Rash's Surname Index
Notes for Robert PATTERSON
Born at Cappagh, County Tyrone, Ireland, his family emigrated to Delaware County, PA after his father fled following his involvement in the Irish rebellion of 1798. Patterson was educated in public schools and subsequently became a clerk in a Philadelphia counting house. He was commissioned as a First Lieutenant, Infantry, during the War of 1812. Promotions in the PA militia to Lieutenant-Colonel and Colonel were received by April 2, 1813.
Patterson was commissioned a First Lieutenant, 22nd Infantry, April 5, 1813 and was transferred to the 32nd Infantry on May 27, 1813. He was promoted to Captain, Assistant Quartermaster-General, June 24, 1813 and served to June 5, 1814. Captain, 32nd Infantry, April 19, 1814 to June, 1815. For a time he served on Gen. Joseph Bloomfield's staff.
Following the War, Patterson returned to commercial pursuits, engaged in manufacturing and establishing several mills. He became active in politics and was one of the five Col. Pattersons in the Pennsylvania convention that nominated Andrew Jackson for the presidency, and in 1836 was president of the electoral college that cast the vote of Pennsylvania for Martin Van Buren. In 1838, and again in 1844, he was active in quelling local riots.
Patterson was commissioned a Major-General of Volunteers at the outbreak of the Mexican War, commanded his division at Cerro Gordo, April 12, 1847, led the cavalry and advanced brigades in the pursuit, and entered and took Jalapa. After the War he resumed his business pursuits and took command of the Pennsylvania militia.
At the beginning of the Civil War he was the oldest Major-General by commission in the United States. On the President's first call for 75,000 men for three months' duty, April 15, 1861, Patterson was mustered into service as a Major-General of Volunteers, and assigned to a military department composed of Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland and the District of Columbia. He crossed the Potomac at Williamsport on June 15. When Gen. McDowell advanced into Virginia, Patterson was assigned the responsibility of watching Gen. Joseph E. Johnston's troops at Winchester, VA. He later claimed the failure of Gen. Scott to send him orders, for which he had been directed to wait, caused his failure to cooperated with McDowell in the movements that resulted in the Battle of Bull Run. He was mustered out of service upon the expiration of his commission, July 27, 1861.
One of the largest mill-owners in the United States, Gen. Patterson was interested in sugar refineries and cotton plantations. He was a popular speaker and President of the Board of Trustees of Lafayette College at the time of his accidental death in Philadelphia in 1881.
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