Pvt. Robert Atkins

Atkins volunteered for the Civil War on February 22, 1865, in Grafton, WV. He was described as Mulatto with brown eyes and black hair, 23 years old, and a farmer. He enlisted for one year with the 45th USCT, Company H. The 45th was formed at Camp William Penn, Pennsylvania, in the summer of 1864. The primary states of residence of the men who fought with this regiment were New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia.

​​

At the time Atkins volunteered, the soldiers were entrenched at Richmond until March 1865. They took on the Appomattox Campaign from March 28 to April 9 and saw the fall of Petersburg on April 2. They were in pursuit of General Lee and saw his surrender at Appomattox Court House on April 9. The 45th were on garrison duty at Petersburg and City Point until moved to Texas by ship during May and June. Atkins would have been on duty at Edinburg, TX, on the Mexican Frontier until September 8. At Brownsville, Texas, these soldiers mustered out on November 4, 1865.​

 

Robert married Julia Harris, and in 1870 they had 2 children in the house -- Frank who was 2, and Emma was 5 months – at Morgantown, Monongalia, WV. In the 1880 Census, Robert and Julia have six children – Frank 12, Emma 9, Charles 7, Louis 5, George 2, and Elmer 1. Emma, at nine years old, is employed as a washerwoman. The family resided in Uniontown, Fayette, PA.

​​

Atkins applied for a pension while living in Morgantown, WV, for “rheumatism and lung trouble.” Pension record shows he requested on July 18, 1905, for his name to be transferred from the rolls of the Pittsburg agency to the Columbus, Ohio, agency. Atkins received a $12 pension until December of 1907. His death was reported by the National Military Home in Dayton, OH, on January 24, 1908. He was 66.​

 

Robert Atkins’ Frank was married three times, and one daughter was identified on his death certificate as Mrs. Frances Johns. A Frances J Johns, 1904-1981, was found on Find-a-Grave, but is identified as white. It is possible that she passed as white.

​​

Daughter Emma might be the Emma Atkins, listed as white in Kanawha, WV.

Son Elmer died of tuberculosis, and George died of appendicitis. Both men were unmarried. Louis died of unknow cause in Pittsburg, PA, also single.

​​

Charles Atkins, however, joined the Army in 1899 in Grafton, WV. By 1900, he was stationed at Fort Duchesne, UT with the 9th Cavalry, a Buffalo Soldier. He married Jessie and had two daughters. Mildred Johnson (later Colemen) and Margaret Cochran. Jessie was listed on U.S. Census as a widowed by 1910.

 

Records for the 45th USCT Infantry list Robert Atkins' name among those soldiers deserving of a Medal of Honor, yet to be claimed by a family member.

​

 

Contributors: Macie Alford, Sarah Plummer, Toni Smith and Cathie Cummins