Charles B. Stoughton
Encyclopedia
Charles Bradley Stoughton (October 31, 1841 – January 17, 1898) was an officer and regiment
al commander in the Union Army
during the American Civil War
.
, the son of Henry Evander and Laura (Clark) Stoughton.. From 1857-1860 he attended and graduated from Alden Partridge
's Academy, Norwich University
.http://books.google.com/books?id=lDoWAAAAIAAJ&printsec=titlepage#PPA191,M1
He was commissioned adjutant
of the 4th Vermont Infantry
on August 1, 1861, and mustered into military service on September 21 under the command of his brother, Col.
Edwin H. Stoughton
. He was promoted to major
on February 25, 1862. He was present in action at all the regiment's battles during the Peninsula Campaign
.
Stoughton was promoted to lieutenant colonel
on July 17, 1862, and saw action at Crampton's Gap
, where the regiment captured 121 men and the colors of the 15th Virginia Infantry
. He subsequently served at Antietam
. He assumed command of the regiment with his promotion to colonel on November 5, 1862, when his brother was promoted to brigadier general
of volunteers.
Stoughton first led his regiment at the Battle of Fredericksburg
, on December 13, 1862, where 4th Vermont suffered 56 casualties. Stoughton reported "My colors were completely riddled with canister and musket balls, scarcely hanging together. The top of the staff, upon which is a brass eagle, was shot away by canister, but saved, and brought away."
Colonel Stoughton continued to lead his regiment in the battles of Marye's Heights
, Salem Church
, and Gettysburg
. On July 10, 1863, during the Union army's pursuit of the retreating Army of Northern Virginia
, Stoughton was severely wounded in an engagement near Funkstown, Maryland
, resulting in the loss of his right eye. He resigned from the army on February 2, 1864, as a result of his wounds. In the omnibus promotions that followed the end of the war, he was brevetted
Brigadier General, Volunteers, for faithful and meritorious services, dating from March 13, 1865.
He died in Bellows Falls, Vermont
, and is buried in Immanuel Cemetery in that town. His widow, several years after his death, applied for a widow's pension
from Connecticut
.
Charles Stoughton and his wife Ada Ripley (Hooper) Stoughton, were the grandparents of Dr. Benjamin McLane Spock, 1903–1998, a leading pediatrician and peace advocate.
Regiment
A regiment is a major tactical military unit, composed of variable numbers of batteries, squadrons or battalions, commanded by a colonel or lieutenant colonel...
al commander in the Union Army
Union Army
The Union Army was the land force that fought for the Union during the American Civil War. It was also known as the Federal Army, the U.S. Army, the Northern Army and the National Army...
during the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
.
Biography
Stoughton was born in Chester, VermontChester, Vermont
Chester is a town in Windsor County, Vermont, United States. The population was 3,044 at the 2000 census. The town was originally chartered by New Hampshire Governor Benning Wentworth as Flamstead in 1754. The terms of the charter were not met and the town was re-chartered as New Flamstead in 1761...
, the son of Henry Evander and Laura (Clark) Stoughton.. From 1857-1860 he attended and graduated from Alden Partridge
Alden Partridge
Alden Partridge, was an American author, legislator, officer, surveyor, an early superintendent of the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York and a controversial pioneer in U.S...
's Academy, Norwich University
Norwich University
Norwich University is a private university located in Northfield, Vermont . The university was founded in 1819 at Norwich, Vermont, as the American Literary, Scientific and Military Academy. It is the oldest of six Senior Military Colleges, and is recognized by the United States Department of...
.http://books.google.com/books?id=lDoWAAAAIAAJ&printsec=titlepage#PPA191,M1
He was commissioned adjutant
Adjutant
Adjutant is a military rank or appointment. In some armies, including most English-speaking ones, it is an officer who assists a more senior officer, while in other armies, especially Francophone ones, it is an NCO , normally corresponding roughly to a Staff Sergeant or Warrant Officer.An Adjutant...
of the 4th Vermont Infantry
4th Vermont Infantry
The 4th Regiment, Vermont Volunteer Infantry was a three year' infantry regiment in the Union Army during the American Civil War. It served in the Eastern Theater, predominantly in the VI Corps, Army of the Potomac, from September 1861 to July 1865...
on August 1, 1861, and mustered into military service on September 21 under the command of his brother, Col.
Colonel (United States)
In the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, colonel is a senior field grade military officer rank just above the rank of lieutenant colonel and just below the rank of brigadier general...
Edwin H. Stoughton
Edwin H. Stoughton
Edwin Henry Stoughton , was a general in the Union Army during the American Civil War and a lawyer.-Early life:Stoughton was born in Chester, Vermont, the son of Henry Evander and Laura Stoughton....
. He was promoted to major
Major (United States)
In the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, major is a field grade military officer rank just above the rank of captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel...
on February 25, 1862. He was present in action at all the regiment's battles during the Peninsula Campaign
Peninsula Campaign
The Peninsula Campaign of the American Civil War was a major Union operation launched in southeastern Virginia from March through July 1862, the first large-scale offensive in the Eastern Theater. The operation, commanded by Maj. Gen. George B...
.
Stoughton was promoted to lieutenant colonel
Lieutenant Colonel (United States)
In the United States Army, United States Air Force, and United States Marine Corps, a lieutenant colonel is a field grade military officer rank just above the rank of major and just below the rank of colonel. It is equivalent to the naval rank of commander in the other uniformed services.The pay...
on July 17, 1862, and saw action at Crampton's Gap
Battle of Crampton's Gap
The Battle of Crampton's Gap or Battle of Burkittsville was a battle fought between forces under Confederate Brig. Gen. Howell Cobb and Union Maj. Gen. William B...
, where the regiment captured 121 men and the colors of the 15th Virginia Infantry
15th Virginia Infantry
The 15th Virginia Volunteer Infantry Regiment was an infantry regiment raised in Virginia for service in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War. It fought mostly with the Army of Northern Virginia....
. He subsequently served at Antietam
Battle of Antietam
The Battle of Antietam , fought on September 17, 1862, near Sharpsburg, Maryland, and Antietam Creek, as part of the Maryland Campaign, was the first major battle in the American Civil War to take place on Northern soil. It was the bloodiest single-day battle in American history, with about 23,000...
. He assumed command of the regiment with his promotion to colonel on November 5, 1862, when his brother was promoted to brigadier general
Brigadier general (United States)
A brigadier general in the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, is a one-star general officer, with the pay grade of O-7. Brigadier general ranks above a colonel and below major general. Brigadier general is equivalent to the rank of rear admiral in the other uniformed...
of volunteers.
Stoughton first led his regiment at the Battle of Fredericksburg
Battle of Fredericksburg
The Battle of Fredericksburg was fought December 11–15, 1862, in and around Fredericksburg, Virginia, between General Robert E. Lee's Confederate Army of Northern Virginia and the Union Army of the Potomac, commanded by Maj. Gen. Ambrose E. Burnside...
, on December 13, 1862, where 4th Vermont suffered 56 casualties. Stoughton reported "My colors were completely riddled with canister and musket balls, scarcely hanging together. The top of the staff, upon which is a brass eagle, was shot away by canister, but saved, and brought away."
Colonel Stoughton continued to lead his regiment in the battles of Marye's Heights
Battle of Fredericksburg II
-References:** Catton, Bruce. Glory Road. Garden City, NY: Doubleday and Company, 1952. ISBN 0-385-04167-5.* * -External links:* *...
, Salem Church
Battle of Salem Church
The Battle of Salem Church, also known as the Battle of Banks' Ford, took place on May 3–4, 1863, in Spotsylvania County, Virginia, as part of the Chancellorsville Campaign of the American Civil War....
, and Gettysburg
Battle of Gettysburg
The Battle of Gettysburg , was fought July 1–3, 1863, in and around the town of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. The battle with the largest number of casualties in the American Civil War, it is often described as the war's turning point. Union Maj. Gen. George Gordon Meade's Army of the Potomac...
. On July 10, 1863, during the Union army's pursuit of the retreating Army of Northern Virginia
Army of Northern Virginia
The Army of Northern Virginia was the primary military force of the Confederate States of America in the Eastern Theater of the American Civil War, as well as the primary command structure of the Department of Northern Virginia. It was most often arrayed against the Union Army of the Potomac...
, Stoughton was severely wounded in an engagement near Funkstown, Maryland
Funkstown, Maryland
Funkstown is a town in Washington County, Maryland, United States. The population was 983 at the 2000 census.-History:Originally were sold to Henry Funk by Frederick Calvert in 1754 and settled as Jerusalem.Funck’s Jerusalem Town...
, resulting in the loss of his right eye. He resigned from the army on February 2, 1864, as a result of his wounds. In the omnibus promotions that followed the end of the war, he was brevetted
Brevet (military)
In many of the world's military establishments, brevet referred to a warrant authorizing a commissioned officer to hold a higher rank temporarily, but usually without receiving the pay of that higher rank except when actually serving in that role. An officer so promoted may be referred to as being...
Brigadier General, Volunteers, for faithful and meritorious services, dating from March 13, 1865.
He died in Bellows Falls, Vermont
Bellows Falls, Vermont
Bellows Falls is an incorporated village located in the town of Rockingham in Windham County, Vermont, United States. The population was 3,165 at the 2000 census...
, and is buried in Immanuel Cemetery in that town. His widow, several years after his death, applied for a widow's pension
Widow's pension
A widow's pension is a payment from the government of a country to a person whose spouse has died.Generally, such payments are made to a widow whose late spouse has satisfied the country's requirements, including contribution, cohabitation, and length of marriage.-United States:In the United...
from Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
.
Charles Stoughton and his wife Ada Ripley (Hooper) Stoughton, were the grandparents of Dr. Benjamin McLane Spock, 1903–1998, a leading pediatrician and peace advocate.
Resources
- Benedict, G. G., Vermont in the Civil War. A History of the part taken by the Vermont Soldiers And Sailors in the War For The Union, 1861-5. Burlington, VT.: The Free Press Association, 1888, i:158, 161, 163-164, 166-167, 353, 394, 414.
- Crockett, Walter Hill, Vermont The Green Mountain State, New York: The Century History Company, Inc., 1921, pp. 541, 575.
- Peck, Theodore S., compiler, Revised Roster of Vermont Volunteers and lists of Vermonters Who Served in the Army and Navy of the United States During the War of the Rebellion, 1861–66, Montpelier, VT.: Press of the Watchman Publishing Co., 1892, pp. 108, 750-751.