In Memory of
1stLt. Robert Henry Millerb. 1841d. 29 August 1862
Second Battle of Manassas
Robert H. Miller was the first born son of Elizabeth Rose Campbell Purvis and Joseph Edward Miller. He had a younger brother, Joseph D. Miller.
Elizabeth Rose Purvis was the widow of James Purdee J. Purvis. James had died in 1836 leaving Elizabeth pregnant and with two small children. Before her re-marriage in March 1839, her oldest son would pass away and a new son born. These two children were Mary Ann Purvis and William R. Purvis.
Robert Henry studied at Bethany College in West Virginia and graduated there in 1859. When War broke out he returned to his ancestral homestead known as the “Flowery Mound" plantation. His parents remained in West Virginia.
In Concordia Pariah, he aided Captain Zebulon York in organizing the 14th Louisiana Infantry also know as the Concordia Rifles. On 19 June 1861, Robert Henry enlisted into the 14th Louisiana Infantry as a 2nd Lieutenant.
Forrest P. Conner in an article published in “The Virginia Magazine of History and Biography, Vol. 70, No. 1, Part One (Jan.,1962), pp. 62-91”; Published by: Virginia Historical Society made these comments in his introduction to the publication of thirteen letters sent home to family and friends.
... He was killed on August 29 at Second Manassas when his regiment, part of General Harry T. Hays's First Louisiana Brigade, advanced support General Ambrose P. Hill whose center was being threatened by Union assault. It was noted in an obituary found among the letters Miller's father had arrived for a visit before the battle and was still there perform the last rites after his son's body was recovered.
There is no indication that Robert Henry Miller was returned home for burial. The small snippet above seem to suggest he was buried in place. There is a possibility his body may be entombed, in an unmarked grave, at the Groveton Confederate Cemetery, Groveton, Virginia.
_________________[1] Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/4246813
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