C. P. Devens

Federal (USV)

Brigadier General

Charles P. Devens Jr.

(1820 - 1891)

Home State: Massachusetts

Education: Harvard, Harvard Law, Class of 1838

Command Billet: Brigade Commander

Branch of Service: Infantry

Unit: 1st Brigade, 1st Division, IV Corps

Before Antietam

Pre-War Profession: Lawyer politician US marshaland General in state militia. In 1861 he was Major in the 3rd Battalion of the MA Rifles and in July was appointed Colonel of the 15th MA Regiment leading them at Ball's Bluff (wounded). In April 1862 he was appointed BGen. of Volunteers, commanding the 1st Brigade/1st Division/IV Corps at Seven Pines (wounded).

On the Campaign

He was in command of the 1st Brigade of the First Division/Fourth (IV) Corps (attached to VI Corps). The Division was not in the battle on the 17th but was marching between Sharpsburg and Harpers Ferry looking for Confederates (!).

The rest of the War

He commanded the 2nd Brigade/3rd Division/VI Corps at Fredericksburg the 1st Division/XI Corps at Chancellorsville (wounded) the 3rd Division/XVIII Corps at Cold Harbor and the 3rd Division/XXIV Corps at Petersburg.

After the War

He was a judge, justice of Massachusetts state supreme court, 1873-77, 1881-91; and US Attorney General in the Hayes Administration. He was Commander of the GAR 1873-75.

References & notes

See a brief bio of him, and the source of the portrait above, from the US Army Military History Institute .

Birth

4/12/1820; Charlestown (Boston), MA

Death

1/7/1891; Boston, MA; burial in Trinity Church, Boston, MA