Charles James Mills

He was a student at Cambridge (Harvard) Scientific School - and had been seeking a commission since April 1861 - when he enrolled as 2nd Lieutenant, Company I, 2nd Massachusetts Infantry on 14 August 1862. He joined his unit at Culpeper, VA on 17 August and was promoted First Lieutenant that day.

The acting Regimental Adjutant since 4 September, he was severely wounded, shot through both thighs, in action on 17 September 1862 at Antietam.

He went home to Boston to recover, but was discharged for disability on account of his wounds on 18 March 1863. In May - August 1863 he served on a scientific commission evaluating inventions for the Navy Department in Washington DC. He re-entered service as First Lieutenant and Adjutant of the 56th Massachusetts Infantry on 22 August 1863 and was appointed Captain to date from 7 July 1864. He was assigned to the HQ 9th Corps as Captain and Assistant Adjutant General on 6 August 1864. Later assigned to the Second Corps. Killed in action at Hatcher's Run, VA 31 March 1865 while on the staff of Major General Humphrey. He was honored by brevets to Major (23 Jan 65) for actions at the Wilderness, Spotsylvania, Bethesda Church and Petersburg; and to Lieutenant Colonel and Colonel (30 Mar 65) for War service.

Service information from Quint1 and Heitman2. Details from his Harvard Memorial (Higginson, Vol. 2, 1866). His photograph from one in the MOLLUS Massachusetts Collection3.

01/08/1841; Boston, MA

03/31/1865; Hatcher's Run, VA; burial in Forest Hills Cemetery and Crematory, Jamaica Plain, MA