Robert Lewis Dabney (1820 - 1898)

Born 5 Mar 1820 in Louisa County, Virginia, USA

Ancestors

Husband of Margaret Lavinia (Morrison) Dabney — married 28 Mar 1848 in Rockbridge, Virginia, United States

Descendants

Died 3 Jan 1898 at age 77 in Victoria, Texas, United States

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Robert Dabney is Notable.

Biography

Baker-53780 FAG: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/8691925/robert-lewis-dabney (has his picture & lists his wife & all 6 of his sons)

Obituary

Baker-53780 Dr. R. L. Dabney born 1820, Hanover Ct. Virginia posted to GenWeb – K. Reimann Date: 16 Nov 2002:
Dr. R. L. Dabney, died January 4, 1898, Victoria, Texas at age 78. Born 1820 in Hanover County, Virginia. Married Lavinia Morrison of Rockbridge County, VA when thirty years of age. Survived by three sons: Samuel B. Dabney, lawyer, of Victoria, TX; Lewis M. Dabney lawyer, of Dallas, TX; Dr. Charles W. Dabney, president of State University of Tennessee. Remains taken to Hampden Sidney College near Farmersville, VA where he had children buried.

Baker-53780 The following are just a few snippets of his life from the list (see under sources):

Curtis Ray Vaughn in his biographical sketch of R. L. Dabney gives this description of him: He was 6' tall, originally slender, but in middle manhood - stalwart and powerful. His complexion was dark, his hair a dark - silky brown, broad brow, deep set black eyes, large nose and flowing beard.

Brief Sketch of his Life - In September 1833 - when Robert Lewis was only 13 years of age - his father died (at 48 years). Even though Charles was the eldest son - Robert was the son who took care of his mother. He greatly loved his mother - and often sacrificed for her well-being. He cared for her to the end of her life. In 1836, at age 16, he entered Hampden-Sidney College where he spent the next year and 4 months. He left College before entering his Senior class - so that he could return to the farm and help his mother. She had become burdened with debt and Robert saw his sense of responsibility and was willing for the sake of his mother - for a time to forgo his education. After two years on the farm and briefly teaching school (walking eight miles a day) - he entered the University of Virginia. This was December 1839. There he attended for the next 2 1/2 years till 1842 - receiving his Master of Arts Degree - now at age 22 (ranking 1 in the college)

In July 1847, he was called to the pastorate of Tinkling Springs Presbyterian Church. It was here - that he met his wife - Miss Margaret Lavinia Morrison - daughter of James Morrison - a Presbyterian minister. They were married March 28, 1848. He called it "the first and last love affair of my life." (28 years old).

Dabney was to eventually have six children - all boys. In 1855 tragedy struck his household. In November - his second son died of diphtheria in his arms. - It is a terrible disease of the throat - where your throat slowly swells to where you can't talk - then swells more to where you can't breathe. - Dr. Dabney held his small boy in his arms and helplessly watched him die of suffocation. He writes about it in a moving letter to his brother Charles. But that was not all - the next month his oldest son Bobby died of the same disease.

General "Stonewall" Jackson writes to Dabney to try to secure him on his staff. On April 8, Jackson wrote him again this time requesting Dabney to take a position as his Chief-of-Staff - his rank was Major. He wrote, "Your duties will require early rising and industry." But Jackson was master - he overruled all his objections. He allowed Dabney only two days to devour the large volume on Halleck's "Articles of War" In his short time under Jackson he performed several spectaluar actions - still written in military journals.

Shortly after his resignation because of ill health - while himself lying sick in relapse - he lost a third son to diphtheria. Thomas Price Dabney "Tommy" died on November 8, 1862.

On May 10, 1863 Stonewall Jackson died. Mrs. Jackson employed R. L. Dabney to write her husband's biography.

_____

He was born on 05 Mar 1820 and his parents were Elizabeth Randolph (Price) and Charles William Dabney (1786-1833).

He was a Presbyterian clergyman associated with the Union Seminary of Virginia at Farmville, Virginia, USA.

Robert Lewis Dabney married about 1855 to Lavinia Morrison (1828-1908) and together they had several children including Charles William Dabney (1855-1945).

As an educator he was associated with Hampden-Sydney College.

During the Civil War he served with the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia, first as a chaplain with the 18th Virginia Infantry Regiment in 1861 and then as an officer and chief of staff for Stonewall Jackson in 1862.

After Jackson's death in 1863, Dabney wrote a biography of the General entitled "Life and Campaigns of Lieutenant-General Thomas J. Jackson" (1866).

Robert's brother, Charles William Dabney (1809-1895), also served during the Civil War, in 1861 and 1862, as the captain of Company C, 15th Virginia Infantry Regiment.

Robert passed away on 03 Jan 1898.

Robert, born 05 Mar 1820 in Louisa County, Virginia, was in the Confederate Army and died on 3 January 1898 in Victoria, Texas.^[1]

Sources

For more information SEE:
(1) - Life & Letters of Robert Lewis Dabney written by Thomas Cary Johnson (2) - Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography, Volume III for Robert Lewis Dabney (3) - http://www.pointsouth.com/csanet/greatmen/dabney/dab-bio.htm A Biography of R. L. Dabney ©1994 by John Thomas Cripps - From A Lecture Given November 1994 anno Domini

1. ↑ Military: "U.S., Civil War Soldier Records and Profiles, 1861-1865"
   Historical Data Systems, Inc.; Duxbury, MA 02331; American Civil War Research Database
   Ancestry Record 1555 #38325 (accessed 20 February 2024)
   Name: Robert Lewis Dabney; Enlistment Age: 41; Birth Date: 5 Mar 1820; Birth Place: Louisa County, Virginia, USA; Enlistment Date: 3 May 1861; Enlistment Rank: Chaplain; Muster Date: 3 May 1861; Muster Place: Virginia; Muster Company: S; Muster Regiment: 18th Infantry; Muster Regiment Type: Infantry; Muster Information: Commission; Muster Out Date: 15 Oct 1861; Muster Out Information: disch; Side of War: Confederacy; Survived War?: Yes; Death Date: 3 Jan 1898; Death Place: Victoria, Texas; Burial Place: Hampden-Sydney College, Virginia; Title: The Virginia Regimental Histories Series.

• Wikipedia: Robert Lewis Dabney

• Dabney-Jackson Collection on Virginia Heritage; accession#24816 at Library of Virginia; with lineage ...

.1 William Dabney (1718-1776) m: Ann Barret Dabney

..2 Charles Dabney (c1744- 1829) military: officer in VA Regiment#2 during American Revolutionary War

..2 Samuel Dabney (1752-1812) m: Jane Meriwether Dabney.

...3 Charles William Dabney, Sr. (1786-1833)

....4 Charles William Dabney, Jr. (1809-1895) military: 1861-1862 Captain of Company C, VA Regiment#15 in American Civil War

....4 Robert Lewis Dabney (1820-1898) military: 1861 chaplain with VA Regiment#18; & 1862 officer & chief of staff for Gen. Stonewall Jackson, Confederate Army of Northern Virginia