Campaigns · Fredericksburg, Suffolk, Brady Station, Petersburg, Reams' Station, and Five Forks
HistoryCentral · Primary Source & History GENERAL WILLIAM PAUL ROBERTS, CSA VITAL STATISTICS BORN: 1841 in Gates County, NC. DIED: 1910 in Norfolk, VA. CAMPAIGNS: Fredericksburg, Suffolk, Brady Station, Petersburg, Reams' Station, and Five Forks. HIGHEST RANK ACHIEVED: Brigadier General (Youngest Confederate General– Made Brigadier at age 23) BIOGRAPHY William Paul Roberts was born on July 11, 1841, in Gates County, North Carolina.
In 1861, at the age of 19, he enlisted in the 19th North Carolina. Eventually promoted to the rank of 1st lieutenant, he fought at Fredericksburg, Suffolk and Brandy Station. Although he had no formal military training, he was an able officer. He commanded a regiment in the Petersburg Campaign of 1864, and fought fiercely at Reams' Station in August of 1864. Promoted to brigadier general to date from February 21, 1865, at the age of 23, he became the youngest Confederate general.
In the last weeks of the war, he led a brigade at Five Forks, and surrendered at Appomattox. Roberts returned home after the Civil War, and served in the state legislature and as state auditor. He died in Norfolk, Virginia, on March 28, 1910.