Page:Confederate Military History - 1899 - Volume 3.djvu/1221

Rh prosperous in his enterprises. He has served for several years as United States commissioner. He has three sons: Lindsay G., James T., of the United States navy, and Ellis H., also five daughters: Agnes P., Clara V., wife of James T. Layton; Lizzie, Rosa E. and Lillian M.

Robert Richford Roberts, a wholesale merchant at Richmond, was born in Charlotte county, April 26, 1843. His life before the war was uneventful, as he entered the service at the age of seventeen years. He became a member of the Third company of Richmond Howitzers, as a private, and served thereafter in nearly all the engagements in which his command participated until disabled by wounds. In the list of fights in which he did duty are Illysus Mill, Gaines' Mill, the Seven Days' battles before Richmond, Chancellorsville, Mine Run, the defeat of Milroy at Winchester, Fredericksburg, Gettysburg, the Wilderness, Spottsylvania Court House, Second Cold Harbor, New Market Heights, and a series of fights on the Darbytown road, about ten miles east of Richmond, in October, 1864, where he was badly wounded, and incapacitated for further service in the field. He lay for a long time in Chimborazo hospital, but in March, 1865, applied for such duty as could be assigned to him, and was detailed to act as collector of tax-in-kind. He was occupied in this duty when the army of Northern Virginia laid down its arms, and immediately made his way to Johnston's army in North Carolina and reported for duty. But being advised to return to his home he did so, and took up the work of a farmer in Charlotte county. Subsequently he was engaged in merchandise for three years and then, in 1872, removed to Richmond, and embarked in his present trade, that of a wholesale shoe merchant. In this occupation he has been notably prosperous, and he has attained a high standing at Richmond as a business man and as an enterprising and responsible citizen. He maintains a membership in the Robert E. Lee camp, Confederate Veterans, and the Howitzer association.

Lieutenant Frank S. Robertson, now engaged in farming near Abingdon, Va., was born at Richmond, January 3, 1841. At the time of the crisis in the affairs of the State in the spring of 1861, he was a student in the university of Virginia, and orderly-sergeant of the company in that institution known as the "Sons of Liberty." With this organization he went to Harper's Ferry as soon as the decision of the Virginia convention was known and took part in the occupation of that post. Subsequently the company was disbanded, and on reaching home Robertson enlisted as first lieutenant in Company I, Forty-eighth Virginia infantry, with which he served in the West Virginia campaign of Gen. R. E. Lee. Amid the hardships and exposure of mountain warfare many of the soldiers were disabled, and he was among those who suffered from typhoid fever. After recruiting his health at home he returned to the regiment in January, 1862, and took part in the no less arduous Romney campaign under Stonewall Jackson and Loring. This wrecked his enfeebled health and he was sent to Richmond, and later honorably discharged. While preparing to go to Europe he was offered appointment as second lieutenant of engineers. This he accepted, and as assistant engineer on the staff of General Stuart he served until the death of his famous chief, and after that to the end of the war,