Even though Goodspeed's History of Bedford County Tennessee mentions that he raised a company for Confederate service during 1862, we have a letter he wrote to Governor Andrew Johnson on August 10, 1862. Richmond was a small settlement near Shelbyville TN --
http://www.southernhistory.net/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=6760
By the summer of 1864 Robert Blackwell had become a minor guerrilla leader in southern Tennessee --
http://newsarch.rootsweb.com/th/read/TN-CHESTNUTRIDGECOUSINS/2007-01/1169596948
Later he presented himself as an officer in Shelby County AL. Up until now I have been unable to find any reference to this man in Confederate service. However, there is a parole signed by him as Major and Provost Marshal of Buford's Cavalry Division, May 10, 1865, Gainesville, Ala.
Does anyone know more about this man?