Robert McGill Mackall (1844-1934)

From the Newspaper Obituary, Saturday June 23, 1934

Robert McGill Mackall, last survivor in Culpeper County, Virginia, of that famous band of Confederate cavalry raiders known in Civil War days as Mosby's Men, died Wednesday-6/20/1934- at his Culpeper home. He was 90 years old. His wife was Alice Ashby (1846-1925).

He is survived by a daughter, Miss Bessie Belt Mackall (1875-1945), of Culpeper, and a sister, Mary James Mackall-(1842-1936)-(Mrs Benjamin Duval Palmer), of Baltimore. Two brothers, Charles(1846-1927) and Richard Leonard Mackall(1840-1920), of Baltimore, died several years ago, There are numerous nieces, nephews and Grandchildren in Baltimore, Washington and Culpeper County, One of the nephews is his namesake, R. McGill Mackall, Baltimore artist.

JOINS BEAUREGARD RIFLES

The recital of Mr. Mackall's experiences from 1861-65 reads like a section of the history of the Civil War. At the outbreak of hostilites Mr. Mackall, a native of old Georgtown, in the District of Columbia, joined the Beauregard Rifles, an independent company forming across the Potomac river at Alexandria to serve the Confederate cause.

It was with the Rifles that he received his baptism of fire in the first Battle of Manassas, July 21, 1861(at the age of 17 years).

In the fall the Rifles disbanded and Mr. Mackall immediately enlisted in the Pelham Battery, a part of Gen. J. E. B. Stuart's cavalry division. He was with his battery comanander, Pelham, when the latter fell mortally wounded at Kelly's Ford, March 16, 1863. .

GIVEN SIGNAL HONOR

In June of the same year (1863) the young cavalryman received a signal honor when he was chosen to carry the colors of the Pelhem Battery in a review of Jeb Stuart's division by Gen. Robert E. Lee. This took place on '"the plains" between Culpeper and Brandy Station, and the colors were a new set made and donated by the ladies of Charlottesville.

The next autumn (1864) Mr. Mackall Joined Mosby's force, and from then until the end of the war he was of Mosby's Men, spreading destruction to Union supply trains and encampments all through Fauquier, Prince William, Fairfield and a part of Culpeper Counties. So well were the raiders known for their exploits that this part of Virginia came to be called "Mosby's Confederacy."

OUTLAWED BY GOVERNMENT

The War ended. Mr. Mackall, with other raiders, was outlawed by the Federal Governnent. He and his companions were sentenced to be hanged, but a month after the surrender at Appomattox all were paroled. With twenty of his companions, Mr. Mackall rode to Winchester to receive his parole.

Mr.Mackall wae in nearly every important engagement in Virginia and in other battles ae well, including Antietam and Gettysburg.

He was a son of Richard Levin Mackall and Ann Belt and was born February 5, 1844. He was married in 1867 to Alice Ashby, of Baltimore, and the couple made their home at Olney, Montgomery County, Maryland, Mr. Mackall had lived for the last thirty years at Culpeper.His wife died in 1925.

Funeral services will be held at 4 P.M. today (Sunday 6/23/34) at St, Stephen's Protestant Episcopal Church, Culpeper.

Robert McGill Mackall in 1864

This attachment is the one I spoke of in an earlier exchange. It is dated 1864 on the original; this is a copy I cropped and dated for transmitting. I sent it to Chip in response to a huge amount of Mackall stuff he mailed to me and I gather to you as well. Included in his package was a photo of RMM that Chip said was from 1861, despite the name and date written on the reverse (xerox) of 1863. From the looks of that get-up RMM is wearing, I'd say 1861 is closer to fact, as it seems to be some sort of school uniform; not a Confederate one. And he looks quite young in the one Chip sent, too. In the attached photo he looks pretty laid back, mature, and with that all too familiar "thousand yard stare" of one who has "been there, done that". I expressed these same sentiments to Chip in a message sent this morning. I'll be interested to see his response. Since I had mentioned this photo several times to you, Chip and Bob, without any reaction, I assumed you all had a copy. And perhaps you do, so please if you do, let me know so I can stop talking about it. Mac Palmer 1/26/01.

Editors note: according to Chip Heartfield, this photo was indeed taken in 1861, when RMM was 17 years old. It should be noted that RMM was in the battle of Manassas July 21, 1861. Is he wearing an early uniform? Philip May