Roberts Coles (1838 - 1862)

Born 14 Nov 1838 in Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States

Ancestors

Died 8 Feb 1862 at age 23 in Battle of Roanoke Island, Virginia, United States of America

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Biography

Roberts Coles was born on 14 Nov 1838 in Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania, 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 had an older sister, Mary Coles, and older brother, Edward Coles Jr. He graduated from the University of Pennsylvania, College of Arts, Class of 1857. Roberts Coles later quietly joined with Confederate forces when Civil War broke out.

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 Roberts 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. According to his military records, Captain Coles "fell bravely in the Battle of Roanoke Island." Under a flag of truce, the Confederate casualties, including Captain Coles, were brought to Norfolk. Captain Coles was buried in Albemarle County. His father only learned of his son's having joined the Confederate Army when he was notified of Roberts' death.

Many years later, long after his father's death, the remains of Captain Coles were removed by his sister, Miss Mary Coles, and reinterred to their family plot in Woodland Cemetery, Philadelphia on 25 September 1895.

Sources

• "United States Census, 1850," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M4CV-WJ2 : 12 April 2016), Robert Coles in household of Geo Edward Coles, Philadelphia, Locust ward, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States; citing family 974, NARA microfilm publication M432 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
• "United States Census, 1860", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MXTQ-1RV : 13 December 2017), Roberts Coles in entry for Edwd Coles, 1860.
• "Pennsylvania, Philadelphia City Death Certificates, 1803-1915," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:JDGJ-B29 : 8 March 2018), Roberts Coles, 08 Feb 1862; citing P-6756, Philadelphia City Archives and Historical Society of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia; FHL microfilm 1,863,235.
• Find A Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com : accessed 16 August 2019), memorial page for Capt Roberts Coles (14 Nov 1838–8 Feb 1862), Find A Grave Memorial no. 10523709, citing Woodlands Cemetery, Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania, USA ; Maintained by SCV-PA (contributor 47083833) .