Robert Newton Adams, D.D. was an American Brevet Brigadier General during the American Civil War. He commanded the 81st Ohio Infantry Regiment throughout the later years of the war and participated in the Federal Penetration up the Cumberland and Tennessee Rivers and the Atlanta campaign.

Early years

Robert was born on September 15, 1835, at

Fayette County, Ohio Fayette County is a county located in the U.S. state of Ohio. As of the 2020 census, the population was 28,951. Its county seat is Washington Court House. The county was named for the Marquis de Lafayette, a Frenchman who was an officer in ...

as the son of

as the son of Albert Adams and Nancy Verdie Coffey Adams as well as a descendant of the Douglas family. Adams spent his childhood at his parents barn before attending the Greenfield School there.

American Civil War

In 1858, he enrolled in

Miami University Miami University (informally Miami of Ohio or simply Miami) is a public research university in Oxford, Ohio. The university was founded in 1809, making it the second-oldest university in Ohio (behind Ohio University, founded in 1804) and the 10 ...

but during his junior year, the American Civil War broke out. After graduating, Adams enlisted in the 20th Ohio Infantry Regiment on April 18, 1861, as a part of the "University Rifles" (Later known as Company C) which was mustered in

Oxford, Ohio Oxford is a city in Butler County, Ohio, United States. The population was 23,035 at the 2020 census. A college town, Oxford was founded as a home for Miami University and lies in the southwestern portion of the state approximately northwest o ...

for a tenure of 3 months. After his initial tenure expired, August 30, 1861, Adams was made Captain of the new 81st Ohio Infantry Regiment of Company C. Adams was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel on May 7, 1862, and on August 8, 1864, to Colonel. Adams saw active combat at the battles of Shiloh and Corinth, Town Creek, Resaca,

Dallas Dallas () is the third largest city in Texas and the largest city in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex, the fourth-largest metropolitan area in the United States at 7.5 million people. It is the largest city in and seat of Dallas County wi ...

Kennesaw Mountain Kennesaw Mountain is a mountain between Marietta and Kennesaw, Georgia in the United States with a summit elevation of . It is the highest point in the core (urban and suburban) metro Atlanta area, and fifth after further-north exurban counti ...

Nickajack Creek Nickajack Creek is a stream in Cobb and Fulton counties in the U.S. state of Georgia. It is a tributary to the Chattahoochee River. Groundwater serves as the water source, with the creek beginning in Marietta, Georgia. The creek runs through the ...

Atlanta Atlanta ( ) is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Georgia. It is the seat of Fulton County, the most populous county in Georgia, but its territory falls in both Fulton and DeKalb counties. With a population of 498,715 ...

, Jonesborough and Hobkirk's Hill. Adams was then brevetted Brigadier General on March 13, 1865, for "meritorious services during the war". Adams was then honorably mustered out with his regiment on July 13, 1865, at

Louisville, Kentucky Louisville ( , , ) is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Kentucky and the 28th most-populous city in the United States. Louisville is the historical seat and, since 2003, the nominal seat of Jefferson County, on the Indiana border. ...

Later years

After the war, Adams studied in the Allegheny Theological Seminary and gained his license by 1869. He then became a pastor from 1869 to 1875 in Ohio and

Kansas Kansas () is a state in the Midwestern United States. Its capital is Topeka, and its largest city is Wichita. Kansas is a landlocked state bordered by Nebraska to the north; Missouri to the east; Oklahoma to the south; and Colorado to the w ...

. Adams then moved to

Minnesota Minnesota () is a state in the upper midwestern region of the United States. It is the 12th largest U.S. state in area and the 22nd most populous, with over 5.75 million residents. Minnesota is home to western prairies, now given over to ...

and worked at Fergus Falls. Adams was then made Superintendent of Home Missions in 1886 and would hold that position for 21 years. Adams died on March 25, 1914, and was buried at

Lakewood Cemetery Lakewood Cemetery is a large private, non-sectarian cemetery located in Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States. It is located at 3600 Hennepin Avenue at the southern end of the Uptown area. It is noted for its chapel which is on the National Re ...

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Adams, Robert Newton 1835 births 1914 deaths People from Fayette County, Ohio People of Ohio in the American Civil War Union Army colonels Union Army generals 19th-century Baptists Miami University alumni Burials at Lakewood Cemetery

Early years

American Civil War

Later years

See also

References