Charles Cruft | |
|---|---|
 Charles Cruft | |
| Born | (1826-01-12)January 12, 1826 |
| Died | March 23, 1883(1883-03-23) (aged 57) Terre Haute, Indiana |
| Place of burial | Woodlawn Cemetery, Terre Haute, Indiana |
| Allegiance | United States of America Union |
| Branch | United States Army Union Army |
| Service years | 1861 –1865 |
| Rank |  Brigadier General BrevetMajor General |
| Commands | 31st Indiana Infantry Regiment |
| Conflicts | |
Charles Cruft (January 12, 1826 – March 23, 1883) was a teacher, lawyer, railroad executive, and served as aUnion general during theAmerican Civil War.
Cruft was born inTerre Haute, Indiana. He graduated fromWabash College in 1842. He was employed as a bank clerk, lawyer, president of theSt. Louis, Alton, and Terre Haute Railroad (1855–1858), and published Terre Haute'sWabash Express newspaper (1861–1872).[1]
Early in 1861 he and attorney John P. Baird formed a law partnership, which continued until the death of Colonel Baird in 1881. Of this firm it was quoted "That the brilliant genius of Col. Baird as a pleader and court advocate, was equaled only by General Cruft's ability as an advisor and counselor, and to the latter fell all the office details in the innumerable cases in which they acted". The firm held a "very high reputation" throughout the State.[2]
When the Civil War broke out in 1861, Cruft witnessed theFirst Battle of Bull Run as a civilian.[3] This encouraged him to return to his nativeIndiana and raised the31st Indiana Infantry; he was appointed itscolonel on September 20, 1861. At theBattle of Fort Donelson, he commanded a brigade inLew Wallace'sdivision and was wounded during the fighting. He was again wounded, in the head, shoulder, and left thigh, at theBattle of Shiloh while leading his regiment in the Hornet's Nest. He was promoted tobrigadier general of volunteers on July 16, 1862. He recovered and commanded a brigade at theBattle of Richmond,Kentucky, where he was again wounded. He commanded a brigade during theBattle of Perryville, but was not engaged in the fighting. He fought atStones River andChickamauga. AtChattanooga he commanded the 1st Division,IV Corps, and took part in the fight forLookout Mountain. He led his division during theAtlanta campaign and commanded a Provisional Division, composed of units from theArmy of the Tennessee that could not rejoinWilliam T. Sherman for theMarch to the Sea, at theBattle of Nashville. On March 7, 1865, PresidentAbraham Lincoln nominated Cruft for appointment to thebrevet grade ofmajor general of volunteers, to rank from March 5, 1865, and the U.S. Senate confirmed the award on March 10, 1865.[4] Cruft was mustered out on August 24, 1865.[5]
After the war, he returned to his law practice with his old law partner, Colonel Baird. John Baird was Colonel of the 85th Indiana Volunteer Infantry. In Terre Haute, Cruft befriended businessmanChauncey Rose and aided in the founding of, and was an early manager of,Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology.
Cruft was an activeFreemason, a member ofTerre Haute Lodge No. 19, F&AM and served as Grand Commander of the Grand Commandery of Indiana,Knights Templar (Freemasonry) in 1873.[6] He died at his home and is buried in Woodlawn Cemetery, Terre Haute.
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