Charles Doolittle
Encyclopedia
Charles Camp Doolittle was a store clerk, general in the Union Army
during the American Civil War
, and a bank cashier.
, the son of Matthew Doolittle. He attended school in Montreal, Quebec, and moved to New York City
in 1847, finally settling in Hillsdale, Michigan
, where he was a store clerk.
He was commissioned first lieutenant in Company E, 4th Michigan Infantry on June 20, 1861, and promoted to captain of Company H on August 20, 1861. His regiment
participated in the Peninsula Campaign
, where he was wounded at the Battle of Gaines' Mill
on June 28, 1862. He was promoted to Colonel
and assumed command of the 18th Michigan Infantry on August 13, 1862. Doolittle and his regiment served in the Western Theater
for the duration of the war, with various assignments in Kentucky
, Tennessee
, Alabama
, and Georgia
. His troops helped defend Athens, Georgia
, against Confederate
cavalry
under Joseph Wheeler
and Decatur, Georgia
, against John Bell Hood
.
On April 22, 1865, President
Andrew Johnson
appointed Doolittle brigadier general
of volunteers to rank from January 27, 1865. President Abraham Lincoln
had nominated Doolittle for the appointment on January 30, 1865 and the U.S. Senate confirmed the nomination on February 14, 1865 but Lincoln was unable to make the formal appointment before he was assassinated. Doolittle was mustered out of the volunteer service on November 30, 1865. On February 24, 1866, President Johnson nominated Doolittle for appointment to the brevet
grade of major general
of volunteers, to rank from June 13, 1865, and the U.S. Senate confirmed the appointment on May 4, 1866.
After the war he was a cashier at Merchant's National Bank in Toledo, Ohio
. He is buried in Woodlawn Cemetery, Toledo.
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...
, and a bank cashier.
Biography
Doolittle was born in Burlington, VermontBurlington, Vermont
Burlington is the largest city in the U.S. state of Vermont and the shire town of Chittenden County. Burlington lies south of the U.S.-Canadian border and some south of Montreal....
, the son of Matthew Doolittle. He attended school in Montreal, Quebec, and moved to New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
in 1847, finally settling in Hillsdale, Michigan
Hillsdale, Michigan
Hillsdale is a city in the state of Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 8,305. It is the county seat of Hillsdale County, and is run as a council-manager government....
, where he was a store clerk.
He was commissioned first lieutenant in Company E, 4th Michigan Infantry on June 20, 1861, and promoted to captain of Company H on August 20, 1861. His regiment
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...
participated in 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...
, where he was wounded at the Battle of Gaines' Mill
Battle of Gaines' Mill
The Battle of Gaines's Mill, sometimes known as the First Battle of Cold Harbor or the Battle of Chickahominy River, took place on June 27, 1862, in Hanover County, Virginia, as the third of the Seven Days Battles of the American Civil War...
on June 28, 1862. He was promoted to Colonel
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...
and assumed command of the 18th Michigan Infantry on August 13, 1862. Doolittle and his regiment served in the Western Theater
Western Theater of the American Civil War
This article presents an overview of major military and naval operations in the Western Theater of the American Civil War.-Theater of operations:...
for the duration of the war, with various assignments in Kentucky
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
, Tennessee
Tennessee
Tennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...
, Alabama
Alabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
, and Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
. His troops helped defend Athens, Georgia
Athens, Georgia
Athens-Clarke County is a consolidated city–county in U.S. state of Georgia, in the northeastern part of the state, comprising the former City of Athens proper and Clarke County. The University of Georgia is located in this college town and is responsible for the initial growth of the city...
, against Confederate
Confederate States Army
The Confederate States Army was the army of the Confederate States of America while the Confederacy existed during the American Civil War. On February 8, 1861, delegates from the seven Deep South states which had already declared their secession from the United States of America adopted the...
cavalry
Cavalry
Cavalry or horsemen were soldiers or warriors who fought mounted on horseback. Cavalry were historically the third oldest and the most mobile of the combat arms...
under Joseph Wheeler
Joseph Wheeler
Joseph Wheeler was an American military commander and politician. He has the rare distinction of serving as a general during war time for two opposing forces: first as a noted cavalry general in the Confederate States Army in the 1860s during the American Civil War, and later as a general in the...
and Decatur, Georgia
Decatur, Georgia
Decatur is a city in, and county seat of, DeKalb County, Georgia, United States. With a population of 19,335 in the 2010 census, the city is sometimes assumed to be larger since multiple zip codes in unincorporated DeKalb County bear the Decatur name...
, against John Bell Hood
John Bell Hood
John Bell Hood was a Confederate general during the American Civil War. Hood had a reputation for bravery and aggressiveness that sometimes bordered on recklessness...
.
On April 22, 1865, President
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
Andrew Johnson
Andrew Johnson
Andrew Johnson was the 17th President of the United States . As Vice-President of the United States in 1865, he succeeded Abraham Lincoln following the latter's assassination. Johnson then presided over the initial and contentious Reconstruction era of the United States following the American...
appointed Doolittle 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 to rank from January 27, 1865. President Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln was the 16th President of the United States, serving from March 1861 until his assassination in April 1865. He successfully led his country through a great constitutional, military and moral crisis – the American Civil War – preserving the Union, while ending slavery, and...
had nominated Doolittle for the appointment on January 30, 1865 and the U.S. Senate confirmed the nomination on February 14, 1865 but Lincoln was unable to make the formal appointment before he was assassinated. Doolittle was mustered out of the volunteer service on November 30, 1865. On February 24, 1866, President Johnson nominated Doolittle for appointment to the brevet
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...
grade of major general
Major general (United States)
In the United States Army, United States Marine Corps, and United States Air Force, major general is a two-star general-officer rank, with the pay grade of O-8. Major general ranks above brigadier general and below lieutenant general...
of volunteers, to rank from June 13, 1865, and the U.S. Senate confirmed the appointment on May 4, 1866.
After the war he was a cashier at Merchant's National Bank in Toledo, Ohio
Toledo, Ohio
Toledo is the fourth most populous city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Lucas County. Toledo is in northwest Ohio, on the western end of Lake Erie, and borders the State of Michigan...
. He is buried in Woodlawn Cemetery, Toledo.
See also
- List of American Civil War generals (Union)