Robert Shelton

Robert Shelton (1838 – Dec. 25, 1863) was a Union soldier from Scott County who died during the Civil War.

See Also: Scott Countians killed in war

Biography

Robert Shelton was born around 1838, but it isn’t clear who his parents were. He married Nancy Lay in Scott County on May 10, 1857, with Champion Duncan, justice of the peace, performing the ceremony. Nancy was the daughter of Moses Lay (1818-1886) and Delila Adkins.

Robert and Nancy had two children: Moses, born in 1858, and Mandy Emeline, born in 1863.

Civil War

Robert Shelton enlisted in the Union army on June 8, 1863 at Somerset, Ky. He was assigned to Co. H, 2nd Tennessee Infantry.

On Nov. 6, 1863, Robert was one of the many Union soldiers captured by Confederate forces during the Battle of Rogersville in Hawkins County, Tenn. He was confined at Belle Isle in Richmond, Va. He was admitted to a hospital there on Dec. 12, 1863, and died of laryngitis and pneumonia on Christmas Day, 1863.

Aftermath

Robert Shelton was buried at Richmond National Cemetery. His widow, Nancy, was granted a pension. She remarried to Thomas Hicks on April 5, 1869. At that time, Obediah Adkins was named the guardian of the two children, and applied for a pension on their behalf.