewis. After engaging the enemy at Harper's Ferry and Maryland Heights, he occupied the centre of Early's line of battle at the Monocacy crossing, July 9, 1864. where Gen. Lew Wallace opposed the advance but was repulsed and driven south within the lines of de-fences of Washington. On July 13, when within sight of the dome of the capitol, learning of the advance of General Grant to the relief of the Federal capitol, Early ordered his army to fall back, which they did that night, crossing the Potomac at White's Ford above Leesburg on the morning of the 14th, entering the valley through Snicker's Gap and after crossing the Shenandoah awaiting the Federal army at Berryville. On Aug. 7, 1864, Sheridan had assumed command of the middle military division and of the Army of the Shenandoah. Then followed the battles of Cedarville, Winchester, Fisher's Hill and Cedar Creek, August-October, 1864. Meantime Ramseur's division had been given the first position in Early's army, and his command was made up of the brigades of C. A. Battle, Phil Cook, Bryan Grimes, and W. R. Cox in the battle of Cedar Creek, Va., Oct. 19, 1864, where he was mortally wounded. He died at Winchester, Oct. 20, 1864.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor