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Civil War Soldiers - Roberts
| Roberts, Benjamin S.,
brigadier-general, U.S. Army, was born in Manchester, Vt., Nov. 18,
1810. He was graduated at West Point in 1835 and served on frontier
and recruiting duty, but resigned from the army in 1839 and became
chief engineer of the construction of the Champlain & Ogdensburg
railroad, and later he served as assistant geologist of the state of
New York. In 1842 he was employed with Lieut. George W. Whistler in
constructing the Russian system of railways, and in 1843 was admitted
to the bar and began to practice in Des Moines, Ia. He was
lieutenant-colonel of Iowa militia, 1844-46, and on May 27, 1846, was
reappointed to the United States army as 1st lieutenant in the mounted
rifles. He was promoted captain in Feb., 1847, and during the war with
Mexico served at Vera Cruz, Cerro Gordo, Contreras, Churubusco, and
other engagements up to the capture of the Mexican capital. He was
brevetted major for gallantry at Chapultepec, lieutenant-colonel for
gallantry in the action at Matamoras and at the pass at Galaxara, and
the legislature of the state of Iowa presented him with a sword of
honor in recognition of his services during the war. He was promoted
major early in 1861 and served in New Mexico under Gen. Canby,
engaging at Fort Craig, Valverde, Albuquerque and Peralta. He was
brevetted lieutenant-colonel for gallantry at Valverde, and on June
16, 1862, was commissioned brigadier-general of volunteers. He served
as inspector-general on the staff of Gen. Pope at Cedar mountain,
Rappahannock station, Sulphur springs and the second Bull Run, was
subsequently inspector-general of the Northwest department, and in
November commanded an expedition against the Chippewa Indians. In 1863
he commanded first the upper defenses of Washington and then an
independent brigade in West Virginia and Iowa, and in 1864, after
leading a division of the 19th corps in Louisiana, he was chief of
cavalry of the Department of the Gulf until ordered, early in 1865, to
command the district of west Tennessee and the cavalry division of the
District of Tennessee. On March 13, 1865, he was brevetted
brigadier-general in the regular army and major-general of volunteers
for gallant and meritorious services at second Bull Run and Cedar
mountain. He was mustered out of the volunteer service, Jan. 15, 1866,
was promoted lieutenant-colonel in the 3d cavalry, July 28, 1866, and
on Dec. 15, 1870, was retired at his own request. He then practiced
law in Washington, until his death, which occurred in Washington, D.
C., Jan. 29, 1875. Source: The Union Army: A History of Military Affairs in the Loyal
States 1861-1865, Volume 8 Biographical, 1908
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