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Civil War Soldiers - Woods

Woods, Charles R., brigadier-general, U.S. Army, was born at Newark, Ohio, in March, 1829, was graduated at the U. S. military academy on July 1, 1852, and assigned to the infantry, with which he served on frontier duty till the outbreak of the Civil war. His first duty in this conflict was in command of the troops sent in the "Star of the West" for the relief of Fort Sumter. Then, after a short service on quartermaster duty, he became colonel of the 76th Ohio infantry Oct. 13, 1861. He was in command of the 44th and subsequently of the 10th Ohio infantry in the western Virginia campaign, being engaged in the pursuit of Gen. Floyd's Confederate forces from Cotton mountain. He spent the time from Nov. 20, 1861, to Feb. 9, 1862, in organizing his regiment at Newark, Ohio, and was in Gen. Grant's Tennessee campaign, being engaged in the battle of Fort Donelson, the movement to Adamsville and the battle of Shiloh. He was in command of a brigade in the advance upon the siege of Corinth and the march to Memphis, Tenn., and Helena, Ark. ; in command of land forces in the joint naval and military expedition down the Mississippi river to Milliken's bend, which resulted in the destruction of much of the enemy's property and some captures ; in command of a regiment on Gen. Sherman's expedition to Chickasaw bluffs and the capture of Arkansas Post; and in command of a brigade in the Vicksburg campaign, in which he was engaged in the advance to Grand Gulf, the skirmish at Fourteen-mile creek, the capture of Jackson and destruction of much railroad and other property in its vicinity, the capture of Walnut hills, and assault on May 22, the siege from that date to July 4, and the pursuit of Gen. Johnston's army to Canton, including the reoccupation of Jackson and extensive destruction of railroad property. He was commissioned brigadier-general of volunteers Aug. 4, 1863, and participated in the march via Memphis to Chattanooga with frequent skirmishes, the battle of Chattanooga and the action at Ringgold, Ga. He was in northern Alabama, guarding the Memphis & Charleston railroad, from Dec, 1863, to May, 1864; in command of a brigade and subsequently of a division of the 15th army corps in the Atlanta campaign, being engaged at Resaca, New Hope Church, Kennesaw mountain, the passage of the Chattahoochie, battles and siege of Atlanta, and the battle of Jonesboro. He then took part in the pursuit of the Confederate army under Gen. Hood, and the march to the sea, taking part in the action of Griswoldville. On Nov. 22, 1864, he was brevetted major-general of volunteers for long and continued services and for special gallantry at Griswoldville. He was in command of a division of the 15th army corps in the invasion of the Carolinas; was engaged in the capture of Columbia, the battle of Bentonville, the occupation of Raleigh, and participated in the march to Richmond and Washington. He then served in command of the 1st division, 15th army corps, at Louisville, Ky., until July, 1865 ; of the Department of Alabama, with headquarters at Mobile, until April, 1866, of the Department of the South with headquarters at Macon, Ga., until Aug., 1866, and was mustered out of the volunteer service on Sept. 1, 1866. For his gallant and meritorious services during the war he received four brevets in the regular army, besides the appointment of brigadier-general and the brevet of major- general of volunteers. After the war, till he was retired as colonel Dec. 15, 1874, he was engaged in the ordinary duties of his arm of service. Gen. Woods died Feb. 26, 1885, in the place of his birth, at the early age of 56.

Source: The Union Army: A History of Military Affairs in the Loyal States 1861-1865, Volume 8 Biographical, 1908
 

Woods, William B., brigadier-general, U.S. Army, was born in Newark, Ohio, Aug. 3, 1824. He was sent to Western Reserve college at Hudson, Ohio, where he was graduated in 1841, and from there to Yale college, graduating in 1845 as valedictorian of his class. On leaving college he returned to Ohio, studied law, and was admitted to the bar in 1847. He demonstrated the possession of great oratorical powers; being also a skilled lawyer he became very popular, and was elected mayor of Newark in 1855. Two years later he was sent to the Ohio legislature as a Democrat, was reelected, and was speaker in 1858-59. As Democratic leader in the house in 1861, Mr. Woods succeeded in influencing legislative support of the war loan for the purpose of defending the state. In 1862 he joined the army as lieutenant-colonel of the 76th Ohio infantry and served until the close of the war, when he was mustered out with the rank of brigadier-general and brevet major-general of volunteers. The war record of Gen. Woods was highly creditable to him. He participated in the battles of Fort Donelson, Shiloh, Chickasaw bluffs, Arkansas Post (in which he was slightly wounded), Resaca, Dallas, Atlanta, Jonesboro, Lovejoy's Station and Bentonville, the sieges of Vicksburg and Jackson, and in many minor affairs and skirmishes. In 1866 he settled in Alabama where he became a leading Republican. Under the reconstruction act of 1868, Gen. Woods was made state chancellor for six years, but after serving in this position two years he was appointed United States circuit judge for the 5th district, which office he held for a number of years, making his residence in Mobile. In 1880 President Hayes appointed him associate justice of the U. S. supreme court. Gen. Woods died in Washington on May 14, 1887.

Source: The Union Army: A History of Military Affairs in the Loyal States 1861-1865, Volume 8 Biographical, 1908
 


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