A Civil War Biography
Charles Carroll Walcutt
Walcutt was born 12 February 1838 in Columbus, Ohio. He graduated
from the Kentucky Military Institute in 1858 then worked as a
surveyor in central Ohio.
Once the war started in April of 1861, Walcutt raised a company of
Ohio volunteers. He was initially frustrated in his attempt to help
preserve the Union because Ohio had already provided its quota and
the Federal government would not accept new units into Federal
service. Walcutt helped organize the 46th Ohio Infantry and was
appointed a major in the regiment on 16 October 1861. After an
expedition to Yellow Creek, Mississippi the 46th moved to Pittsburgh
Landing. When the Confederates attacked the Union positions around
the landing in what is best known as the Battle of Shiloh, Walcutt,
now a lieutenant colonel, remained with his regiment in spite of a
minie ball hitting his left shoulder. The bullet would remain in his
shoulder the rest of his life.
Walcutt was promoted to colonel in October 1862 after recovering
from his wound. He took part in the siege of Vicksburg and the
capture of Jackson, Mississippi. He commanded the 2nd Brigade 4th
Division XV Corps at Missionary Ridge, during the attempts to
relieve Knoxville, and during the Atlanta campaign. On 30 July 1864
Walcutt was promoted to brigadier general. He commanded the 2nd
Brigade 1st Division XV Corps during Sherman's March to the Sea.
Walcutt was wounded at Griswoldville, Georgia on 22 November 1864
while leading his brigade along with two regiments of cavalry in a
demonstration towards Macon, Georgia. The brigade, after driving
elements of Joseph Wheeler's cavalry beyond Griswoldville, withstood
three determined attacks by three brigades of Georgia militia. It
was for this action that O.O. Howard wrote his praise of Walcutt.
He was brevetted major general of volunteers on 13 March 1865
shortly after he returned to active duty after recovering from his
wound. Walcutt led the 1st Division XIV Corps during the Grand
Review in Washington DC. He mustered out of the service in January
1866, returning briefly as a lieutenant colonel in the 10th US
Cavalry, one of the units recruited from freed slaves who became
famous as the "Buffalo Soldiers". Walcutt then became warden of the
Ohio State Penitentiary. In 1869 he was appointed a collector of
internal revenue by President Ulysses S. Grant. Walcutt was elected
to two terms as mayor of Columbus, Ohio serving from 1883 until
1886. He died on 2 May 1898 in Omaha, Nebraska.
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