WILLIAMS, Robert, soldier, born in Culpeper county, Virginia, 5 November, 1829. His grandfather, James Williams, served in the Virginia line in the Revolutionary war and also in command of Virginia troops during the war of 1812. Robert was educated at the local schools and at the United States military academy, where he was graduated and promoted to brevet 2d lieutenant in the 1st dragoons in 1851. Ha served at the cavalry-school for practice and with his regiment in Oregon for six years, in the mean time becoming 2d lieutenant in 1853, and 1st lieutenant in 1855. In 1857 he was assigned to duty as an assistant instructor in tactics at West Point. Having been appointed in May, 1861, captain and assistant adjutant-general, he served as such until October, when he was commissioned colonel of the 1st Massachusetts cavalry. He was engaged in operations at Hilton Head, South Carolina, in the attack on Secessionville, James island, South Carolina, and in central Virginia till October, 1862, when he resigned from the volunteer service and was assigned to duty at the war department, having become major and assistant adjutant-general in July of the same year. He afterward served as adjutant-general, respectively, of the Departments of the Missouri and of the Platte, and of the Division of the Missouri. He was promoted by seniority in his department to the rank of lieutenant-colonel in February, 1869, colonel, 1 July, 1881, and by brevet to the grade of brigadier-general, United States Army, 13 March, 1865, "for diligent, faithful, and meritorious services during the rebellion." General Williams married the widow of Stephen A. Douglas. He has published professional papers in periodicals.