The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1910-04-07

dler at Hospital in Norfolk,
as Result of Injuries Sus-
tanned by Fall, in Which His
Hip was Fractured-Was
the Youngest Brigadier-Gen-
eral in Confederate Army
An Appointee of President
Cleveland and Eight Years
State Auditor.
News and Observer, March 10Th:
The State flag fOated at half-mast
over the Capitol yesterday, in honor
of General W. p. Roberts, of Gates
vile, who died in Norfolk Sunday as
the result of injuries sustained in a
fall at home recently, in which his hip
was fractured. He was taken to a
hospital in Norfolk. General Roberts
was in his Goth year, and is survived
by his wife, who was Miss Eliza A.
Roberts, daughter of the late Mills
Roberts, Of Gates county, and an
adopted daughter, Mrs. w. r. Cooper.
General Roberts was distinguished
| citizen of North Carolina. He was an
extensive farmer, owning a large es-
| tate
! General Roberts was born in Gates
county July II, 1871, and was a
teacher in the schools of his county
at the commencement of hostilities
| Before he was twenty years old he en-
listed in the Confederate army, where
his genius as a soldier soon distin-
guished him, and he will be recorded
in history as the youngest brigadier-
general in the Southern Army, att ain
ing the rank of brigadier-general at
the age of %. He enlisted in Company
c, Nineteenth Regiment, or Second
North Carolina Cavalry, under the
command of Col. S. B. Spruill. By
gallantry and unsurpassed courage
he won rapid promotion, and on
August both, 1861, he became third
lieutenant; on September 18th, 1862,
he became first lieutenant, and was
promoted to captaincy November
10Th, 1868. Though the junior cap
! tain, he soon attained the rank of
major, and was advanced to the rank
of colonel of his regiment the first of
August, 1864.
General Roberts served with dis
tinction during the operations of the
regiment in North Carolina, until he
was transferred to Virginia in the fall
of 1862. He then distinguished him
self by his dauntlessness and military
skill on the Rappahannock line, at
fredericksburg, in the Suffolk cam
paign and the notable battle at
Brandy Station, where the splendid
Colonel Sol Williams was killed.
After participating with eminent
bravery in the engagements of the
spring of 'G4 in the North Carolina
brigade of Col ". Fl. F. Lees di-
vision, the gallant Roberts was pro-
NOTED to colonel of the regiment. On
August 25th, at Reams' Station, with
his regiment dismounted, Roberts
made a daring charge upon the
enemy's rifle pits, carrying them val
iantly, and capturing a large number
of prisoners.
On February Dist, 1865, Roberts
was promoted brigadier-genenal and
as a mark of personal recognition
and admiration for the brave young
soldier hero the great General Lee
presented him with the chieftain' 8
own gauntlet.
With his command, mainly com
posed Of North Carolinians, General
Roberts fought with great valor at
Five Forks, and during the retreat
to Appomattox, General Roberts
commanded the last cavalry charge
made by the Army of Northern Vir-
ginia at Appomattox and was pa
rolled there, only five officers and
lightweight men of the comand be-
ing left.
When the curtains OF peace wert
drawn over the scenes of war Genera
Roberts returned to his native county
and addressed himself to the rebuild
ing of the fortunes of his State, EN-
plOying the same activity and cOur
age which he displayed upon the bat
tletields. He took prominent part
in the ev4ts that led to the restora
tion of order and prosperity. In 1875
he represented Gates county in the
Constitutional Convention, which
was controlled by Democrats, and IL
1S76-'11 was the member from his
county in the State Legislature. 1r
1880 and 1884 lie was elected State
Auditor, the convention nominating
him on September Il, 1880, being thu
largest in the history of the State uI
to that time He served the State
faithfully as auditor for eight years
General Roberts ability was recog
nized by President Grover Cleveland
and he was appointed by Presiden
Cleveland as Consul General to Vic
toria, British Columbia, serving il
that capacity for four years, advanc
ing there the interests of the grea
nation he represented.
The death of General Roberts thin
the fast fading line of North Caro-
lima Generals in the Confederacy, th
surviving generals from the State be
ing: Major r-General r. F. Hoke, 0
Raleigh and Lincoln county, ant
Brigadier- Generals William ". Kirk
land, of New York; Robert D. John
son, of Alabama; and William K. Cox
of EdgecOmbe county.
Editorially the News end Observe
said this OF Gen. Roberts:
The sad death of Gen. William F
! Roberts, of Gates county, remove