Charles Cruft (general)

For the founder of the Crufts dog show see: Charles Cruft

Charles Cruft
Charles Cruft
Born	January 12, 1826(1826-01-12) Terre Haute, Indiana
Died	March 23, 1883(1883-03-23) (aged 57) Terre Haute, Indiana
Place of burial	Woodlawn Cemetery, Terre Haute
Allegiance	United States of America Union
Service/branch	Union Army
Years of service	1861 - 1865
Rank	Brigadier General Brevet Major General
Battles/wars	American Civil War

Charles Cruft (January 12, 1826 – March 23, 1883) was a teacher, lawyer, railroad executive, and a Union general during the American Civil War.

Biography

Cruft was born in Terre Haute, Indiana. He graduated from Wabash College in 1842. He was employed as a bank clerk, lawyer, president of the St. Louis, Alton, and Terre Haute Railroad (1855–1858), and published the Terre Haute Express newspaper (1860).

When the Civil War broke out in 1861, Cruft witnessed the First Battle of Bull Run as a civilian. This encouraged him to return to his native Indiana and raised the 31st Indiana Infantry; he was appointed its colonel on September 20, 1861. At the Battle of Fort Donelson, he commanded a brigade in Lew Wallace's division and was wounded during the fighting. He was again wounded, in the head, shoulder, and left thigh, at the Battle of Shiloh while leading his regiment in the Hornet's Nest. He was promoted to brigadier general of volunteers on July 16, 1862. He recovered and commanded a brigade at the Battle of Richmond, Kentucky, where he was again wounded. He commanded a brigade during the Battle of Perryville, but was not engaged in the fighting. He fought at Stones River and Chickamauga. At Chattanooga he commanded the 1st Division, IV Corps, and took part in the fight for Lookout Mountain. He led his division during the Atlanta Campaign and commanded a Provisional Division, composed of units from the Army of the Tennessee that could not rejoin William T. Sherman for the March to the Sea, at the Battle of Nashville. On March 7, 1865, President Abraham Lincoln nominated Cruft for appointment to the brevet grade of major general of volunteers, to rank from March 5, 1865, and the U.S. Senate confirmed the award on March 10, 1865.^[1] Cruft was mustered out on August 24, 1865.^[2]

Cruft returned to Terre Haute and resumed his legal practice. He died at his home and is buried in Woodlawn Cemetery, Terre Haute.

See also

	Biography portal
	United States Army portal
	American Civil War portal

• List of American Civil War generals (Union)

Notes

1. ^ Eicher, John H., & Eicher, David J., Civil War High Commands, Stanford University Press, 2001, ISBN 0-8047-3641-3. p. 711
2. ^ Eicher, 2001, p. 193

References

• Eicher, John H., & Eicher, David J., Civil War High Commands, Stanford University Press, 2001, ISBN 0-8047-3641-3.
• Indiana in the Civil War
• Wabash Valley Profiles [1]

Persondata
Name	Cruft, Charles
Alternative names
Short description	Union Army General
Date of birth	January 12, 1826
Place of birth	Terre Haute, Indiana
Date of death	March 23, 1883
Place of death	Terre Haute, Indiana