William Paul Roberts
{{short description|American politician}}
{{Use American English|date=March 2019}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2016}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = William P. Roberts
| image = William Paul Roberts.jpg
| caption = Roberts in uniform, c. 1864
| order = 4th
| office = Auditor of North Carolina
| governor =
| term_start = 1881
| term_end = 1889
| predecessor = Samuel L. Love
| successor = George W. Sandlin
| birth_name = William Paul Roberts
| birth_date = {{birth date|1841|7|11}}
| death_date = {{death date and age|1910|3|28|1841|7|11}}
| birth_place = Gates County, North Carolina
| death_place = Norfolk, Virginia
| resting_place = Gatesville, North Carolina
| party = Democratic
| allegiance = {{flag|Confederate States|1865}}
| branch = {{army|CSA|size=23px}}
| serviceyears = 1861–1865
| rank = 35px Brigadier-General
| commands = Roberts' Cavalry Brigade
| battles = American Civil War
- Battle of Fredericksburg
- Battle of Suffolk
- Battle of Brandy Station
- Second Battle of Ream's Station
- Battle of Five Forks
- Siege of Petersburg
- Appomattox Campaign{{POW}}
}}
William P. Roberts (July 11, 1841 – March 28, 1910) was an American politician and diplomat. He was also a senior officer of the Confederate States Army who commanded cavalry in the Eastern Theater of the American Civil War. Promoted to Brigadier-General at the age of 23, he was the youngest Confederate general.
Early life
William Paul Roberts was born July 11, 1841, in Gates County, North Carolina, the son of John S. and Jane Roberts.{{Cite web |url=http://www.geocities.com/gatesguards/biographies.html |title=Civil War Veterans of Northeastern North Carolina – Biographies |access-date=June 28, 2008 |archive-date=October 26, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091026143213/http://www.geocities.com/gatesguards/biographies.html |url-status=bot: unknown }} at www.geocities.com
American Civil War
In 1861, at the age of 19, Roberts enlisted as a private in Company C of the 19th Regiment North Carolina Infantry, which would later be designated as the 2nd Regiment NC Cavalry. Having served with distinction during regimental operations in North Carolina, but with no formal military training, he was promoted to second lieutenant on August 30, 1861. On September 13, 1862, Roberts was promoted to First Lieutenant. Roberts' regiment was transferred to Virginia in the fall of the same year and took part in several battles, among them: Battle of Fredericksburg, Battle of Suffolk, and Battle of Brandy Station. On November 13, 1863, Roberts was promoted to captain and then major before the spring of 1864, when he fought in the North Carolina brigade of William Henry Fitzhugh Lee's division. He was promoted to colonel in June 1864 and during the Siege of Petersburg, he was given command of the 2nd Regiment NC Cavalry. Roberts led a charge against Union breastworks, dismounted, overtook the rifle pits and captured several Union soldiers at the Second Battle of Ream's Station on August 25, 1864. On February 23, 1865, Roberts was promoted to brigadier general. According to tradition, General Robert E. Lee presented Roberts with Lee's personal gauntlets in recognition of Roberts' distinguished service. Roberts continued the command of his brigade at the Battle of Five Forks, and eventually surrendered at the Battle of Appomattox Court House, on April 9, 1865.
Later life
Following the War, Roberts returned to Gates County, North Carolina, where he married Eliza Ann Roberts. He entered state politics as the representative for Gates County at the Constitutional Convention in 1875. In 1876, Roberts was elected to the North Carolina legislature. He eventually became the Auditor of North Carolina and served in that capacity from 1880 until 1888. In 1889, President Grover Cleveland appointed him United States Consul for Victoria, British Columbia.[http://www.ncmarkers.com/Markers.aspx?MarkerId=A-32 NC Historical Marker]
Death
See also
- Galusha Pennypacker, youngest Union Army general
- List of American Civil War generals (Confederate)
Notes
{{reflist}}
References
- Eicher, John H., and David J. Eicher, Civil War High Commands. Stanford: Stanford University Press, 2001. {{ISBN|978-0-8047-3641-1}}.
- Sifakis, Stewart. Who Was Who in the Civil War. New York: Facts On File, 1988. {{ISBN|978-0-8160-1055-4}}.
- Warner, Ezra J. Generals in Gray: Lives of the Confederate Commanders. Baton Rouge: Louisiana State University Press, 1959. {{ISBN|978-0-8071-0823-9}}.
External links
- {{cite web |url=http://gatesguards/biographies.html |title=Web biography |access-date=June 16, 2020}}{{dead link|date=January 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}
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{{s-ppo}}
{{s-bef|before=Samuel L. Love}}
{{s-ttl|title=Democratic nominee for North Carolina State Auditor|years=1880, 1884}}
{{s-aft|after=George W. Sanderlin}}
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{{succession box |title=Auditor of North Carolina |before=Samuel L. Love |after=George W. Sandlin |years= 1881–1889}}
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{{Portal bar|American Civil War|Biography|United States|Politics}}
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Category:19th-century American diplomats
Category:19th-century North Carolina politicians
Category:American Civil War prisoners of war
Category:Consuls for the United States
Category:Cleveland administration personnel
Category:Confederate States Army brigadier generals
Category:North Carolina Democrats
Category:People from Gates County, North Carolina