From Start to Finish: USA Maj. Gen. Charles Woods

[Battleline]

Maj. Gen. Charles R. Woods (b. 1827, d. 1885) Making the military his career, Charles Robert Woods was born in Newark, Ohio, Feb. 19, 1827. His older brother, William, also became a general during the Civil War. Woods’ brother-in-law, Willard Warner, also became a Federal brevet general during the war. Growing up on the family farm, Robert obtained an appointment to the U.S. Military Academy in 1848 and graduated with the Class of 1852 (20th of 43) and entered army service as a brevet 2nd lieutenant of infantry. At the start of the Civil War, he was a 1st lieutenant on recruiting duty in the east. He immediately was dispatched to Charleston, South Carolina, as commander of Fort Sumter’s relief forces on the steamer Star of the West and was present when that vessel was fired upon, Jan. 9, 1861. Woods formed the 76th Ohio Regiment with the rank of colonel after seeing some action in West Virginia. He took his new unit, which included his brother, William (the regiment’s lieutenant colonel), to Fort Donelson, where it was part of a brigade commanded by Col. John Thayer during the battle there. After fighting at Shiloh, April 6-7, 1862, Woods was moved up to brigade command during the campaign against Corinth, Mississippi. He was back in regimental command for actions at Chickashaw Bayou and Arkansas Post. During the final phases of the Vicksburg Campaign, Woods led a brigade in Maj. Gen. William Sherman’s XV Corps. For his action at Vicksburg, Woods received a brevet to lieutenant colonel in the regular army to rank from July 4, 1863. He received another promotion to brigadier general of volunteers Aug. 4, 1863. After fighting in Chattanooga (Lookout Mountain), helping to lift the siege there, Woods received a promotion to colonel in the regular army Nov. 24, 1863. By the time Federal forces moved south into Georgia for the Atlanta Campaign, Woods commanded a division in the XV Corps led by Maj. Gen. John A. Logan. He was praised for actions at Resaca, Kennesaw Mountain and Atlanta. He led this division through the Atlanta Campaign, in pursuit of Gen. John Hood’s Army of Tennessee, and then the March to the Sea. During that campaign, Woods commanded at the Battle of Griswoldville, Nov. 22, 1864. His promotion to major general of volunteers was made as of that day. He continued to lead his division through the Carolinas Campaign all the way to the Confederate surrender and subsequent Grand Review in Washington, D.C. Woods received brevets to brigadier general and major general in the regular army on March 13, 1865. After the end of fighting, Woods was sent to command the Department of Alabama and later Department of the South. Upon reorganization, he was made lieutenant colonel of the 33rd Infantry July 28, 1866, and mustered out of volunteer service Sept. 1, 1866. Opting to stay in the military, Woods remained in infantry command. He was promoted to colonel Feb. 18, 1874, in charge of the 2nd Infantry. He resigned Dec. 15, 1874, due to failing health. He retired to his estate, named “Woodside” in Newark, Ohio, Feb. 26, 1885. He was buried in Cedar Hill Cemetery there.

[Gil R.]

Copied, thanks.

No need to read any of my other posts from tonight -- they all just say that I've copied the bio. Didn't want to fall too far behind!