Forrest Ranking Forrest's Commanders

[Booner]

Col. Robert "Black Bob" McCulloch

The Col later in life.

And Gen. Ben McCulloch, as a Col. (there is some confusion over this picture as to who it really is). This picture is often listed as that of "Black Bob," and as Patrich H stated, is on a Civil war marker outside of Walnut Grove Cemetery, Boonville, Mo. where "Black Bob" is buried.

This link may explain where the confusion comes from-->http://digital.archives.alabama.gov/cdm/ref/collection/photo/id/6437

 

[DixieRifles]

Ben McCulloch "White Bob"

Diane,

Ben McCulloch is a different person than Robert McCulloch, aka Black Bob. I don't know but I think you have the right McCulloch but he wasn't one who served under Forrest.

Robert A. McCulloch was a 1st cousin of Robert McCulloch---as the Army says NMI, no middle initial. Robert was referred to as Red Bob so their troops could keep them straight. It seems that many historians haven't learned the difference.

 

[diane]

Hi, Diane,
Red Bob was White Bob at a younger age. Robert A. had red hair, going prematurely gray. Thus, Red Bob aged into White Bob. By the time the cousins were making a name for themselves in the cavalry, Robert A. had become White Bob.

Interesting to learn a bit about Ben's brother or possible brother. I know very little about Ben and probably wouldn't know of him at all except for his confusion with Black Bob in some references.

I think @Nathanb1 can help you a lot with the McCullochs - they were very prominent in Texan history. Henry McCulloch, yet another brother, shot and killed Reuben Ross - a veteran of the Mexican War and Texas Revolution. He had challenged Ben to a duel, Ben refused and Reuben shot him anyway! Sometime later, despite the McCullochs saying all was forgiven and ok, Reuben pulled his pistols on Henry who shot him dead. Much earlier, Henry and Ben had planned to go with Davy Crockett and his Tennessee Boys to the Alamo but Ben caught the measles. Very strange days, those!

 

[diane]

Diane,

Ben McCulloch is a different person than Robert McCulloch, aka Black Bob. I don't know but I think you have the right McCulloch but he wasn't one who served under Forrest.

Robert A. McCulloch was a 1st cousin of Robert McCulloch---as the Army says NMI, no middle initial. Robert was referred to as Red Bob so their troops could keep them straight. It seems that many historians haven't learned the difference.

Thank you! PatrickH straightened me out - I knew it but it didn't come out right. "Black Bob" was the one with Forrest. I think! By the way, wasn't it McCulloch's troops who made the human ladder at Ft Pillow so they could scale the fort's wall?

 

[Patrick H]

Diane,

Ben McCulloch is a different person than Robert McCulloch, aka Black Bob. I don't know but I think you have the right McCulloch but he wasn't one who served under Forrest.

Robert A. McCulloch was a 1st cousin of Robert McCulloch---as the Army says NMI, no middle initial. Robert was referred to as Red Bob so their troops could keep them straight. It seems that many historians haven't learned the difference.

View attachment 81208
Col. Robert "Black Bob" McCulloch

View attachment 81209

The Col later in life.

View attachment 81210
And Gen. Ben McCulloch, as a Col. (there is some confusion over this picture as to who it really is). This picture is often listed as that of "Black Bob," and as Patrich H stated, is on a Civil war marker outside of Walnut Grove Cemetery, Boonville, Mo. where "Black Bob" is buried.

This link may explain where the confusion comes from-->http://digital.archives.alabama.gov/cdm/ref/collection/photo/id/6437

That photo of Ben McCulloch that Booner posted is one that I've studied and studied. I can't be sure because the image is so subtle, but I believe I can see a hint of the general's wreath around his three stars. The older aged photo of Black Bob belongs to Boonslick--also a member here. Thanks for re-posting that, Booner. And the military photo of Black Bob which Booner posted is correct.

DixieRifles, just to clarify, Robert was "Black Bob". Robert A. was "White Bob " or "Red Bob".

Almost forgot to mention this: Take a good look at Booner's photo of Black Bob in uniform. Remember, he's the one with the heavy, full beard. Now go back to the painting and take a look at the colonel standing beside his horse and behind Gen. Forrest. Especially considering that Black Bob's "Butternut boys" were Forrest's bodyguard, I think it's likely the artist intended to depict him in the background.

 

[Patrick H]

...And one more thing, too: Boonslick and Booner are two different guys, but both members here. In another half a year or so, we will all three be living in Boonville (Boonslick and I already do), so there ought to be plenty of posting bouncing around among the three of us to confuse the rest of you!

 

[Patrick H]

In the run-up to the National bicentennial, the Boonville Daily News published a weekly column with features on local history. Lyn McDaniel was the editor of the newspaper and the author of many of the articles. During the bicentennial, he compiled all of the articles into a history for the Boonslick Historical Society. This photo, which I believe belongs to the Boonslick Historical Society, accompanied a nice article on Black and White Bob McCulloch. Black Bob is on the left.
With all the acknowledgements and credits in place, I believe it will be okay to post a scan of the photo here. If not, I'm sure the moderator will inform me.

I've often commented on Black Bob's popularity after the war. It was said of him that he could win any elected office in the land, simply by announcing his candidacy. In 1872, he was elected County Collector. He was re-elected in 1874 and 1876. In 1878 he was elected Cooper County Sheriff. In 1880 he was elected State Registrar of Lands. He held that office until 1892, at which point the office was abolished. Champ Clark, a US Representative from Missouri, quipped at the time: "We had to abolish the land office to keep Bob from getting it again." White Bob was also a successful politician, and served as a county judge (commissioner) for several years.

 

[diane]

Great article, PatrickH! (I'm now completely confused as to my Bobs, Roberts, Bens and Henrys and what colors they were! Don't worry - I'll be ok... )

 

[Patrick H]

Diane,
I know you'll be okay...and I know you aren't REALLY confused, either--even though some of those McCullochs can be moving targets for historians. What an interesting family they must have been!

 

[7th Mississippi Infantry]

Since we're talking about the McCullochs, I've got to add the Troiani painting and @diane 's quote from the Forrest Art thread.

Patrick H -

This is Southern Steel by Don Troiani. It clearly shows Black Bob with his Missourians, complete with his bloody hand! He saved Forrest's bacon that day.

"Black Bob" is center left behind Forrest:

 

[Patrick H]

Hey, 7th Miss,
Thanks for re-posting this!
When you see these guys in advanced old age, it's kind of hard to visualize them as the brave soldiers they once were, isn't it?

 

[7th Mississippi Infantry]

Hey, 7th Miss,
Thanks for re-posting this!
When you see these guys in advanced old age, it's kind of hard to visualize them as the brave soldiers they once were, isn't it?

You're absolutely right !

Kind of like these images:

http://cristimoise.net/2013/09/10/people-seeing-their-younger-self-in-a-mirror/

 

[Booner]

Patrick,
The next time you visit Col Bob's grave, go north about 15-20 yards and look for the Harper family gravestone. on the west side of the stone is the name of Capt. George Harper (co. G) of the 2nd MO Cav, CSA. Also buried close to Col. Bob is the grave (sorry, don't remember the man's name but I believe he was with the 1 MO brigade) of a man who, during the siege of Vicksburg, swam the Yazoo and down the Mississippi to deliver thousands of musket caps to the besieged troops. My books are all packed up for my move back home or I'd have his name.

I'll retire April 1st next year- less than six months!

 

[Booner]

 

[Booner]

From the blown up picture above--
I also agree with Patrick that it appears the 3 stars (the middle being bigger) are surrounded by a wreath, indicating a general office; a Col. would not have the wreath surrounding the stars.

And can any one tell me what the 19th century abbreviation for "Robert" would be? It appears the first letter is an "R" but I can't make out the other letter.

 

[DixieRifles]

And can any one tell me what the 19th century abbreviation for "Robert" would be? It appears the first letter is an "R" but I can't make out the other letter.

I've seen it as "Rbt". Not sure if that is archivist shorthand.

 

[Patrick H]

From the blown up picture above--
I also agree with Patrick that it appears the 3 stars (the middle being bigger) are surrounded by a wreath, indicating a general office; a Col. would not have the wreath surrounding the stars.

And can any one tell me what the 19th century abbreviation for "Robert" would be? It appears the first letter is an "R" but I can't make out the other letter.

That could simply be mis-labeled. I do think that initial letter "R" has contributed to a lot of confusion about the identity of the general in the photo.

 

[DixieRifles]

http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/f...fore&GSdyrel=all&GSob=n&GRid=46824450&df=all&

Am I understanding the above post: this photo is Ben McCulloch?
I have seen that photo identified as Robert A. McCulloch---White Bob and not Black Bob McCulloch.
However, I never questioned his collar rank.

Grave of "White Bob" McCulloch.
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/f...=all&GSdyrel=all&GSob=n&GRid=18720391&df=all&


For comparison, here is the grave of "Black Bob" McCulloch.
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/f...fore&GSdyrel=all&GSob=n&GRid=46824450&df=all&

 

[Patrick H]

Am I understanding the above post: this photo is Ben McCulloch?
I have seen that photo identified as Robert A. McCulloch---White Bob and not Black Bob McCulloch.
However, I never questioned his collar rank.

Grave of "White Bob" McCulloch.
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/f...=all&GSdyrel=all&GSob=n&GRid=18720391&df=all&


For comparison, here is the grave of "Black Bob" McCulloch.
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/f...fore&GSdyrel=all&GSob=n&GRid=46824450&df=all&

I have at times seen the photo attributed to Ben McCulloch--at other times to Black Bob McCulloch. In fact, until last week the photo appeared on Black Bob's findagrave link. I can't say with certainty who it is, but I'm sure it isn't Black Bob. Further, I really do believe he's wearing a general's collar insignia, so he's not White Bob, either.

 

[Patrick H]

View attachment 81208
Col. Robert "Black Bob" McCulloch

View attachment 81209

The Col later in life.

View attachment 81210
And Gen. Ben McCulloch, as a Col. (there is some confusion over this picture as to who it really is). This picture is often listed as that of "Black Bob," and as Patrich H stated, is on a Civil war marker outside of Walnut Grove Cemetery, Boonville, Mo. where "Black Bob" is buried.

This link may explain where the confusion comes from-->http://digital.archives.alabama.gov/cdm/ref/collection/photo/id/6437

Booner, I went to the Alabama Archive site and discovered that the photo is part of an album of Confederate officers' portraits once owned by a Doctor. I believe the doctor mislabeled the photo. Whether it is Gen. Ben McCulloch, I can't say, but it's definitely a general's insignia.