Charles Hart Olmstead | |
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 Col. Charles H. Olmstead | |
| Born | April 2, 1837 Savannah,Georgia |
| Died | August 17, 1926 (aged 89) Savannah, Georgia |
| Buried | |
| Allegiance |  Confederate States of America |
| Service |  Confederate States Army |
| Years of service | 1861-1865 (CSA) |
| Rank |  Colonel |
| Commands | 1st Georgia Infantry Fort Pulaski Mercer's Brigade |
| Battles / wars | American Civil War: |
| Spouse(s) | Florence Williams |
| Other work | businessman |
Charles Hart Olmstead (1837–1926) was aConfederate States Army officer during theAmerican Civil War.[2]
Born inSavannah, Georgia, on April 2, 1837, Olmstead became a graduate ofGeorgia Military Institute.[3]
Olmstead was appointedmajor of the 1st Georgia Infantry Regiment on May 27, 1861.[4] During this time the colonel of his regiment wasHugh W. Mercer. He was placed in command ofFort Pulaski, after Georgia militia captured the fort on January 6, 1861. In November 1861, Olmstead had an estimated 385 men and 48 cannons to protect it. After asiege and bombardment, Olmstead surrendered the fortress on April 11, 1862,[5] and was a prisoner for several months.[6] Afterwards, Olmstead continued to lead his regiment along the Carolina and Georgia Coast. He participated in the Siege of Battery Wagner while commanding a mixed force from his own 1st (Mercer-Olmstead) Georgia Infantry and the 12th Georgia Artillery Battalion. He then returned to Savannah until the Atlanta Campaign. He and his regiment were sent north to Atlanta as part of Mercer's Brigade and participated in theBattle of Atlanta. He soon found himself and his regiment under the command of Brigadier GeneralJames Argyle Smith in theFranklin-Nashville Campaign. At times during this campaign he commanded the whole brigade. He then fought at theBattle of Franklin and theBattle of Nashville. Afterwards he participated in theCarolinas Campaign and fought at theBattle of Bentonville before surrendering at Bennet's Place.
After the war, at the age of 29, he married Florence Williams. Together they raised three daughters: Susan, Sarah, and Florence. He had a successful career in life insurance, shipping, and banking. Afterwards in New York City, he worked in the statistical department ofWanamaker's. In 1912 he wrote hisMemoirs. He was 89 years old when he died in Savannah on August 17, 1926. Before his death he had written "I gratefully acknowledge that 'goodness and mercy' have followed me 'all the days of my life'".[7]
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