Robert Jones was born in Yorktown, Virginia in about 1843. He was a twenty-one-year-old laborer when he enlisted for the Union army on May 16, 1864 in Washington D.C. He was about 5’5” had black hair, eyes, and skin. He was put into the 23rd US Colored Infantry Company H.

His regiment joined the Army of the Potomac and was involved in The Overland Campaign from May-June of 1864. Then, later joined the Army of the James, in which Robert Jones and the 23rd US Colored Troops participated in the campaign to take down Petersburg which took place in June 1864 until March of 1865. The battles the 23rd USCT were in involved in are The battle of Petersburg in June 1864, The Battle of Crater on July 30, 1864 and Weldon Railroad from August 18-21 in 1864. However, Robert Jones was admitted to Satterlee Hospital in Pennsylvania on August 20, 1864 for unspecified reasons and he didn’t return to service until September 23, 1864. When he returned the 23rd USCT were still involved in the siege of Petersburg with the Battle of Fort Sedgwick in September 1864, Poplar Grove Church from September 29-30, 1864, and Boydton Plank Road from October 27-28, 1864. There was a lull in the fighting for the Army of the James in November, in that time Robert Jones was absent because he was sick, however he did return to duty at an unknown date before January of 1865. Jones and the 23rd USCT Infantry continued with the Army of the James where they started a campaign called the Bermuda Hundred Campaign that started in December of 1864 and lasted until March 1865. The USCT was also, involved in the Appomattox campaign from March 28 – April 9 1864. After the surrender of the Confederate Armies, the 23rd USCT was assigned to the Duty in Department of Virginia until May of 1865 and then moved down to the department of Texas later in May until November of 1865 when they mustered out. However, Robert Jones only lived until July 17,1865. It was reported that he was admitted into a Brownsville, Texas hospital on July 13, 1865. The reporting officer said he was admitted because he was sick. Robert died from the unspecified illness he had contracted.

Not much could be found about Robert’s Family. However, on February 14, 1881 a widow requested to get his pension.