Robert H. Chilton

Robert Hall Chilton
Robert H. Chilton
Born	(1815-02-25)February 25, 1815 Loudoun County, Virginia
Died	February 18, 1879(1879-02-18) (aged 63) Columbus, Georgia
Buried at	Hollywood Cemetery (Richmond, Virginia)
Allegiance	United States of America  Confederate States of America
Years of service	United States Army 1837–1861  Confederate States Army 1861–1865
Rank	Major (USA) Brigadier General (CSA)
Unit	1st Regiment of Dragoons
Battles/wars	Mexican-American War American Civil War
Spouse(s)	Laura Ann Thomson Mason (1829–1911)
Other work	President of the Columbus Manufacturing Company (1869‑79)

Robert Hall Chilton (February 25, 1815 – February 18, 1879) was an officer in the U.S. Army and then a brigadier general in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War. He served as Chief of Staff for the Army of Northern Virginia under Robert E. Lee for much of the war.

Chilton was born in Loudoun County, Virginia, to a prominent family. He was the son of William and Sarah (Powell) Chilton. He secured an appointment to the United States Military Academy and graduated 48th out of 57 cadets in the Class of 1837. Brevetted as a second lieutenant, he was assigned to the 1st Regiment of Dragoons for western frontier duty. On September 25, 1845, he married Laura Ann Thomson Mason (1829–1911) in New York City. The couple would have three children—Laura Mason, Emily Virginia, and Robert Lee Chilton. He served in Kansas, Texas and the Indian Territory. While fighting in a series of skirmishes with Osage Indians he also served as acting Quartermaster.

Promoted to captain in 1846 Chilton fought in the Mexican-American War, winning the brevet rank of major for gallantry in action at the Battle of Buena Vista. Under severe Mexican fire, he picked up the wounded Colonel Jefferson Davis and carried him to safety. He was assigned to administrative duty as a Paymaster with the rank of major in 1854; serving in various posts in Washington, D.C., New York City, Detroit, Michigan, and San Antonio, Texas.