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Civil War Soldiers - Devens
| Devens, Charles, brigadier-general,
U.S. Army, was born in Charlestown, Mass., April 4, 1820. He was
graduated at Harvard in arts in 1838 and in law in 1840, and practised
his profession in Northfield and later in Greenfield, Mass. He was
state senator, 1848-49, and U. S. marshal for the district, 1849-53,
under appointment of President Fillmore. In this capacity it became
his duty to execute the process under which the fugitive slave, Sims,
was returned to his owner, but after the rendition he offered to pay
for Sims' freedom, and in 1877, when attorney-general of the United
States, he appointed him to a position in the department of justice.
He entered the Federal army in 1861, was made major of the 3d
battalion rifles in April of that year; and in July was appointed
colonel of the 15th Mass. volunteers. He served with this regiment
until 1862 and was wounded at Ball's bluff. He was made
brigadier-general of volunteers, April 15, 1862, commanded a brigade
during the Peninsular campaign, and fought at Fair Oaks, Antietam and
Fredericksburg, being severely wounded at Fair Oaks and having a horse
shot under him at Antietam. For gallant conduct at Fredericksburg he
received commendations from the division commander. In 1863 he
commanded a division in the 1lth corps at Chancellorsville, and was
severely wounded there. Returning to the field in 1864, he was
appointed to the command of a division of the l8th army corps,
reorganized as the 3d division of the 24th corps, and his troops were
the first to occupy Richmond upon the evacuation of the city by the
Confederates. On recommendation of Gen. Grant, he was brevetted
major-general of volunteers for gallant and good conduct at the
capture of Richmond. He commanded the district of Charleston, in
1865-66, and then, in June, 1866, was mustered out of the service and
returned to practice his profession in Worcester. He was judge of the
superior court of Massachusetts, 1866-73, was afterwards judge of the
supreme judicial court, and then resigned to become attorney-general
of the United States under President Hayes. At the close of the
administration he was appointed by Gov. Long to the supreme bench of
the state, where he remained until his death. Gen. Devens was
commander-in-chief of the G. A. R. in 1874. He was orator of the day
on numerous note- worthy occasions, and, after his death, a heroic
size statue was erected to his memory by the state of Massachusetts.
Gen. Devens died in Boston, Mass., Jan. 7, 1891. Source: The Union Army: A History of Military Affairs in the Loyal
States 1861-1865, Volume 8 Biographical, 1908
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