Robert Frederick Hoke (May 27, 1837 – July 3, 1912) was a Confederate major general during the
American Civil War
The American Civil War (April 12, 1861May 26, 1865; also known by Names of the American Civil War, other names) was a civil war in the United States between the Union (American Civil War), Union ("the North") and the Confederate States of A ...
. He was present at one of the earliest battles, the
Battle of Big Bethel, where he was commended for coolness and judgment. Wounded at
Chancellorsville, he recovered in time for the defense of
Petersburg and
Richmond. His brigade distinguished itself at
Cold Harbor (June 1864), acknowledged by Grant as his most costly defeat. Hoke was later a businessman and railroad executive.
Early life and career
Robert Frederick Hoke was born in
Lincolnton, North Carolina
Lincolnton is a city in Lincoln County, North Carolina, United States within the Charlotte metropolitan area. The population was 11,091 at the 2020 census, with an estimated population of 12,128, as of 2023. Lincolnton is northwest of Charlo ...
, the son of Michael and Frances Burton Hoke. He had a younger sister Mary. Their father was a lawyer, orator, and unsuccessful Democratic nominee for
Governor of North Carolina
The governor of North Carolina is the head of government of the United States, U.S. state of North Carolina. Seventy-five people have held the office since the first state governor, Richard Caswell, took office in 1777. The governor serves a ...
in 1844. Michael Hoke died shortly after losing that election. His death "had lasting effects" on Robert Hoke's political viewpoint.
The son disliked politics and avoided involvement, later rejecting the offer of the governor's position. Robert Hoke was educated at the
Pleasant Retreat Academy. He next studied at the
Kentucky Military Institute, graduating in 1854. Hoke returned to Lincolnton, where he managed various family business interests for his widowed mother, including a cotton mill and iron works.
[Dupuy, pp. 342-3.]
Civil War service
1861–63
With
North Carolina
North Carolina ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Virginia to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the east, South Carolina to the south, Georgia (U.S. stat ...
's
secession
Secession is the formal withdrawal of a group from a Polity, political entity. The process begins once a group proclaims an act of secession (such as a declaration of independence). A secession attempt might be violent or peaceful, but the goal i ...
from the
Union, Hoke at age 24 enlisted in Company K of the
1st North Carolina Infantry Regiment (6 months) and was commissioned as a
second lieutenant. Within months, he was promoted to
captain
Captain is a title, an appellative for the commanding officer of a military unit; the supreme leader or highest rank officer of a navy ship, merchant ship, aeroplane, spacecraft, or other vessel; or the commander of a port, fire or police depa ...
and was commended for "coolness, judgment and efficiency" in
D. H. Hill's report of the
Battle of Big Bethel.
[Wert, p. 114.] He was subsequently promoted to
major
Major most commonly refers to:
* Major (rank), a military rank
* Academic major, an academic discipline to which an undergraduate student formally commits
* People named Major, including given names, surnames, nicknames
* Major and minor in musi ...
in September.
[
Following the reorganization of the 6-month term North Carolina troops, Hoke was appointed as the lieutenant colonel of the 33rd North Carolina Infantry Regiment. He was cited for his gallantry at the Battle of New Bern in March 1862, where he assumed command of the regiment following the capture of its colonel, C. M. Avery. He led the 33rd throughout the ]Peninsula Campaign
The Peninsula campaign (also known as the Peninsular campaign) of the American Civil War was a major Union operation launched in southeastern Virginia from March to July 1862, the first large-scale offensive in the Eastern Theater. The oper ...
as a part of Lawrence O. Branch's brigade
A brigade is a major tactical military unit, military formation that typically comprises three to six battalions plus supporting elements. It is roughly equivalent to an enlarged or reinforced regiment. Two or more brigades may constitute ...
. Hoke was promoted to colonel before the Northern Virginia Campaign and fought at the Second Battle of Bull Run
The Second Battle of Bull Run or Battle of Second Manassas was fought August 28–30, 1862, in Prince William County, Virginia, as part of the American Civil War. It was the culmination of the Northern Virginia Campaign waged by Confederate ...
, in addition to the Maryland Campaign
The Maryland campaign (or Antietam campaign) occurred September 4–20, 1862, during the American Civil War. The campaign was Confederate States Army, Confederate General (CSA), General Robert E. Lee's first invasion of the Northern United Stat ...
at the Battle of Antietam
The Battle of Antietam ( ), also called the Battle of Sharpsburg, particularly in the Southern United States, took place during the American Civil War on September 17, 1862, between Confederate General Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virgi ...
.[Eicher, p. 300.]
Upon Colonel Avery's return from captivity, Hoke was assigned as commander of the 21st North Carolina in Isaac Trimble's brigade in Jubal Early's division. Hoke commanded the brigade at the Battle of Fredericksburg
The Battle of Fredericksburg was fought December 11–15, 1862, in and around Fredericksburg, Virginia, in the Eastern Theater of the American Civil War. The combat between the Union Army, Union Army of the Potomac commanded by Major general ( ...
and helped repulse an attack by Union forces under Maj. Gen. George G. Meade.
Hoke was promoted to brigadier general on January 17, 1863,[ and assigned permanent command of Trimble's brigade, which was composed of five North Carolina regiments. He was severely wounded defending Marye's Heights while the majority of the armies fought at the ]Battle of Chancellorsville
The Battle of Chancellorsville, April 30 – May 6, 1863, was a major battle of the American Civil War (1861–1865), and the principal engagement of the Chancellorsville campaign.
Confederate General Robert E. Lee's risky decision to divide h ...
and was sent home to recuperate. Command of his brigade passed to Col. Isaac E. Avery. Hoke missed the rest of the year's campaigns.
1864–65
Hoke resumed command of his brigade at Petersburg, Virginia
Petersburg is an independent city (United States), independent city in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, the population was 33,458 with a majority bla ...
, in January 1864, and led it to North Carolina, where he organized attacks on New Bern
New Bern, formerly Newbern, is a city in Craven County, North Carolina, United States, and its county seat. It had a population of 31,291 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census. It is located at the confluence of the Neuse River, Neuse a ...
and Plymouth
Plymouth ( ) is a port city status in the United Kingdom, city and unitary authority in Devon, South West England. It is located on Devon's south coast between the rivers River Plym, Plym and River Tamar, Tamar, about southwest of Exeter and ...
. In February, troops under Hoke's command executed twenty two Union soldiers of the 2nd North Carolina Union Volunteer Infantry Regiment by hanging
Hanging is killing a person by suspending them from the neck with a noose or ligature strangulation, ligature. Hanging has been a standard method of capital punishment since the Middle Ages, and has been the primary execution method in numerou ...
at Kinston, North Carolina
Kinston is a city in Lenoir County, North Carolina, United States, with a population of 19,900 as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census. It has been the county seat of Lenoir County since its formation in 1791. Kinston is located in the ...
. These men had been captured in the Battle of New Bern, and were found to have previously served in North Carolina Partisan Ranger units. General George Pickett ordered that they should be court martialed for desertion from the Confederate Army, and the subsequent hangings were carried out by the 54th Regiment, North Carolina Troops of Hoke's brigade. In the Battle of Plymouth on April 17, Hoke captured a garrison of 2,834 Union soldiers.[ The ]Confederate Congress
The Confederate States Congress was both the provisional and permanent legislative assembly/legislature of the Confederate States of America that existed from February 1861 to April/June 1865, during the American Civil War. Its actions were, ...
voted May 17 to extend its thanks for the action of Hoke and his men at Plymouth. Hoke was promoted to major general on April 23, 1864 (ranking from April 20),[ and was given command of what was called Hoke's Division in the Department of North Carolina and Southern Virginia.][ He and his troops were summoned to Virginia in May when the Union Army of the James threatened Richmond and Petersburg.][ Given command of six brigades of infantry, Hoke served with distinction in several actions, including the ]Battle of Cold Harbor
The Battle of Cold Harbor was fought during the American Civil War near Mechanicsville, Virginia, from May 31 to June 12, 1864, with the most significant fighting occurring on June 3. It was one of the final battles of Union Lt. Gen. Ulysses ...
, where his division played an important role in stopping several Union attacks.
In December, Hoke's division was sent to North Carolina when the state was threatened by Union forces. Hoke fought at the defense of Fort Fisher on January 13–15, 1865. He also fought in the Carolinas Campaign and the Battle of Bentonville
The Battle of Bentonville (March 19–21, 1865) was fought in Johnston County, North Carolina, near the village of Bentonville, as part of the Western Theater of the American Civil War, Western Theater of the American Civil War. It was the last ...
, where he repulsed several attacks by forces under Maj. Gen. William T. Sherman
William is a masculine given name of Germanic origin. It became popular in England after the Norman conquest in 1066,All Things William"Meaning & Origin of the Name"/ref> and remained so throughout the Middle Ages and into the modern era. It is ...
before overwhelming numbers began to push the Confederates back.[
Hoke surrendered along with ]Joseph E. Johnston
Joseph Eggleston Johnston (February 3, 1807 – March 21, 1891) was an American military officer who served in the United States Army during the Mexican–American War (1846–1848) and the Seminole Wars. After Virginia declared secession from ...
's army at Bennett Place near Durham and was paroled on May 1, 1865. He was pardoned by the U.S. government on June 14, 1865.[Eicher, p. 301.]
Postbellum activities
Marriage and family
Hoke developed Northern ties when on January 7, 1869, he married Lydia Van Wyck, who was of a prominent political family from New York City
New York, often called New York City (NYC), is the most populous city in the United States, located at the southern tip of New York State on one of the world's largest natural harbors. The city comprises five boroughs, each coextensive w ...
. One of his brothers-in-law, Robert Van Wyck, was Mayor of New York City
The mayor of New York City, officially mayor of the City of New York, is head of the executive branch of the government of New York City and the chief executive of New York City. The Mayoralty in the United States, mayor's office administers all ...
and another, Augustus Van Wyck, was an unsuccessful candidate for Governor of New York
The governor of New York is the head of government of the U.S. state of New York. The governor is the head of the executive branch of New York's state government and the commander-in-chief of the state's military forces. The governor ...
, losing to Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore Roosevelt Jr. (October 27, 1858 – January 6, 1919), also known as Teddy or T.R., was the 26th president of the United States, serving from 1901 to 1909. Roosevelt previously was involved in New York (state), New York politics, incl ...
.
The Hokes had six children. Their son Michael Hoke became a famous orthopedist in Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta ( ) is the List of capitals in the United States, capital and List of municipalities in Georgia (U.S. state), most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia. It is the county seat, seat of Fulton County, Georg ...
and a founder of the Shriner's Children Hospital.
Later career
After the war, Hoke returned to civilian life and engaged in various businesses, including insurance and gold mining. He became principal owner of an iron mine near Chapel Hill, North Carolina
Chapel Hill is a town in Orange County, North Carolina, Orange and Durham County, North Carolina, Durham counties, North Carolina, United States. Its population was 61,960 in the 2020 United States census, making Chapel Hill the List of municipa ...
, and another one in Mitchell County. He also served as the director of the North Carolina Railroad for many years. Railroad construction was creating new networks across the South, and new opportunities for business.[
Hoke owned a ]resort
A resort (North American English) is a self-contained commercial establishment that aims to provide most of a vacationer's needs. This includes food, drink, swimming, accommodation, sports, entertainment and shopping, on the premises. A hotel ...
and a bottled water
Bottled water is drinking water (e.g., Water well, well water, distilled water, Reverse osmosis, reverse osmosis water, mineral water, or Spring (hydrology), spring water) packaged in Plastic bottle, plastic or Glass bottle, glass water bott ...
company at Lithia Springs in Lincoln County. Such areas were popular summer retreats.["Inventory of the Robert F. Hoke Papers", University of North Carolina]
With his success in the war and business, politicians tried to recruit Hoke to office, even offering him the position of governor of the state. He declined, having permanently turned away from politics as a child after his father's death. His nephew Hoke Smith served as secretary of the interior, and then as governor and a senator from Georgia.
Hoke died in Raleigh, North Carolina
Raleigh ( ) is the List of capitals in the United States, capital city of the U.S. state of North Carolina. It is the List of municipalities in North Carolina, second-most populous city in the state (after Charlotte, North Carolina, Charlotte) ...
, and was buried with full military honors in Raleigh's Oakwood Cemetery.
Legacy and honors
* Hoke County, North Carolina was named in his honor in 1911.
*The Robert F. Hoke Chapter #78 of the United Daughters of the Confederacy was named for the former general, as was Camp #1616 of the Sons of Confederate Veterans.
See also
* List of American Civil War generals (Confederate)
Notes
References
* Evans, Clement A., ''Confederate Military History'', Volume III. Atlanta: Confederate Publishing Company, 1899.
* Dupuy, Trevor N., Johnson, Curt, and Bongard, David L., ''Harper Encyclopedia of Military Biography
''The Harper Encyclopedia of Military Biography'' () was written by Trevor N. Dupuy, Curt Johnson and David Bongard, and was issued in 1992 by HarperCollins Publishers. It contains more than three thousand short biographies of military figures ...
'', Castle Books, 1992, 1st Ed., .
* Eicher, John H., and Eicher, David J., ''Civil War High Commands'', Stanford University Press, 2001, .
* Warner, Ezra J. ''Generals in Gray: Lives of the Confederate Commanders.'' Baton Rouge: Louisiana State University Press, 1959. .
* Wert, Jeffry D., "Robert Frederick Hoke", ''The Confederate General'', Vol. 3, Davis, William C., and Julie Hoffman (eds.), National Historical Society, 1991, .
* Obituary of Robert F. Hoke, published in a Charlotte, North Carolina
Charlotte ( ) is the List of municipalities in North Carolina, most populous city in the U.S. state of North Carolina and the county seat of Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, Mecklenburg County. The population was 874,579 at the 2020 United ...
, newspaper on July 6, 1912.
Further reading
* Barefoot, Daniel, ''General Robert F. Hoke: Lee's Modest Warrior'', John F. Blair Publisher, 2001, .
External links
Inventory of Robert F. Hoke's papers
University of North Carolina Library
D.G. Martin column: "A question for Civil War buffs"
''Salisbury Post'', June 16, 2008
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Hoke, Robert
19th-century American railroad executives
1837 births
1912 deaths
Burials at Historic Oakwood Cemetery
Confederate States Army major generals
People from Lincolnton, North Carolina
People of North Carolina in the American Civil War
People pardoned by Andrew Johnson
Robert Frederick
Hoke County, North Carolina