The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1873-08-08
co,ongt robert z. wtthers.

Colonel Robert II. -WitnerS, who has re-
ceived the nomination on the Conservative
ticket for Lieutenant Governor, was born in
| Campbell county, Va, in 1921. He gradu-
ated at the University of Virginia, and be-
came practitioner Of medicine, to which
be devoted himself exclusively for nineteen
years. He resided first in Campbell and
then in Danville, going to the latter place in
1853, and there remaining until the late civil
war.
| Colonel Withers entered the war at its be-
ginning, and in April, 1861, came to this city
in command of battalion. Here he was as
sigued by Governor Letcher to the COM
mand Of the Eighteenth Virginia regiment.
He participated in the battles of First Ma
nassaS, Seven Pines, and Gaines's Mill. In
the last-named he fell dreadfully wounded
while leading his regiment in the final charge,
| in which the enemy was routed. He re-
ceived wounds through the right lung, the
pelvis, and arm, together with q wound in
| the scalp. So fearful, indeed, was he wound
| ed that his recovery was considered almost
hopeless. He, however, SO far recovered as
to feel that he could return to the field. Sey-
eral times he attempted to resume his corD-
mand in the active service, but was so much
disa abled that each trial Was found to be in
yaiu. Colonel Withers, Indeed, has not yet
hecn entirely restored from the effects of his
tclrful wounds.
| He was before the close of the war assign.
ed to the prison post at Danville, and held it
until be surrendered to General Wright on
the 22d of April, 1865.
The war ended, he was toe. much of a Grip
pie for the country practice of medicine,
and seeking some pursuit better adapted to
| bis physical condition, he became editor
first of the Lynchburg Netcs, and afterwards
of the Richmond Enquirer. The Coloue
showed readiness aud facility as writer, and
wrote with yigor and force, and we can say
that for his honorable, fair, and manly con-
duct as an editor he was an ornament Of the
profession.
In the spring of 1868 he was nominated
| for the Office of Governor, and canvassed
the State against the Radical party and the
then pending Underwood Constitution. He
SO aroused public opinion against the Con-
stitution that the military authority (Geu.
cral Canby), fearing its rejection, postponed
| the vote upon it.
| Before the campaign was over the "Ll5e'
ral movement" as it was then called, was
set on foot. 1t contemplated a union Of Lib
eral Republicans and Democrats, and
Colonel Withers being rather ultra, it was
thought, for that time,-the State being still
out of the Union-he yielded to the wishes
of many friends and withdrew. Governor
Walker was then nominated upon the fl'
sion ticket, and the grand triumph of that
ticket followed. For Colonel Withers's
magnanimity at that time it has been gene
rally thought that he should have been
honored with some prominent position, and
his friends thought the present good op'
portunty to discharge this public obligation
to this deserving gentleman. General kemper
was nominated over him by the Conservative
Convention, and all parties combined to be-
stow upon him the second place, which he
accepted under sense of duty, in spite OF
his just pride and self-respcct.
In every relation in life Colonel WiFhers
has proved his loyalty, vaor, truth, aud Vlr
tue; and as ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS will honor
the office he will be placed in.