William P. Robeson Jr.
The following is derived from George Reeser Prowell’s History of Camden County, N.J., published in 1886.
General William P. Robeson Jr. enlisted early in 1861, and was enrolled with the first brigade of three years’ troops which left the State of New Jersey. On May 28, 1861, he was commissioned first lieutenant of Company E., Third Regiment, New Jersey Volunteers, General Kearny’s First Brigade. He was promoted to captain of the same company August 13, 1862. While with the Third Regiment he participated in the following engagements:
- First Bull Run, Va., July 21, 1861
- Munson’s Hill, Va., August 31, 1861
- West Point, Va., May 7, 1862
- Gaines’ Farm, Va., June 27, 1862
- Charles City Crossroads, Va., June 30, 1862
- Malvern Hill, Va., July 1, 1862
- Manassas, Va., August 27, 1862
- Chantilly, Va., September 1, 1862
- Crampton’s Hill, Md., September 14, 1862
- Antietam, Md., September 17, 1862
- Fredericksburg, Va., December 13 and 14, 1862
- Second Fredericksburg, Va., May 3, 1863
- Salem Heights, Va., May 3 and 4, 1863
- Gettysburg, Pa., July 2 and 3, 1863
- Fairfield, Pa., July 5, 1863
- Williamsport, Md., July 6, 1863
- Funktown, Md., July 12, 1863
- Rappahannock Station, Va., October 12, 1863
- Rappahannock Station, Va., November 7, 1863
- Mine Run, Va., November 30, 1863
After the last-named battle William P. Robeson Jr. was promoted and commissioned as major of the Third New Jersey Cavalry, on December 28, 1863. He was promoted to lieutenant-colonel of the regiment September 23, 1864, and as colonel August 4, 1865, and received a commission as brevet brigadier-general, dating back to April 1, 1865, for gallant and meritorious services in the battles of Five Forks and South Side Railroad, Va.
William P. Robeson Jr. returned to his home in Camden after the war, and became a member of William B. Hatch Post No. 37, G.A.R. He died August 18, 1881 and was buried at Belvidere, N.J. Shortly before his passing, in June of 1881, the William P. Robeson Post 51 of the Grand Army of the Republic was organized in Camden, and named in his honor.