Robert Desha (1791-1849)

He was a native of Tennessee and the brother of the Governor of Kentucky. During the War of 1812 he served as a Major and was wounded in battle. At the end of the war, he was offered a promotion but retired to pursue a career in business and politics. He represented the Gallatian District of Tennessee in the Congress of the United States, and was elected Major-General of the state militia. In 1837, he moved to Mobile, Alabama, where he established his own company as a merchant in the cotton trade. His obituary lauded him as: "a gentleman of high honor, unblemished integrity, undaunted valor and sterling patriotism". The New Orleans press reported:

When news reached Mobile in April, 1846, of the danger to which the army of General Taylor was exposed on the Rio Grande, General Desha convened a meeting of the patriotic spirits of that town, and offering to volunteer himself, urged others to fly to the rescue of our countrymen - about 100 names were enrolled on the evening of the meeting, the old General was selected to command them and the celerity of his movements were such that the next day his entire force was on board the steamer Fashion for New Orleans. Arrived here, he procured a vessel without delay, to convey his command to the seat of war. He arrived at the Brazos on the 11th of May, two days after the Battle of Resaca de la Palma. General Desha was the first volunteer for the succor of General Taylor who reached Mexico from the United States. The time for which he volunteered expired before the siege of Monterey, and returning to the city of his residence, he laid aside his sword, and resumed his commercial duties.