James Madison Robertson

A 21 year old carpenter, he enlisted in Detroit as a Private in Company F, 2nd United States Artillery on 8 December 1838. He was promoted to Corporal, Artificer, and Quartermaster Sergeant by 17 Aug 1848, and saw action in Mexico. He was appointed 2nd Lieutenant to date from 28 June 1848, promoted to First Lieutenant on 28 September 1852, and to Captain on 14 May 1861.

He commanded the combined Batteries B and L of the 2nd US Artillery on the Maryland Campaign of September 1862.

He was honored by brevets for gallantry at Gaines Mill (to Major), Gettysburg (Lieutenant Colonel), Cold Harbor (Colonel), and for distinguished service while Chief of Horse Artillery (Brigadier General) attached to the Army of the Potomac during the campaign from May to Aug 1864 including the battles of the Wilderness, Cold Harbor, Hawes Shop, and Trevilian Station, VA.

He continued in the Regular Army and was promoted to Major on 17 June 1874. He transferred to the 3rd US Artillery on 1 February 1875 and retired on 20 March 1879.

By 1880 he was living in Plattsburgh, NY.

His service from Heitman1 and the Registers.2 Personal details from family genealogists and the US Census of 1880. His gravesite is on Findagrave. His picture from a June 1862 photograph with his officers at Gaines Mill, VA, now at the Library of Congress.

He married Frances O. Fouquet (1838-1926) in November 1860.

Heitman says he changed his name from James M Robinson, but he's probably confusing a man of the same age but with different physical attributes who enlisted in Cleveland in the 2nd Artillery a month before our James, in November 1838, and deserted soon after.

1817; Sutton Township, Merrimack County, NH

01/24/1891; Plattsburgh, NY; burial in Riverside Cemetery, Plattsburgh, NY