Robert Charles Bradshaw was born on March 13, 1840, in Weston, Missouri (Platt County). He mustered into service with the 13th Regiment, Missouri Volunteer Infantry in June 1861; the designation later changed to 25th Regiment. Bradshaw was attached to Company A, was promoted to captain, and served with the 25th until it consolidated with Bissel’s Engineers of the West to form the 1st Regiment, Missouri Volunteer Engineers on February 17, 1864. Bradshaw mustered out of service on January 1, 1864. He returned to St. Joseph, Missouri, where he soon commanded the 87th Enrolled Missouri Militia, obtaining a promotion to major and another quickly to lieutenant colonel. In July 1864, Col. Bradshaw was authorized to recruit a regiment of one-year volunteers, which became the 44th Missouri Infantry. At the Battle of Franklin on November 30th in Tennessee, Bradshaw was wounded. The Border Times (Weston, Missouri) reported Col. Bradshaw’s death erroneously on December 16, 1864. He survived and was awarded the rank of brevet brigadier general on April 10, 1866. The Missouri legislature recommended Bradshaw for the award in recognition of his heroic conduct at the Battle of Franklin, where he “with the colors of his regiment in his hand, fell pierced by seven balls within the ranks of the enemy” (Missouri Digital Heritage, Missouri Session Laws, 1864-1865). Before entering military service, Bradshaw was known for his patriotic act during a mob attack on the Turner Hall in St. Joseph, Missouri. With tensions running high as the conflict began, the town passed an ordinance against flying any flag. However, the post office flew its U.S. flag, inciting a group of southern sympathizers to remove and destroy it. As the mob moved to the Turner Hall, Bradshaw raced to the building, locked the doors, and removed the flag to safety (St. Joseph Gazette, June 9, 1905, p. 6). After the war, Bradshaw married Frances S. Wild. The couple lived in Topeka, Kansas, for a time, where Bradshaw worked with the railroads. He died at age 87 on May 27, 1927, in Kansas City, Missouri.