Ben Roberts was born in Jonesboro, Indiana. He was 19, when he was mustered into Company G of the First Minnesota. He listed his occupation in Faribault as that of being a sawyer. He was 5' 11" tall, had a fair complexion, blue eyes and white hair.
He was promoted to corporal on Dec 10, 1863. He served in nearly all the battles of the regiment. This picture was taken of him at some time after his promotion to corporal.
Toward the end of their service, while the regiment was back at Ft Snelling, there was an effort to get the veterans to re-enlist and carry on the tradition of the "Old First". Ben was the first to re-enlist and did so on March 31, 1864. However, not enough veterans followed his lead and the "Old First" ceased to exist when the men of the regiment were discharged on May 5th. The 32 who did re-enlist and the new recruits were placed in the newly created First Battalion of Minnesota Infantry. Ben was placed in Company A and given the rank of sergeant. Interestingly enough his records from the time of his initial enlistment state that he was from Maryland, but when he re-enlisted his home state is listed as Indiana.
Ben did not serve in the Battalion for long. He was slightly wounded at the battle at Deep Bottom, Va on Aug 14, 1864. He was the nearest to the rebel works of any man in the battalion. When he was within a rod of the works a ball struck and passed through his shoe, knocking him completely off his legs and slightly wounding him in the foot.
2nd Lt Charles Parker of Company A reported the following story the occurred at Petersburg on Aug 25, 1864. "Serg't Ben Roberts of Co. A, had another 'close call'. A man was shot through the head close by, the ball passing through his head and striking Roberts in the breast, cutting his canteen strap, and knocking him down. On getting up he was surprised to find two of the dead man's teeth inside his blouse. Many other narrow escapes might be enumerated, but this is the most remarkable."
Ben was discharged for disability just a week later on Nov 30, 1864. He was sent to a hospital in Prairie Du Chien, Wisconsin. Unfortunately he died there of chronic diarrhea in late December of 1864. The exact date is not known at this time. His body was brought home to Faribault for burial.
Sources:
Descriptive list of the men of Company G, First Minnesota Association papers, MHS, p 615 box 2.
The Central Republican, Faribault, Mn, Wed, Sept 7, 1864, p 1.
The Central Republican, Faribault, Mn, Wed, Sept 21, 1864, p 1.
The Central Republican, Faribault, Mn, Wed, Jan 4, 1865, p 3.
Benjamin Roberts
Company G
Enlisted 05/23/61
Discharged11/30/64
Rank Private
Wounds unwounded
Nativity IN, Jonesboro
Born01/01/42
Died12/29/64
Died Where WI,Prairie Du Chien
Hometown Faribault
Vocation sawyer
He was promoted to corporal on Dec 10, 1863. He served in nearly all the battles of the regiment. This picture was taken of him at some time after his promotion to corporal.
Toward the end of their service, while the regiment was back at Ft Snelling, there was an effort to get the veterans to re-enlist and carry on the tradition of the "Old First". Ben was the first to re-enlist and did so on March 31, 1864. However, not enough veterans followed his lead and the "Old First" ceased to exist when the men of the regiment were discharged on May 5th. The 32 who did re-enlist and the new recruits were placed in the newly created First Battalion of Minnesota Infantry. Ben was placed in Company A and given the rank of sergeant. Interestingly enough his records from the time of his initial enlistment state that he was from Maryland, but when he re-enlisted his home state is listed as Indiana.
Ben did not serve in the Battalion for long. He was slightly wounded at the battle at Deep Bottom, Va on Aug 14, 1864. He was the nearest to the rebel works of any man in the battalion. When he was within a rod of the works a ball struck and passed through his shoe, knocking him completely off his legs and slightly wounding him in the foot.
2nd Lt Charles Parker of Company A reported the following story the occurred at Petersburg on Aug 25, 1864. "Serg't Ben Roberts of Co. A, had another 'close call'. A man was shot through the head close by, the ball passing through his head and striking Roberts in the breast, cutting his canteen strap, and knocking him down. On getting up he was surprised to find two of the dead man's teeth inside his blouse. Many other narrow escapes might be enumerated, but this is the most remarkable."
Ben was discharged for disability just a week later on Nov 30, 1864. He was sent to a hospital in Prairie Du Chien, Wisconsin. Unfortunately he died there of chronic diarrhea in late December of 1864. The exact date is not known at this time. His body was brought home to Faribault for burial.
Sources:
Descriptive list of the men of Company G, First Minnesota Association papers, MHS, p 615 box 2.
The Central Republican, Faribault, Mn, Wed, Sept 7, 1864, p 1.
The Central Republican, Faribault, Mn, Wed, Sept 21, 1864, p 1.
The Central Republican, Faribault, Mn, Wed, Jan 4, 1865, p 3.
Benjamin Roberts
Company G
Enlisted 05/23/61
Discharged11/30/64
Rank Private
Wounds unwounded
Nativity IN, Jonesboro
Born01/01/42
Died12/29/64
Died Where WI,Prairie Du Chien
Hometown Faribault
Vocation sawyer
Ben Roberts was born in Jonesboro, Indiana. He was 19, when he was mustered into Company G of the First Minnesota. He listed his occupation in Faribault as that of being a sawyer. He was 5' 11" tall, had a fair complexion, blue eyes and white hair.
He was promoted to corporal on Dec 10, 1863. He served in nearly all the battles of the regiment. This picture was taken of him at some time after his promotion to corporal.
Toward the end of their service, while the regiment was back at Ft Snelling, there was an effort to get the veterans to re-enlist and carry on the tradition of the "Old First". Ben was the first to re-enlist and did so on March 31, 1864. However, not enough veterans followed his lead and the "Old First" ceased to exist when the men of the regiment were discharged on May 5th. The 32 who did re-enlist and the new recruits were placed in the newly created First Battalion of Minnesota Infantry. Ben was placed in Company A and given the rank of sergeant. Interestingly enough his records from the time of his initial enlistment state that he was from Maryland, but when he re-enlisted his home state is listed as Indiana.
Ben did not serve in the Battalion for long. He was slightly wounded at the battle at Deep Bottom, Va on Aug 14, 1864. He was the nearest to the rebel works of any man in the battalion. When he was within a rod of the works a ball struck and passed through his shoe, knocking him completely off his legs and slightly wounding him in the foot.
2nd Lt Charles Parker of Company A reported the following story the occurred at Petersburg on Aug 25, 1864. "Serg't Ben Roberts of Co. A, had another 'close call'. A man was shot through the head close by, the ball passing through his head and striking Roberts in the breast, cutting his canteen strap, and knocking him down. On getting up he was surprised to find two of the dead man's teeth inside his blouse. Many other narrow escapes might be enumerated, but this is the most remarkable."
Ben was discharged for disability just a week later on Nov 30, 1864. He was sent to a hospital in Prairie Du Chien, Wisconsin. Unfortunately he died there of chronic diarrhea in late December of 1864. The exact date is not known at this time. His body was brought home to Faribault for burial.
Sources:
Descriptive list of the men of Company G, First Minnesota Association papers, MHS, p 615 box 2.
The Central Republican, Faribault, Mn, Wed, Sept 7, 1864, p 1.
The Central Republican, Faribault, Mn, Wed, Sept 21, 1864, p 1.
The Central Republican, Faribault, Mn, Wed, Jan 4, 1865, p 3.
Benjamin Roberts
Company G
Enlisted 05/23/61
Discharged11/30/64
Rank Private
Wounds unwounded
Nativity IN, Jonesboro
Born01/01/42
Died12/29/64
Died Where WI,Prairie Du Chien
Hometown Faribault
Vocation sawyer
He was promoted to corporal on Dec 10, 1863. He served in nearly all the battles of the regiment. This picture was taken of him at some time after his promotion to corporal.
Toward the end of their service, while the regiment was back at Ft Snelling, there was an effort to get the veterans to re-enlist and carry on the tradition of the "Old First". Ben was the first to re-enlist and did so on March 31, 1864. However, not enough veterans followed his lead and the "Old First" ceased to exist when the men of the regiment were discharged on May 5th. The 32 who did re-enlist and the new recruits were placed in the newly created First Battalion of Minnesota Infantry. Ben was placed in Company A and given the rank of sergeant. Interestingly enough his records from the time of his initial enlistment state that he was from Maryland, but when he re-enlisted his home state is listed as Indiana.
Ben did not serve in the Battalion for long. He was slightly wounded at the battle at Deep Bottom, Va on Aug 14, 1864. He was the nearest to the rebel works of any man in the battalion. When he was within a rod of the works a ball struck and passed through his shoe, knocking him completely off his legs and slightly wounding him in the foot.
2nd Lt Charles Parker of Company A reported the following story the occurred at Petersburg on Aug 25, 1864. "Serg't Ben Roberts of Co. A, had another 'close call'. A man was shot through the head close by, the ball passing through his head and striking Roberts in the breast, cutting his canteen strap, and knocking him down. On getting up he was surprised to find two of the dead man's teeth inside his blouse. Many other narrow escapes might be enumerated, but this is the most remarkable."
Ben was discharged for disability just a week later on Nov 30, 1864. He was sent to a hospital in Prairie Du Chien, Wisconsin. Unfortunately he died there of chronic diarrhea in late December of 1864. The exact date is not known at this time. His body was brought home to Faribault for burial.
Sources:
Descriptive list of the men of Company G, First Minnesota Association papers, MHS, p 615 box 2.
The Central Republican, Faribault, Mn, Wed, Sept 7, 1864, p 1.
The Central Republican, Faribault, Mn, Wed, Sept 21, 1864, p 1.
The Central Republican, Faribault, Mn, Wed, Jan 4, 1865, p 3.
Benjamin Roberts
Company G
Enlisted 05/23/61
Discharged11/30/64
Rank Private
Wounds unwounded
Nativity IN, Jonesboro
Born01/01/42
Died12/29/64
Died Where WI,Prairie Du Chien
Hometown Faribault
Vocation sawyer
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