# Robert N. Adams > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Robert_N._Adams > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Robert_N._Adams.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_N._Adams > Source revision: 1352602673 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) American general (1835–1914) Robert Newton Adams Born (1835-09-15)September 15, 1835 Fayette County, Ohio, U.S. Died March 25, 1914(1914-03-25) (aged 78) Saint Paul, Minnesota, U.S. Buried Lakewood Cemetery Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S. Allegiance United States (Union) Branch United States Army (Union Army) Service years 1861–1865 Rank Colonel Bvt. Brigadier General Unit 20th Ohio Infantry Regiment Commands 81st Ohio Infantry Regiment Conflicts American Civil War Western Theater Battle of Shiloh Siege of Corinth Battle of Town Creek Atlanta campaign Battle of Resaca Battle of Dallas Battle of Kennesaw Mountain Battle of Nickajack Creek Battle of Atlanta Battle of Jonesborough Battle of Hobkirk's Hill Spouses Elinor W. Whipple ​ ​ (m. 1866; died 1900)​ Mary C. Compton ​ (m. 1903)​ Children 2 **Robert Newton Adams** (September 15, 1835 – March 25, 1914) was an American Brevet Brigadier General during the [American Civil War](/source/American_Civil_War). He commanded the [81st Ohio Infantry Regiment](/source/81st_Ohio_Infantry_Regiment) throughout the later years of the war and participated in the Federal Penetration up the Cumberland and Tennessee Rivers and the [Atlanta campaign](/source/Atlanta_campaign). ## Early years Robert was born on September 15, 1835, at a farm in [Fayette County, Ohio](/source/Fayette_County%2C_Ohio) as the son of Albert Adams and Nancy Verdie Coffey Adams as well as a descendant of the [Douglas family](/source/Clan_Douglas).[1][2] Adams spent his childhood at his parents barn before attending the Greenfield School there.[1] ## American Civil War In 1858, he enrolled in [Miami University](/source/Miami_University) but during his junior year, the [American Civil War](/source/American_Civil_War) broke out.[3] After graduating, Adams enlisted in the [20th Ohio Infantry Regiment](/source/20th_Ohio_Infantry_Regiment) on April 18, 1861, as a part of the "University Rifles" (Later known as Company C) which was mustered in [Oxford, Ohio](/source/Oxford%2C_Ohio) for a tenure of 3 months.[1][4] After his initial tenure expired, August 30, 1861, Adams was made Captain of the new [81st Ohio Infantry Regiment](/source/81st_Ohio_Infantry_Regiment) of Company C.[5] Adams was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel on May 7, 1862, and on August 8, 1864, to Colonel.[1][5] Adams saw active combat at the battles of [Shiloh](/source/Battle_of_Shiloh) and [Corinth](/source/Siege_of_Corinth), [Town Creek](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Battle_of_Town_Creek&action=edit&redlink=1), [Resaca](/source/Battle_of_Resaca), [Dallas](/source/Battle_of_Dallas), [Kennesaw Mountain](/source/Battle_of_Kennesaw_Mountain), [Nickajack Creek](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Battle_of_Nickajack_Creek&action=edit&redlink=1), [Atlanta](/source/Battle_of_Atlanta), [Jonesborough](/source/Battle_of_Jonesborough) and [Hobkirk's Hill](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Battle_of_Hobkirk%27s_Hill_(1864)&action=edit&redlink=1). Adams was then brevetted Brigadier General on March 13, 1865, for "meritorious services during the war".[5] Adams was then honorably mustered out with his regiment on July 13, 1865, at [Louisville, Kentucky](/source/Louisville%2C_Kentucky). ## Later career After the war, Adams studied in the Allegheny Theological Seminary and gained his license by 1869.[4] He then became a pastor from 1869 to 1875 in Ohio and [Kansas](/source/Kansas). Adams then moved to [Minnesota](/source/Minnesota) and worked at [Fergus Falls](/source/Fergus_Falls%2C_Minnesota). Adams was then made Superintendent of Home Missions in 1886 and would hold that position for 21 years.[4] ## Personal life Adams married Elinor W. Whipple on December 27, 1866. She died in 1900. He married Mary C. Compton on March 3, 1903. He had two daughters, Mabel and Maude.[2] Adams died on March 25, 1914, at his home on Marshall Avenue in Merriam Park, [Saint Paul](/source/Saint_Paul%2C_Minnesota).[2] He was buried at [Lakewood Cemetery](/source/Lakewood_Cemetery).[6] ## See also - [List of American Civil War brevet generals (Union)](/source/List_of_American_Civil_War_brevet_generals_(Union)) ## References 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-House_Divided_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-House_Divided_1-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-House_Divided_1-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-House_Divided_1-3) ["Adams, Robert Newton: House Divided"](https://hd.housedivided.dickinson.edu/node/4955). *House Divided*. Retrieved May 21, 2022. 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-obit_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-obit_2-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-obit_2-2) ["Dr. Robert N. Adams Dies of Apoplexy"](https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-minneapolis-journal-dr-robert-n-ad/179319693/). *The Minneapolis Journal*. 1914-03-25. p. 11. Retrieved 2025-08-20 – via [Newspapers.com](/source/Newspapers.com). 1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** [Miami University](/source/Miami_University) (1892). [*The Alumni and Former Student Catalogue of Miami University: Including Members of the Board of Trustees and Faculty, 1809-1892*](https://books.google.com/books?id=QLXOAAAAMAAJ&dq=%22Robert+Newton+Adams%22+-wikipedia&pg=PA140). Press of the Oxford News. p. 140. Retrieved May 22, 2022. 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Presbyterian_4-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Presbyterian_4-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-Presbyterian_4-2) [*Presbyterian Magazine*](https://books.google.com/books?id=cRkRAAAAIAAJ&dq=%22Robert+Newton+Adams%22+-wikipedia&pg=PA416). Vol. 13. [Presbyterian Church in the United States of America](/source/Presbyterian_Church_in_the_United_States_of_America). 1907. pp. 416–417. Retrieved May 22, 2022. 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Data_5-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Data_5-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-Data_5-2) ["American Civil War Database"](http://civilwardata.com/active/hdsquery.dll?Officer?839&U). *Civil War Data*. Retrieved May 22, 2022. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** ["Rev. R. N. Adams Buried"](https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-minneapolis-journal-rev-r-n-adams/179319596/). *The Minneapolis Journal*. 1914-03-27. p. 17. Retrieved 2025-08-20 – via [Newspapers.com](/source/Newspapers.com). ## External links - Media related to [Robert N. Adams](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Robert_N._Adams) at Wikimedia Commons --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Robert N. Adams](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_N._Adams) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_N._Adams?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.