Robert Woodson Withers

A Campbell County farmer, he enlisted in Company I, 42nd Virginia Infantry, in June 1861 as Private. He was promoted Sergeant and elected 1st Lieutenant in September. He was in command of the Company at times between then and his promotion to Captain in April 1862. He had been briefly in command of the Regiment in August.

He was in command of the Regiment at Sharpsburg on 17 September, and relieved Captain Page of the 21st Virginia in command of what was left of the Brigade.

He was again in command of the Regiment through most of October and November. He was recommend for promotion to Lieutenant Colonel in January 1863, and was in actual command after March. He was promoted to Lt Colonel in April (to rank from November 1862). He was wounded in action at Gettysburg on 2 July, but returned to his command by October. He was appointed Colonel of the 42nd in February 1864.

He was again wounded, through the left lung, at Shepherdstown in August 1864, and captured there. He was hospitalized til mid-October and then imprisoned at Point Lookout, Maryland until exchanged, through Venus Point , Georgia, on 15 November 1864. He was in hospital at Lynchburg and on sick leave until the end of the War.

He was Clerk of the Campbell County Court (1871 - 1893).1

Service data from rosters and muster reports compiled by Chapla.2

01/18/1835; Campbell County, VA

1896; Rustburg, VA