Confederate Biography :  BENSON W. ROBERTS  

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Submitted by Susie McFarland Lemin slemin46@yahoo.com
Sept 21, 2001
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TEXANS WHO WORE THE GRAY by Sid S. Johnson pg. 144

BENSON W. ROBERTS  

Benson W. Robers, of Tyler, was born in Marietta, Georgia, 
Feb. 28, 1841.  He attended for a while the Georgia Military 
Institute, and then entering the Kentucky Military Institute near 
Frankfort was graduated from same June 4, 1861.  Responding now to 
the call of his country he volunteered in the Confederate army and 
was elected first lieutenant of the "Bartow Artillery" in his native 
state, and in a few months succeeded to the charge of the comapany.  
He was in command of Fort Bartow on Skidaway Island near Savannah 
for the greater part of a year.  In May, 1862, he was commissioned 
first lieutenant of the artillery in the regular army of the 
Confederacy, and ordered to report at Camp Stephens in Griffin where 
he assisted on organizing and drilling several regiments of volunteers.  
He was in the campaign in Tennessee from August until December in 1862, 
commanding a battery in Gen. Wharton's brigade.  He was in 
Breckinridge's bloody charge in the battle of Murfreesboro and for 
gallantry in this promoted captain.  On the retreat to Tullahoma by 
designation of Gen. Joseph Wheeler he acted as chief of artillery.
The last two years of the war he saw service in South Carolina and 
Florida, being for several months the inspector for that department.  
When hostilities ceased Capt. Roberts in company with three of his 
comrades started for Texas with the ultimate intention of joining 
Maximillian's army in Mexico, but stopping for a few days rest in 
Tyler he became impressed with its people and the country's 
advantages that he located there and Tyler has ever since been his 
home.  He was married in August, 1865 to Mattie, the beautiful, and 
accomplished daughterof Col. L. P. Butler a wealthy planter of Smith 
county and formerly of Alabama.  Their son Wilbur B. Roberts, is 
the manager in Tyler of the Southwestern Telephone Comapny.  Their
daughter, Mrs. Hattie Roberts Raguet, has held high office in the 
Texas division of the Daughters of the Confederacy and is one of 
the prime movers in the establishment of the state home for 
Confederate Veteran's wives and widows in Austin.  Capt. Benson W. 
Roberts is one of the leading fire insurance agents in Tyler, and 
for years has been commander of the local Albert Sidney Johnston 
Camp, U.C.V.