Robert Frederick Hoke was an American soldier and businessman. He served as a major-general in twelve battles during the American Civil War. Later he served as the director of the North Carolina Railroad.
Background
Ethnicity:
Robert Hoke was of Alsatian, Swiss, and English ancestry.
Robert Frederick Hoke was born on May 27, 1837, in Lincolnton, North Carolina, United States. He was the son of Michael and Frances Burton Hoke. His father, a lawyer, and orator of note was a Democratic candidate for governor in 1844 and died from disease contracted during the campaign.
Education
Hoke spent some years at school in Lincolnton and at the Kentucky Military Institute, and at seventeen he began the management of the family's varied local manufacturing interests. These included a cotton-mill established by one great-grandfather and ironworks established by another.
In 1861 Robert Frederick Hoke entered the Civil War as the second lieutenant of Company K of the "Bethel Brigade" (16th North Carolina Volunteers), then became major and then lieutenant-colonel of the 33rd North Carolina Regiment, and led it valiantly in the many Virginia battles from Hanover Court House to Second Manassas, and also at Sharpsburg.
In August 1862 he was commissioned colonel of the 216t North Carolina and the following January was made brigadier-general for most effective service in command of a brigade at Fredericksburg. Through the winter of 1862-1863, he was with Lee and won his high esteem, but was wounded at Chancellorsville and thus missed the action at Gettysburg. In the fall of 1863, he worked in the piedmont section of the Carolinas on the serious problem of desertion and outlawry.
Then, in early 1864, Hoke was sent into tidewater North Carolina to check through military operations the serious political disaffection. Compelled, it is said, to follow a plan which he did not approve, he failed signally; then, given a free hand, he succeeded so brilliantly that in April 1864 he was made major-general on the battlefield. Recalled from his unfinished task, he aided in "bottling up" Butler near Richmond and, conspicuously, in the bloody repulse of Grant at Cold Harbor.
Back in North Carolina, his regiment bore the brunt of the fight at Bentonville and surrendered with Johnston, April 26, 1865. Bidding his men teach their children that "the proudest day in all your proud careers was that on which you enlisted as Southern soldiers," he stolidly returned to inconspicuous private pursuits. According to Samuel A. Ashe, Hoke was "Lee's best general" in the late days of the war and "the most distinguished soldier of North Carolina"; but this writer's later belief that he was Lee's choice as his successor seems to rest on evidence that is historically inadequate. For summary handling of deserters in his tidewater campaign he was threatened with punishment by the Federal government; but Grant, knowing the circumstances, intervened.
Robert Hoke accepted the position of director of the North Carolina Railroad Company, urged upon him by Governor Vance.
Achievements
Politics
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.
Personality
Hoke was commended by D. H. Hill for "his great coolness, judgment, and efficiency." He consistently refused any public honors.
Connections
On January 7, 1869, Hoke married Lydia Van Wyck, by whom he had six children.