Charles Robert Woods | |
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Brig. Gen. Charles Robert Woods
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Born |
Newark, Ohio |
February 19, 1827
Died | February 26, 1885 Newark, Ohio |
(aged 58)
Place of burial | Cedar Hill Cemetery, Newark, Ohio |
Allegiance |
United States of America Union |
Service/branch |
United States Army Union Army |
Years of service | 1852–1874 |
Rank |
Brigadier General Brevet Major General |
Commands held |
76th Ohio Infantry 1st Bde., 1st Div., XV Corps 1st Division, XV Corps 2nd U.S. Infantry |
Battles/wars |
Charles Robert Woods (February 19, 1827 – February 26, 1885) was a career United States Army officer and a Union general during the American Civil War. He is noted for commanding the relief troops that first attempted to resupply Fort Sumter prior to the start of the conflict, and served with distinction during the war.
Charles Woods was born in the city of Newark in Licking County, Ohio, the younger brother of William Burnham Woods and the brother-in-law of Willard Warner, both future Union generals. He grew up on his family's farm in Ohio, where he received a minimal education from tutoring.
Woods entered the United States Military Academy at West Point in July 1848, and graduated four years later, standing 20th out of 43 cadets. He was appointed a brevet second lieutenant on July 1, 1852, and ordered to join the 1st U.S. Infantry Regiment. On July 31 of that year Woods was promoted to the rank of second lieutenant. During 1855 he was transferred to the 9th U.S. Infantry as of March 3, and was promoted to first lieutenant on October 16. Woods' pre-war military career consisted of "routine duty" in Texas as well as in the Washington Territory until 1860.
In early 1861, Woods was ordered by the U.S. Army to lead reinforcements to Fort Sumter, located in Charleston Harbor, South Carolina. On January 5 his command of 200 officers and men left from Governors Island in New York Harbor aboard the steamer SS Star of the West, escorted by the sloop USS Brooklyn, for Fort Sumter.