Captain Roberts Coles, Company I, 46th Regiment, Virginia Infantry, Confederate States Army. Killed in action, Battle of Roanoke Island, NC, February 8, 1862.
At the start of the War Between the States, 22 year-old Roberts Coles was elected Captain of the Green Mountain Greys which later became Company I, 46th Regiment, Virginia Infantry. His company was mustered into Confederate service at White Sulphur Springs, Virginia on July 16, 1861.
In a letter to his uncle, John Rutherfoord, of Richmond, dated October 13, 1861, Captain Coles explained why he joined the Confederates, "Although born in Philadelphia, I have always regarded myself as a Virginian. Virginia is the land of my father." Like General Robert E. Lee and others, Coles could not "raise the sword" against his own countrymen.
In January 1862, just two days after he was engaged to be married, Captain Coles left Richmond with his company, and the 46th Virginia enroute to Nags' Head, NC to assist in the defense of Roanoke Island.
On February 7, 1862, Colonel Frank Anderson, of the 59th Virginia Infantry and two companies of the 46th, including Captain Coles' I Company, were dispatched to Roanoke Island to reinforce the Island's batteries then under bombardment by a large Union fleet preparing to land troops. During the battle for Fort Barton battery the next day, Captain Coles was killed in action.
Roanoke Island fell to Union forces and part of the 46th Virginia was captured. Under a flag of truce, the Confederate casualties, including Captain Coles, were brought to Norfolk. Captain Coles was buried in Albemarle County.
Captain Roberts Coles was born and raised in Philadelphia, PA, the son of a prominent abolitionist and former Governor of Illinois, Edward Coles. His mother, Sally Logan Roberts Coles, was a descendant of William Penn's private secretary, Irish Quaker James Logan. Roberts Coles graduated from the University of Pennsylvania, College of Arts, Class of 1857.
According to his military records, Captain Coles "fell bravely in the Battle of Roanoke Island." His father only learned of his son's having joined the Confederate Army when he was notified of his death.
Captain Roberts Coles was reinterred in the family vault at The Woodlands Cemetery on September 25, 1895.
At the start of the War Between the States, 22 year-old Roberts Coles was elected Captain of the Green Mountain Greys which later became Company I, 46th Regiment, Virginia Infantry. His company was mustered into Confederate service at White Sulphur Springs, Virginia on July 16, 1861.
In a letter to his uncle, John Rutherfoord, of Richmond, dated October 13, 1861, Captain Coles explained why he joined the Confederates, "Although born in Philadelphia, I have always regarded myself as a Virginian. Virginia is the land of my father." Like General Robert E. Lee and others, Coles could not "raise the sword" against his own countrymen.
In January 1862, just two days after he was engaged to be married, Captain Coles left Richmond with his company, and the 46th Virginia enroute to Nags' Head, NC to assist in the defense of Roanoke Island.
On February 7, 1862, Colonel Frank Anderson, of the 59th Virginia Infantry and two companies of the 46th, including Captain Coles' I Company, were dispatched to Roanoke Island to reinforce the Island's batteries then under bombardment by a large Union fleet preparing to land troops. During the battle for Fort Barton battery the next day, Captain Coles was killed in action.
Roanoke Island fell to Union forces and part of the 46th Virginia was captured. Under a flag of truce, the Confederate casualties, including Captain Coles, were brought to Norfolk. Captain Coles was buried in Albemarle County.
Captain Roberts Coles was born and raised in Philadelphia, PA, the son of a prominent abolitionist and former Governor of Illinois, Edward Coles. His mother, Sally Logan Roberts Coles, was a descendant of William Penn's private secretary, Irish Quaker James Logan. Roberts Coles graduated from the University of Pennsylvania, College of Arts, Class of 1857.
According to his military records, Captain Coles "fell bravely in the Battle of Roanoke Island." His father only learned of his son's having joined the Confederate Army when he was notified of his death.
Captain Roberts Coles was reinterred in the family vault at The Woodlands Cemetery on September 25, 1895.
Captain Roberts Coles, Company I, 46th Regiment, Virginia Infantry, Confederate States Army. Killed in action, Battle of Roanoke Island, NC, February 8, 1862.
At the start of the War Between the States, 22 year-old Roberts Coles was elected Captain of the Green Mountain Greys which later became Company I, 46th Regiment, Virginia Infantry. His company was mustered into Confederate service at White Sulphur Springs, Virginia on July 16, 1861.
In a letter to his uncle, John Rutherfoord, of Richmond, dated October 13, 1861, Captain Coles explained why he joined the Confederates, "Although born in Philadelphia, I have always regarded myself as a Virginian. Virginia is the land of my father." Like General Robert E. Lee and others, Coles could not "raise the sword" against his own countrymen.
In January 1862, just two days after he was engaged to be married, Captain Coles left Richmond with his company, and the 46th Virginia enroute to Nags' Head, NC to assist in the defense of Roanoke Island.
On February 7, 1862, Colonel Frank Anderson, of the 59th Virginia Infantry and two companies of the 46th, including Captain Coles' I Company, were dispatched to Roanoke Island to reinforce the Island's batteries then under bombardment by a large Union fleet preparing to land troops. During the battle for Fort Barton battery the next day, Captain Coles was killed in action.
Roanoke Island fell to Union forces and part of the 46th Virginia was captured. Under a flag of truce, the Confederate casualties, including Captain Coles, were brought to Norfolk. Captain Coles was buried in Albemarle County.
Captain Roberts Coles was born and raised in Philadelphia, PA, the son of a prominent abolitionist and former Governor of Illinois, Edward Coles. His mother, Sally Logan Roberts Coles, was a descendant of William Penn's private secretary, Irish Quaker James Logan. Roberts Coles graduated from the University of Pennsylvania, College of Arts, Class of 1857.
According to his military records, Captain Coles "fell bravely in the Battle of Roanoke Island." His father only learned of his son's having joined the Confederate Army when he was notified of his death.
Captain Roberts Coles was reinterred in the family vault at The Woodlands Cemetery on September 25, 1895.
At the start of the War Between the States, 22 year-old Roberts Coles was elected Captain of the Green Mountain Greys which later became Company I, 46th Regiment, Virginia Infantry. His company was mustered into Confederate service at White Sulphur Springs, Virginia on July 16, 1861.
In a letter to his uncle, John Rutherfoord, of Richmond, dated October 13, 1861, Captain Coles explained why he joined the Confederates, "Although born in Philadelphia, I have always regarded myself as a Virginian. Virginia is the land of my father." Like General Robert E. Lee and others, Coles could not "raise the sword" against his own countrymen.
In January 1862, just two days after he was engaged to be married, Captain Coles left Richmond with his company, and the 46th Virginia enroute to Nags' Head, NC to assist in the defense of Roanoke Island.
On February 7, 1862, Colonel Frank Anderson, of the 59th Virginia Infantry and two companies of the 46th, including Captain Coles' I Company, were dispatched to Roanoke Island to reinforce the Island's batteries then under bombardment by a large Union fleet preparing to land troops. During the battle for Fort Barton battery the next day, Captain Coles was killed in action.
Roanoke Island fell to Union forces and part of the 46th Virginia was captured. Under a flag of truce, the Confederate casualties, including Captain Coles, were brought to Norfolk. Captain Coles was buried in Albemarle County.
Captain Roberts Coles was born and raised in Philadelphia, PA, the son of a prominent abolitionist and former Governor of Illinois, Edward Coles. His mother, Sally Logan Roberts Coles, was a descendant of William Penn's private secretary, Irish Quaker James Logan. Roberts Coles graduated from the University of Pennsylvania, College of Arts, Class of 1857.
According to his military records, Captain Coles "fell bravely in the Battle of Roanoke Island." His father only learned of his son's having joined the Confederate Army when he was notified of his death.
Captain Roberts Coles was reinterred in the family vault at The Woodlands Cemetery on September 25, 1895.
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