Civil War Confederate Major General. Born in Lynchburg, Virginia, he was a student and teacher at the Virginia Military Institute in Lexington, Virginia. After being passed over for a teaching promotion that was given to Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson, he moved to Tuscaloosa, Alabama to become the chief engineer for the Alabama and Chattanooga Railroad. At the start of the Civil War he became Colonel and commander of the 5th Alabama Infantry. In October of 1861 he was promoted to Brigadier General, PACS. He was wounded in battles at Seven Pines in May 1862 and Antietam in September 1862. At the Battle of Chancellorsville in May 1863 he was made Major General by a dying Stonewall Jackson, and placed in charge of Jackson's Corps until Major General J.E.B. Stuart arrived. He went on to fight at The July 1863 Battle of Gettysburg and in the May 1864 Wilderness Campaign. On September 19, 1864, Union General Philip Sheridan attacked Confederate forces at the Battle of Opequon, where General Rodes successfully rescued the wife of General John Gordon from capture. While he and Gordon were planning an assault on Sheridan's troops a Union shell struck him in the back of the head, ending his life.
Civil War Confederate Major General. Born in Lynchburg, Virginia, he was a student and teacher at the Virginia Military Institute in Lexington, Virginia. After being passed over for a teaching promotion that was given to Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson, he moved to Tuscaloosa, Alabama to become the chief engineer for the Alabama and Chattanooga Railroad. At the start of the Civil War he became Colonel and commander of the 5th Alabama Infantry. In October of 1861 he was promoted to Brigadier General, PACS. He was wounded in battles at Seven Pines in May 1862 and Antietam in September 1862. At the Battle of Chancellorsville in May 1863 he was made Major General by a dying Stonewall Jackson, and placed in charge of Jackson's Corps until Major General J.E.B. Stuart arrived. He went on to fight at The July 1863 Battle of Gettysburg and in the May 1864 Wilderness Campaign. On September 19, 1864, Union General Philip Sheridan attacked Confederate forces at the Battle of Opequon, where General Rodes successfully rescued the wife of General John Gordon from capture. While he and Gordon were planning an assault on Sheridan's troops a Union shell struck him in the back of the head, ending his life.
Bio by: Bigwoo
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