Father: Thomas Burbage
Mother: Mary Orrell
- Attended Concord Academy, Caroline Co., VA
1850 - Student, Hanover Co., VA (indexed in the 1850 U. S. Census as Robert Coleman living with mother and stepfather, George Fleming)
1851 - Lived, Hanover Co., VA
1851 - A.B. degree, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA
1851 - M.D. degree, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA (from: VA)
1851-1852 - Attended Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, PA
1852 - 2nd M.D. degree, Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, PA (from: VA; thesis: "Pneumonia")
1852-1854 - Intern, Blockley Hospital, Philadelphia, PA, and a private student of Dr. Gerhard and Dr. Warrington
1854 - Moved to Richmond, VA, and practiced medicine
10/24/1855 - Married, Mildred Rose "Millie" Irving, Nelson Co., VA [she died in 1887]
1860 - Practiced medicine, 3rd Ward, Richmond, Henrico Co., VA [indexed in the 1860 U.S. Census as R. T. Colemand - living with wife and son]
07/16/1861 - Appointed Surgeon from VA, Provisional Army of the Confederate States
07/16/1861 - As Surgeon, ordered to report to the 21st VA Infantry
08/26/1861 - Post Surgeon, Huttersville [?Huntersville, VA]
12/05/1861 - Granted a furlough to January 10, 1862
02/18/1862 - Granted 10 days furlough from Winchester, VA
03/23/1862 - Surgeon, 21st VA Infantry, Army of the Valley [VA]
05/28/1862 - Dr. Coleman added the following explanation to a receipt for forage "On the 28 May '62 by order of Genl [T. J.] Jackson I proceeded to Staunton to take charge of Genl Ed. Johnson & did not rejoin my command until the 18th of July 1862"
07/23/1862 - Surgeon, 2nd VA Brigade
08/09/1862 - Surgeon, 2nd Brigade, 1st Division, [VA] Valley Army
08/19/1862 - Chief Surgeon, 1st Division [Gen. T. J. Jackson's]
12/11/1862 - Medical Director, [Gen. T. J.] Jackson's Division, (Gen. W. B. Taliaferro, commanding), 2nd Corps, Army of Northern Virginia
05/02/1863 - Division Surgeon, Gen. I. R. Trimble's
Division (Gen. R. E. Colston, commanding), 2nd Corps, Army of Northern Virginia
05/03/1863 - Assisted Medical Director Hunter Holmes McGuire in amputating the left arm of Gen. T. J. Jackson, near Chancellorsville, VA, by administering anesthesia
06/15/1863 - Chief Surgeon, Gen. E. Johnson's Division, 2nd Corps, Army of Northern Virginia
06/30/1863 - Chief Surgeon, Gen. E. Johnson's Division
09/03/1863 - Chief Surgeon, Gen. E. Johnson's Division, Montpelier [?VA]
11/27/1863 - Chief Surgeon, Gen. E. Johnson's Division, 2nd Corps, Army of Northern Virginia
12/23/1863 - Chief Surgeon, Gen. E. Johnson's Division, 2nd Corps, Army of Northern Virginia
12/23/1863 - Granted 15 days extension of leave [S.O. 316/10 - A. N. Va.]
02/15/1864 - As Surgeon, Gen. R. S. Ewell's Corps, Army of Northern Virginia, served as a member of a commission to visit hospitals and to return all men who are fit for service to the army
02/23/1864 - "A Commission consisting of the following-named medical officers will proceed at once to inspect the hospitals in Virginia, South Carolina, North Carolina, and Georgia, with authority to return to the field all detailed men and patients fit for duty. They will also report on those detailed on government work or in conscript camps, whether their places may not be supplied by men now disabled. Commanding generals will give all necessary facilities for carrying out the object proposed. Surgeons R. J. Breckenridge [Breckinridge], R. T. Coleman, S. W. Langdon, Provisional Army Confederate States." [S.O. 44/15]
03/23/1864 - "Commissioned to examine hospitals", Walker Hospital, Columbus, GA
04/04/1864 - Senior Surgeon, Medical Commission, Atlanta, GA
04/13/1864 - In a letter written from La Grange, GA, to an unknown person, Surgeon R. T. Coleman wrote," The undersigned members of the Commission appointed by Special Orders No. 44 par __ A. & I. G.O. Richmond, Feby 25th 1864, respectfully report that they have Examined the Hospitals at LaGrange, and direct that the persons designated in the Enclosed lists be immediately returned to their respective Commands for duty. They take pleasure at the same time in testifying to the admirable order, neatness and general sanitary condition of the Hospitals and the courtesy and valuable assistance afforded them by yourself especially, and the Medical Officers in Charge. Very respectfully, your obt servt,
R. T. Coleman, Surgeon P. A. C. S.
S. H. Langdon, Surgeon P. A. C. S.
05/01/1864 - Surgeon & Medical Inspector, Gen. R. S. Ewell's Corps
05/06/1864 - Serving on Medical Commission (made in pursuance of S.O. 44/15)
05/05/1864 - Serving on Medical Commission, Augusta, GA
05/06/1864 to 05/07/1864 - Serving on Medical Commission, Charleston, SC
05/10/1864 - Serving on Medical Commission, Weldon, NC
06/01/1864 - Surgeon and Medical Inspector, Army of the Valley District
09/14/1864 - "A commission consisting of the following-named medical officers will proceed at once to make a thorough inspection of the hospitals in Virginia and North Carolina, with authority to return to the field all detailed men and patients fit for duty. They will also report on the men detailed on government work or in conscript camps, whether their places may not be supplied by men now disabled. Commanding generals will give all necessary facilities for carrying out the object proposed: Surgeons R. J. Breckenridge [Breckinridge,]
Robert Coleman,
S. W. Langdon,
Provisional Army Confederate States." [S.O. 218/18]
10/17/1864 - In a letter to Surgeon J. B. McCaw [Surgeon-in-charge, Chimborazo Hospital, Richmond, VA] Medical Inspector R. T. Coleman wrote, "The commission appointed by Special orders No. 218 A & I G O Sept 14th 1864 have the honor to report that they have discharged their duties at the Hospital, and ___[?direct persons be returned to duty] ___, whose names are embraced in the enclosed list. The general condition of this Hospital, the neatness, the order, and discipline evident in its management, as well as the manifest judicious attention to the maladies of the sick and wounded are strong proof of the superior administrative ability of yourself, and the professional skill of your associate Medical Officers. The members of the Commission return their thanks for the efficient and courteous cooperation extended to them by the Medical Officers of the hospital in the discharge of their duties. Very respectfully, Yr obt Servt,
Surgeon R. T. Coleman
Surgeon J N. Miller
Surgeon George T. Harrison
Commission"
11/30/1864 - Commission submitted report
12/07/1864 - Surgeon and Medical Inspector
12/13/1864 - In a letter to Surgeon T. R. Micks, Wilmington, NC, R. T. Coleman wrote, "Sir: We have completed the inspection of the Hospital under your charge. We remain very Respect.
Your obdt servt
R. T. Coleman
George T. Harrison
12/30/1864 - "Surgeon R. T. Coleman (awaiting orders) will report without delay to Surgeon [W. A.] Carrington, medical director, Richmond, Va." [S.O. 309/12]
12/31/1864 - "R. T. Coleman, Surgeon", appeared on the register of Gen. Hospital No. 4, Wilmington, NC as "Commissioner appointed for the examination of men in Hospitals"
01/26/1865 - Assigned to duty as Assistant to the Medical Director [Richmond, VA] and ordered to make inspections of the General Hospitals in Virginia
03/08/1865 - "Will proceed without delay to Winder Hospital [Richmond, VA] and inspect and report on the accommodation and treatment give paroled prisoners (not sick and wounded) at that hospital. He will particularly report on the
quantity and quality of food furnished" [S.O. 45 - Medical Director's Office]
03/13/1865 - "In accordance with orders from the A.& I. General [,] Surgeon R T Coleman is relieved from duty at the Medical Director's Office and will report without delay to Surgeon J. B. McCaw for assignment to the Charge of the 4th Division of Chimborazo Hospital." [S.O. 48 - Medical Director's Office]
03/20/1865 - Surgeon R. T. Coleman submitted the following Chimborazo Hospital [Richmond, VA] inspection report to Medical Director of Hospitals, W. A. Carrington. "Sir, I have the honor to inform you that I have this day made a thorough inspection of Chimborazo Hospital & respectfully submit the following report.
1st Division
Surg P. T. Browne. This Division deserves to be especially mentioned for the neatness of its Wards, the cleanliness, the good sanitary condition of its grounds & the rigid enforcement of all the orders emanating from you & the Surgeon General's Office.
2nd Division
Surg [S. E.] Habersham. This Division in the cleanliness of its wards and the neatness of its bedding is inferior to any others at this hospital. This is explained on the ground that the large invasion of returned prisoners of its wards has prevented proper policing. ?Books __ properly kept.
3rd, 4th, & 5th Divisions
Surgeon E. H. Smith, Asst Surg W. D. Chapman, & Surg Ed. M. Seabrook - respectively in charge. In there [sic] Divisions the grounds are well policed, the ___ & bed clothing in tolerable good condition, the books & papers properly kept, orders filed & copied.
General Remarks
Five large privies are absolutely needed at this hospital & although a requisition was made several weeks since they have not yet been erected All of the wards of Chimborazo should at once be whitewashed & fifty barrels of lime would be required for this purpose. For this lime also a requisition has been made, but has not been ___. In view of the impending campaign the Surgeon in Charge has ordered the capacity of the Hospital to be enlarged to 2500 beds, & for the purpose it is absolutely necessary that theaccompanying requisitions for hospital furniture, appliances, etc. be promptly filled. Many of the articles
mentioned in there [sic] requisition have been previously called for, but have not been supplied by the Medical Purveyor. With the increased accommodation permitted by this reorganization, the present number of coloured attendants would be entirely inadequate & the Surg in Charge thinks it would be impossible to conduct the hospital properly with a smaller increase to the present ?corps than 30 to 75. Asking your early & earnest attention to the points made in there [sic] "remarks".
I remain Very Resply,
Yr obt servant,
R. T. Coleman, Surgeon etc," [6-737-177. Report A. O.]
04/13/1865 - "Surgeon R. T. Coleman, C. S. Medical Inspector of Hospitals in Virginia, has permission to proceed from Lynchburg to Richmond. On arrival at Richmond, Surgeon Coleman will at once report to the U. S. Military Command at that place, that it may be determined whether or not he is to be paroled.
By command of Br. Maj. Gen. Turner, 24th Army Corps, Army
of the James, [U.S. Army]
04/20/1865 - Paroled as Surgeon and Medical Inspector, Richmond, VA
06/30/1865 - Took Amnesty Oath at the headquarters of the Provost Marshall, District of Henrico, Richmond, VA
1865 - Practiced medicine, Richmond, VA
1870 - Practiced medicine, Madison Ward, Richmond, VA [indexed in the 1870 U.S. Census as Robt. T. Coleman - living with wife and 2 children]
~1872 - President, Richmond Academy of Medicine
1874 - Professor of Obstetrics and Diseases of Women, Medical College of Virginia, Richmond, VA
1874 - Member, Medical Society of Virginia
1880 - Practiced medicine, District No. 2, Monroe Ward, Richmond, VA
1881 - Elected to membership, Virginia Historical Society
1883 - Professor of Obstetrics and Diseases of the Puerperal State, Medical College of Virginia, Richmond, VA
1883 - Practiced medicine with his son, Robert B. Coleman, 407 Grace, Richmond, VA
1884 - Vice President for Virginia, Alumni Assn. of
Jefferson Medical College
03/04/1884 - Died at his home of chronic nephritis, Richmond, VA

George Seitz, Michael Angelo, and Bob Krick provided input to this biography.

This biographical sketch is from:
Hambrecht, F.T. & Koste, J.L., Biographical
register of physicians who served the
Confederacy in a medical capacity.
12/12/2014. Unpublished database.