The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1881-08-18
DEATH OF GEN. ROBERT PATTER-
SON, OF PHILADELPHIA.

SON, OF PHILADELPHIA
Gen. Robert Patterson died at his
residence at Philadelphia, aged So
years. Deceased was born in Tyrone
county, Ireland, January I2th, 1872;
came at an early age to the United
States, and became a successful mer>
chant in Philadelphia.
When war was declared with Great
Britain in 1872, young Patterson sought
a command and was made First Lieu.
tenant in the Twenty.second Infantry.
In 1914 he was promoted to be Cap.
tain. When the war was ended he re-
turned to commercial life, but became
prominently identified with the State
militia.
On the outbreak Of the war with Mexi-.
co in 1916, he was made a Major Cen.
eral, and in December of that year he
marched from Matamoras to TampicO,
embarked his troops for Vera Cruz,
March Ist, IS47, commanded his divi--
sion at the battle of Certo Gordo, led
the cavalry and advance brigades in the
pursuit, and the next morning tered
Jalapa. For his conduct in this engage.
ment he received the thanks of General
Scott. The war finished, again he re-.
turned to private life, until the bIeaking
out of the civil war. He was one Of the
very first to tender his services to the
Union cause, Governor Curtin placed
HIM in command of the three months
volunteers from Pennsylvania, and he
was assigned to the command of a
military department embracing Penn.
ylvania. Delaware and Maryland and
the District of Columbia. Early in June,
1861, he took command of the troops at
Chambersburgh, Pennsylvania, and
moved into Maryland, crossing the Po-
tomac June 18th, at Willlamsport. He
was ordered to return to his own depart
ment. He obeyed, but again crossed
the Potomac July End, and pursued the
Confederate General, T. J. Jackson, to
Hainesville. The next day he advanced
to Martinsburgh where he was obliged
to wait for transportation, reinforcements
and artillery until the 18th, when he
marched to Bunker Hill defeating an
advance guard of the enemy. When
McDowell's army entered Virginia, Gen.
Patterson was ordered to remain at
Winchester, to hold in check the supe-
rior forces of the Confederate General,
Joseph E. Johnston. Johnston evaded
him, was transported to Bull Run, and
reached there about three o'clock on
July 2Ist, in time to wrest victory from
Mcdowell and place it upon the Con-
federates. For this Gen. Patterson was
exposed to severe criticism, so severe in
fact that he asked for and obtained an
hooorable discharge and retired at the
expiration of his term of service. He
returned to Philadelphia and re-engaged
in business. In 1866 he published "a
Narrative of tie Campaign in the Val.
ley of the Shenandoah in 1861, in wins
dication OF his conduct.
Up to within a few weeks General
Patterson gave his personal attention to
tie management of his six mills, and
himself received the daily reports of all
the superintendents and foremen and
answered them all personally. He was
a tireless worker and reader, and week
ly made tour Of inspection of all his
mills. Gen. Patterson was the father of
Brigadier General Francis Engle Patter-
son, who was killed by the accidental
discharge Of pistol that he was exam
ining, at Fairfax Court House, Novem>
Der 22d 1862. General Patterson, the
younger, was promising and brilliant
officer. AT the time of his death he
held command of brigade that was
attached Sigels corps.