Robert Cobb Kennedy facts for kids
Robert Cobb Kennedy (born October 25, 1835 – died March 25, 1865) was a Confederate agent during the American Civil War. He was executed for his part in a plan to set fires in New York City.
Early Life and Education
Robert Cobb Kennedy was born in Georgia. His father, John Bailey Kennedy, was a doctor. His mother, Eliza Lydia Cobb, came from an important family. She was related to Howell Cobb, who was a well-known politician.
Soon after Robert was born, his family moved to Alabama. Later, in 1846, they moved again to Louisiana. There, his family became quite wealthy, owning a lot of land.
When he was 18, Kennedy went to the West Point military academy. He was in the same class as Joseph Wheeler and Edwin H. Stoughton. Both of these men later became generals in the Civil War. However, Kennedy found his studies at West Point difficult. He left the academy after two years. After returning to Louisiana, he had disagreements with his father.
Service in the Civil War
When the Civil War began, Robert Kennedy joined the Confederate army. He became a lieutenant in the 1st Louisiana Regulars. He fought in the Battle of Shiloh, where he was wounded. This injury caused him to have a permanent limp.
His time at West Point helped him get a job as an assistant to General Joseph Wheeler, who had been his classmate. Kennedy was later captured while carrying important messages. He was sent to Johnson's Island prison. He managed to escape from the prison using a ladder and a small boat.
After his escape, he went to Canada. There, he was recruited by Jacob Thompson, who was in charge of the Confederate Secret Service.
The New York City Fire Plot
In 1864, Kennedy joined a small group of Confederate agents. Their plan was to set fires in New York City. This was meant to be a response to the tactics of Union General Philip Sheridan in Virginia.
Each agent had special devices to start fires. They planned to start fires in several hotels across the city. The goal was to overwhelm the city's fire departments. They hoped to burn a large part of the city and lower the spirits of the Union side.
Most of the agents followed the plan. However, Kennedy also set a fire at Barnum's American Museum. He reportedly did this because he thought it would be exciting. The plot did not work as planned. The fires were put out quickly, possibly because the agents did not use their devices correctly.
After the failed attack, Kennedy and the others went back to Canada. They briefly returned to the United States to try and free Confederate prisoners from a train, but this attempt also failed. Kennedy then tried to go back to Confederate territory. However, he was caught by federal detectives when his train arrived in Detroit. He was then sent to New York to face trial.
