Charles Lane Fitzhugh
Encyclopedia
Charles Lane Fitzhugh (August 22, 1838 – September 16, 1923) was a brevet
brigadier general
in the Union Army
during the American Civil War
.
in 1859, but left in September 1861 before finishing to join the Union war effort. He was commissioned as a first lieutenant in the 4th United States Regular Artillery
in October 1861, and served as an Aide-de-Camp
to major general
Don Carlos Buell
during the April 1862 Shiloh
Campaign.
Fitzhugh then led the 4th Regular Artillery's Battery C, commanding it in all the Army of the Potomac's
1864 battles and campaigns in Virginia
. On December 24, 1864, he was commissioned a Colonel
of Volunteers, and was given command of the 6th New York Volunteer Cavalry. His direct role with the unit, though, was nominal; he was promoted specifically to command the 2nd Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division of Major General Philip Sheridan's
Army of the Shenandoah. He led the brigade
through to the end of the war, and briefly was in charge of the 2nd New York Provisional Cavalry (a "holding" unit for soldiers awaiting muster out) before being mustered out the volunteer service himself.
On March 13, 1865, he was brevetted Brigadier General, U.S. Volunteers for "gallantry, energy and ability" and Brigadier General, U.S. Regular Army for "gallant and meritorious services in the field during the war". Reverting back to Regular Army rank of lieutenant, he served in the postbellum forces until he resigned in 1868.
He then engaged in steel manufacturing until his retirement. He died at age at 85 in 1923 at Cobourg
, Ontario
, Canada
. He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery
.
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
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...
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...
.
Military career
Fitzhugh was appointed to the United States Military AcademyUnited States Military Academy
The United States Military Academy at West Point is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located at West Point, New York. The academy sits on scenic high ground overlooking the Hudson River, north of New York City...
in 1859, but left in September 1861 before finishing to join the Union war effort. He was commissioned as a first lieutenant in the 4th United States Regular Artillery
Artillery
Originally applied to any group of infantry primarily armed with projectile weapons, artillery has over time become limited in meaning to refer only to those engines of war that operate by projection of munitions far beyond the range of effect of personal weapons...
in October 1861, and served as an Aide-de-Camp
Aide-de-camp
An aide-de-camp is a personal assistant, secretary, or adjutant to a person of high rank, usually a senior military officer or a head of state...
to 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...
Don Carlos Buell
Don Carlos Buell
Don Carlos Buell was a career United States Army officer who fought in the Seminole War, the Mexican-American War, and the American Civil War. Buell led Union armies in two great Civil War battles—Shiloh and Perryville. The nation was angry at his failure to defeat the outnumbered...
during the April 1862 Shiloh
Battle of Shiloh
The Battle of Shiloh, also known as the Battle of Pittsburg Landing, was a major battle in the Western Theater of the American Civil War, fought April 6–7, 1862, in southwestern Tennessee. A Union army under Maj. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant had moved via the Tennessee River deep into Tennessee and...
Campaign.
Fitzhugh then led the 4th Regular Artillery's Battery C, commanding it in all the Army of the Potomac's
Army of the Potomac
The Army of the Potomac was the major Union Army in the Eastern Theater of the American Civil War.-History:The Army of the Potomac was created in 1861, but was then only the size of a corps . Its nucleus was called the Army of Northeastern Virginia, under Brig. Gen...
1864 battles and campaigns in Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
. On December 24, 1864, he was commissioned a 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...
of Volunteers, and was given command of the 6th New York Volunteer Cavalry. His direct role with the unit, though, was nominal; he was promoted specifically to command the 2nd Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division of Major General Philip Sheridan's
Philip Sheridan
Philip Henry Sheridan was a career United States Army officer and a Union general in the American Civil War. His career was noted for his rapid rise to major general and his close association with Lt. Gen. Ulysses S...
Army of the Shenandoah. He led the brigade
Brigade
A brigade is a major tactical military formation that is typically composed of two to five battalions, plus supporting elements depending on the era and nationality of a given army and could be perceived as an enlarged/reinforced regiment...
through to the end of the war, and briefly was in charge of the 2nd New York Provisional Cavalry (a "holding" unit for soldiers awaiting muster out) before being mustered out the volunteer service himself.
On March 13, 1865, he was brevetted Brigadier General, U.S. Volunteers for "gallantry, energy and ability" and Brigadier General, U.S. Regular Army for "gallant and meritorious services in the field during the war". Reverting back to Regular Army rank of lieutenant, he served in the postbellum forces until he resigned in 1868.
He then engaged in steel manufacturing until his retirement. He died at age at 85 in 1923 at Cobourg
Cobourg, Ontario
Cobourg is a town in the Canadian province of Ontario, located in Southern Ontario 95 km east of Toronto. It is the largest town in Northumberland County. Its nearest neighbour is Port Hope, to the west. It is located along Highway 401 and the former Highway 2...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery
Arlington National Cemetery
Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington County, Virginia, is a military cemetery in the United States of America, established during the American Civil War on the grounds of Arlington House, formerly the estate of the family of Confederate general Robert E. Lee's wife Mary Anna Lee, a great...
.
See also
- List of American Civil War generals