Roberts Family Bible

Date: [unknown] [unknown]
Location: Kanawha_WV
Surnames/tags: us_civil_war public

I have only seen a news paper article with the picture of the Roberts family Bible. The article was about my great grandfather (Joseph Ellis Roberts) who had served as a drummer boy for the Confederate Army.

As Joseph told the writer

His unit had been marching near the Charleston (1862) area when word arrived that Joseph's mother was sick. The commander authorized the young man to visit his mother due to the circumstances. However, while Joseph was visiting, neighbors warned him that a Union force was heading towards the family farm. Joseph escorted his mother and younger siblings to safe havens, but returned to the farm house in order to retrieve the family Bible.

As he was leaving the house, the union force was cresting the hill and began firing at the confederate drummer boy. Joseph ran towards a thick forested area as minnie balls continued to fly past him. He ran into the thick brush, never stopping until he was certain he was no longer in danger.

While he was resting, he noticed a bullet hole in the Bible. Joseph leafed through the pages until he found the round; The round pointed to a passage Deuteronomy 5;16

Deuteronomy 5:16 “‘Honor your father and your mother, as the Lord your God commanded you, that your days may be long, and that it may go well with you in the land that the Lord your God is giving you."

Joseph realized that while he was fleeing the attackers, he had been holding the Bible against his chest.

THIS ARTICLE HAD A PICTURE OF THE BIBLE WITH MY GRANDFATHER AND GREAT GRANDFATHER. The Bible was given to one of the older siblings (my Grandfather was 11 of 13 children).