Robert Hoke Robert Frederick Hoke ( May 27 , 1837 – July 3 , 1912 ) was a Confederate major general during the American Civil War , present at one of the earliest battles , Big Bethel , where he was commended for coolness and judgment . Wounded at Chancellorsville , he recovered in time for the defence of Petersburg and Richmond , when his brigade distinguished itself at Cold Harbour ( 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 , 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 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 Lincolnton 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 , . Civil War service . 1861 – 63 . With North Carolina ' s secession from the Union , Hoke at age 24 enlisted in Company K of the 1st North Carolina Infantry and was commissioned as a second lieutenant . Within months , he was promoted to captain and was commended for " coolness , judgment and efficiency " in D . H . Hill ' s report of the Battle of Big Bethel . He was subsequently promoted to major in September . Following the reorganization of North Carolina troops , Hoke was appointed as the lieutenant colonel of the 33rd North Carolina 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 as a part of Lawrence O . Branch ' s brigade . Hoke was promoted to colonel before the Northern Virginia Campaign and fought at the Second Battle of Bull Run , in addition to the Maryland Campaign at the Battle of Antietam . 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 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 in the Battle of Chancellorsville and 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 , in January 1864 , and led it to North Carolina , where he organized attacks on New Bern and Plymouth . In the latter engagement on April 17 , Hoke captured a garrison of 2 , 834 Union soldiers . The Confederate Congress 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 , 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 , where he repulsed several attacks by forces under Maj . Gen . William T . Sherman before overwhelming numbers began to push the Confederates back . Hoke surrendered along with Joseph E . Johnston ' 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 . 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 . One of his brothers - in - law , Robert Van Wyck , was Mayor of New York City and another , Augustus Van Wyck , was an unsuccessful candidate for Governor of New York , losing to Theodore Roosevelt . The Hokes had six children . Their son Michael Hoke became a famous orthopedist in Atlanta , Georgia 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 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 and a bottled water company at Lithia Springs in Lincoln County . Such areas were popular summer retreats . 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 . Hoke died in Raleigh , North Carolina , and was buried with full military honors in Oakwood Cemetery .