Roberts, a West Point alumni, participated in the numerous conflicts and reached the general's rank following the World War I.

Young Charles attended spent his childhood on various U.S. Army posts on the Western Frontier and accompanied his father to Mexico during the Apache Wars 1886 expedition under Major general George Crook.

[1] Roberts followed his father footsteps and upon completing of the high school in May 1893, he received an appointed to the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York.

Among his classmates were several other future generals: Thomas Q. Ashburn, Harry G. Bishop, Albert J. Bowley, Charles H. Bridges, Sherwood A. Cheney, Edgar T. Collins, Edgar T. Conley, William D. Connor, Halstead Dorey, Harley B. Ferguson, Harold B. Fiske, Frank Ross McCoy and Andrew Moses.

[1] He returned to the United States and was attached to the Department of Texas, where he served as Judge Advocate under Brigadier general Frederick Dent Grant until he was transferred to the 7th Infantry Regiment with the regular rank of captain.

[1] Upon his return stateside, Roberts graduated with honors from the Army School of the Line and from the Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.

Roberts then participated in the United States occupation of Veracruz in April 1914 and following his promotion to major, he was transferred to the Panama Canal Zone for service with 10th Infantry Regiment.

[1] Following the American entry into World War I in April 1917, Roberts returned to the United States, was promoted to lieutenant colonel.

He then served briefly in the War Department, before assumed command of 34th Infantry Regiment at Madison Barracks near Sackets Harbor, New York, in October 1921.

[1] In mid-1924, Roberts was ordered to Boston, where he was appointed Chief of Staff, First Corps Area under Major general Preston Brown.

[1] Roberts was promoted to Brigadier general in February 1929 and assumed command of the 30th Artillery Brigade at Fort Eustis, Virginia.

He remained in that capacity until December of that year, when he was ordered to the Panama Canal Zone and assumed duty as Commanding general, 19th Infantry Brigade.

He later served as the Director, Retired Officers Association and belonged to several organizations including the Order of the Cincinnati and the Ohio Commandery of the Loyal Legion.