Page:Appletons' Cyclopædia of American Biography (1900, volume 5).djvu/322

296 sequently a brigade, and was commissioned briga- dier-general, 31 Aug., 1863. His command was clothed, armed, and subsisted without cost to the Confederate government. He was one of the most successful of partisan officers, and was engaged in many of the great battles. Since 1870 he has re- sided chiefly in London, England.

RODENBOUGH, Theophilus Francis, soldier, b. in Easton, Pa.. 5 Nov., 1838. He was educated at Lafayette college, engaged in mercantile busi- ness, and on 27 March, 1861, was appointed 2d lieutenant in the 3d U. S. dragoons. He was pro- moted 1st lieutenant on 14 May. was engaged at Gaines's Mills and the subsequent operations of the peninsular campaign of 1862, being promoted captain on 17 July, was captured at Manassa-. but was immediately exchanged, and commanded a squadron in Stoneman's raid and a regiment at < Jet i ysburg. He was engaged in the cavalrv opera- tions of 1864. was wounded at Trevillian's Station, and again at Winchester, losing his right arm while leading his regiment in a charge. He was brevetted major for his bravery on this occasion. and lieutenant-colonel for meritorious conduct dur- ing the war, was appointed eojonel of the 18th Pennsylvania cavalry on 29 April. 1865. and re- ceived the brevets of brigadier-general of volun- teers for services during the war, of colonel, U. S. army, for bravery at Todd's Tavern, and of briga- ili' i u'eneral, U. S. army, for gallant conduct at Cnld Harbor. He was mu-teivd out of the volun- teer service on 31 Oct., 18(i">. beeame major of the 42d U. S. infantry on 28 July, 1866, and was re- tired from active service on 15 Dec., 1870, on ac- count of wounds received in the line of duty, with the full rank of colonel of cavalry. He became secretary of the Military service institution in l s )!i. and as assistant inspector-general of the state of New York in 1880-'3 was efficient in improving the militia organization. Gen. Rodenbough is the author of " Prom Everglade to Canon with the Second Dragoons" (New York, 1875); "Afghanis- tan and the Anglo-Russian Dispute " (1886) ; and " Uncle Sam's Medal of Honor" (1887).

RODES, Robert Eminctt, b. in Lynchburg, Va.. 39 March, 1829; d. in Winchester. Va., 19 Sept.. 1864. He was graduated at Virginia mili- tary institute in 1848, and was professor in the in- stitute for several years. He then moved to Mo- bile, Ala., entered the Confederate array as colonel of the 5th Alabama infantry in 1861, and was pro- moted brigadier-general, 21 Oct., 1861, and major- general, 2 May, 1863. His brigade was composed of six Alabama regiments of infantry, in Gen. Dan- iel H. Hill's division, Jackson's corps, Army of Northern Virginia. His division was composed of the brigades of Gens. Doles, Daniel, and Ramsnir. He was killed at the battle of Winchester.

RODGERS, John, clergyman, b. in Boston, Mass., 5 Aug., 1727 ; d. in New York city, 7 May, 1811. His parents removed in 1728 to Philadel- phia, Pa. He was fitted for the ministry by Rev. Samuel Blair at New Londonderry, Pa., and" on 16 March, 1749, was installed as pastor of the Presby- terian church at St. George's, Del. In September, 1765, on the death of David Bostwick, he assumed the pastoral charge of the latter's congregation in New York city, which rapidly grew in number*. and in 1767 erected a second building, mi th r- ner of Beekman and Nassau streets. In 1768 he received the degree of D. D. from Edinburgh uni- versity. He was an antagonist of the Episcopalians, through whose influence an act of incorporation was refused to his society, and throughout the KV o- lution he was an ardent and active patriot. Near the close of February. 1776, he removed his family from New York, and did not return till its evacua- tion by the British at the end of the war. During the summer of 1776 he acted as chaplain to Gen. William Heath's brigade. The following winter he spent in the south, am! was reported as engaged in an at- tempt to win over the Regulators of North Carolina to the American cause. He was chaplain of the New York pro- vineial congress, and afterward of the council of safety, and of the first legis- Iatureinl777. Dur- ing the war he preached at Amenia, X. Y.. Danbury. Conn., and Laming- ton, N.J. The Brit- ish used the church in Wall street for barracks, and the brick church on Beekman street for a hospital, and left both in ruins. While they were rebuilding, the vestry of Trinity church per- mitted the Presbyterians to worship'in St. Paul's church and St. George's chapel. The united Pres- byterian congregations decided to employ but one minister, and he remained the sole pastor till a coadjutor was engaged in 1789. Dr. Rodgers was moderator of the first general assembly held in 1789. He was vice-chancellor of the New York state university from its creation in 1787, and was chosen president of the Missionary society, which was established in 1796. A contemporary says: " Dr. Rodgers is certainly the most accomplished gentleman for a clergyman, not to except even Dr. Cooper, that I have ever been acquainted with. He lives in elegant style, and entertains company as genteellv as any gentleman in the city."

RODGERS, John, naval officer, b. in Harford county, Md., 11 July. 1771 ; d. in Philadelphia, Pa., 1 Aug., 1838. His father was a Scotchman, and served as colonel of militia in the war of independence. The son entered the merchant marine when he was thirteen years old, and was a captain in 1789. He entered the navy as lieutenant. !i March, 1798, and was executive of the " Constellation " at the capture of the French frigate " L'lnsurgente " off Nevis, W. I.. 9 Feb., 1799, receiving a silver medal and vote of thanks to Capt. Truxtun and his officers for this capture. He took the " Insurgente" to port and suppressed an attempt of the captured crew to rise against his prize crew of eleven men. Obtaining leave, he bought a vessel and sailed to Santo Domingo, where he saved many lives in an insurrection of slaves. He was promoted to captain. 5 March. 1799, and in March, 1801, carried despatches to France. He was a signed the " John Adams" in 1803, sailed to Tripoli, and in May, 1803, captured the Moorish ship " Meshonda " in an attempt to run the blockade. On 21 July, 1803, he destroyed a Tripolitan corsair, after engagement with nine gun-boats, in win. h the " Enterprise " co-operated. He returned home in December, 1803, but in July. lso|. again sailed to Tripoli in command of tin- "Congress," joining the squadron under Com. Barron, whom he succeeded in command on 2'J .May, ISO. 1 ). Ko.Lrt- continucd the operations, ami on :' June. lsil.~>. obtained a treaty with Tripoli abolishing the tribute