Charles Frederic Humphrey Sr. | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | (1844-09-02)September 2, 1844 |
| Died | June 4, 1926(1926-06-04) (aged 81) |
| Place of burial | |
| Allegiance |  United States of America |
| Branch |  United States Army |
| Years of service | 1863–1907 |
| Rank |  Major General |
| Battles / wars | American Civil War Indian Wars China Relief Expedition |
| Awards | Medal of Honor Distinguished Service Cross |
| Relations | BG Charles Frederic Humphrey Jr. (son) Marion Bell Humphrey (son) |
Charles Frederic Humphrey Sr. (September 2, 1844 – June 4, 1926) was amajor general in theUnited States Army and aMedal of Honor recipient.
Humphrey was born on September 2, 1844, inTioga County, New York. He married Juanita Foster DaCosta and had five children. Two of their sons,Evan andCharles Jr., would become brigadier generals. Humphrey died on June 4, 1926, and is buried with Juanita, as well as Evan and another son, Marion, atArlington National Cemetery.[1]
Humphrey originally joined theUnion Army during theAmerican Civil War as a private in Company E of theFifth Artillery Regiment of the Regular Army on 17 March 1863. He was promoted to first sergeant by the time he was commissioned as a 2nd lieutenant in the same regiment on 28 August 1866. He was promoted to first lieutenant on 21 May 1868 and captain and acting quartermaster on 23 June 1879.
He was awarded theMedal of Honor for his actions during theAmerican Indian Wars while he was a first lieutenant.
His award citation reads:
Voluntarily and successfully conducted, in the face of a withering fire, a party which recovered possession of an abandoned howitzer and two Gatling guns lying between the lines a few yards from the Indians.[2]
He rose through the ranks in theQuartermaster Corps and served as a brigadier general of volunteers from September 1898 to June 1899.
Later in his career he served in theChina Relief Expedition and then succeededMarshall I. Ludington asQuartermaster General of the Army with the rank of brigadier general on 21 April 1903. His retirement was effective as of July 1, 1907.
General Humphrey was a companion of the District of Columbia Commandery of theMilitary Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States.
