Charles C. Tew facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Charles C. Tew
|
|
|---|---|
Charles Courtenay Tew
|
|
| Born | October 17, 1827 Charleston, South Carolina |
| Died | September 17, 1862 (aged 34) Sharpsburg, Maryland |
| Place of burial |
Unknown
|
| Allegiance |  Confederate States of America |
| Service/ |
 Confederate States Army |
| Years of service | 1861–62 |
| Rank |  Colonel |
| Commands held |  2nd North Carolina State Troops, infantry regiment |
| Battles/wars | American Civil War |
Charles Courtenay Tew (born October 17, 1827 – died September 17, 1862) was a brave colonel in the Confederate States Army. He fought during the American Civil War and sadly died in battle at Antietam.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Charles C. Tew was born in Charleston, South Carolina. His family had roots in France (French Huguenots) and Ireland.
In 1843, Charles was one of the first twenty students at the new South Carolina Military Academy. This school is now known as The Citadel. He was a brilliant student and graduated first in his class in 1846. This made him the very first graduate and the first top student of the school.
After graduating, Tew became a professor at the Citadel Academy. He taught there until 1852. Then, he traveled to Europe for a year to study military tactics. When he came back, he became the Commandant of Cadets. In 1857, he was made superintendent of the Arsenal Academy in Columbia, SC. This was the second campus of the South Carolina Military Academy. In 1859, Tew started his own school, the Hillsborough Military Academy in Hillsborough, North Carolina.
Serving in the Civil War
When North Carolina decided to leave the United States, Charles Tew was one of the first two colonels chosen by the governor. He was put in charge of the 2nd North Carolina State Troops. This group was part of Brigadier General George B. Anderson's brigade in the Army of Northern Virginia.
Colonel Tew and his troops fought in several important battles:
He was killed during the Battle of Antietam on September 17, 1862. He was leading his regiment, the 2nd North Carolina State Troops, when he fell.
The Battle of Antietam
During the middle of the Battle of Antietam, there was a fierce fight at a place called the Sunken Road. This road later became known as "Bloody Lane." When Brigadier General Anderson was badly wounded, Colonel Tew bravely took command of the brigade.
Tew was talking with another officer, Colonel John B. Gordon, on the Sunken Road. Both men were hit by enemy fire. Charles Tew was shot through his temples. He was pulled down into the Sunken Road after he was hit. When the Confederate soldiers had to retreat from the Sunken Road, Tew's body was never found or identified.
What Happened to Charles Tew?
Many different stories and rumors spread about what happened to Colonel Tew. Some people thought he was still alive and held as a prisoner of war at Fort Jefferson. This prison was in the Dry Tortugas. Tew's father even went to Washington and got permission to visit the prison. But he could not find his son there. To this day, no one knows where Charles Tew was buried.
In 1874, a Union soldier named Captain J. W. Bean sent a silver cup to Tew's father. This cup had been taken from Tew's body. Bean's letter also said that he had buried Tew on the battlefield. However, Tew's sword and watch were never returned to his family. His sword had been a gift from the students of The Arsenal, and it had his name carved on it.
A famous photograph taken by Alexander Gardner was once thought to show Tew's body. The picture, called "Dead at Bloody Lane," shows a Confederate officer lying on his back. But later research showed that the photo was taken from a different spot. It was not where Tew was killed.
Recently, The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina announced some exciting news. Colonel Tew's sword was found by a Canadian Army unit, the 33 Signal Regiment from Ottawa, Ontario. The sword was returned to The Citadel on September 18, 2015. A special ceremony took place on September 16, 2015, at the very spot where Colonel Tew fell on Bloody Lane.
Images for kids
-
Antietam Battle, Bloody Lane, 1862.jpg
A photograph of the Sunken Road, also known as Bloody Lane, where Colonel Tew was killed.
