Charles Devens facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Charles Devens
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| 35th United States Attorney General | |
| In office March 12, 1877 – March 4, 1881 |
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| President | Rutherford B. Hayes |
| Preceded by | Alphonso Taft |
| Succeeded by | Wayne MacVeagh |
| Personal details | |
| Born | April 4, 1820 Charlestown, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| Died | January 7, 1891 (aged 70) Cambridge, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| Political party | Whig (Before 1860) Democratic (1860–1867) Republican (1867–1891) |
| Education | Harvard University (BA, LLB) |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | United States • Union |
| Branch/service | United States Army • Union Army |
| Years of service | 1861–1866 |
| Rank | Brigadier General Brevet Major General |
| Battles/wars | American Civil War |
Charles Devens Jr. (born April 4, 1820 – died January 7, 1891) was an important American lawyer, judge, and leader. He also served as a general in the Union Army during the American Civil War.
Early Life and Career
Charles Devens was born in Charlestown, Massachusetts. He went to Boston Latin School and then Harvard College, graduating in 1838. He finished Harvard Law School in 1840. After that, he became a lawyer in Franklin County, Massachusetts, where he worked from 1841 to 1849.
In 1848, Devens was a member of the Massachusetts Senate for the Whig Party. From 1849 to 1853, he worked as the United States Marshal for Massachusetts. In this job, he had to return a runaway slave named Thomas Sims to slavery in 1851. Devens felt very sad about this. He tried to buy Sims's freedom, but he couldn't. Many years later, he gave Sims a job in the United States Department of Justice in Washington, D.C..
Devens practiced law in Worcester, Massachusetts, from 1853 until 1861.
Civil War Hero
On April 16, 1861, Charles Devens gave a powerful speech in Worcester. He asked young men to join him to "rescue Washington." Three days later, he became a major in the 3rd Massachusetts Rifle Battalion.
He was made a colonel of the 15th Massachusetts Infantry in July 1861. He was hurt in the Battle of Ball's Bluff in Virginia in October.
Even while still getting better, Devens was promoted to brigadier general in April 1862. He was wounded a second time at the Battle of Seven Pines. He spent most of the summer recovering from his injuries.
In January 1863, Devens was given command of a new group of soldiers. He was wounded a third time at the Battle of Chancellorsville. A general who served with him said that Devens got back on his horse. He stayed with his men and did not go to the hospital until they had set up camp. This shows how brave he was.
Devens showed great skill at the Battle of Cold Harbor. He also played a key role during the Siege of Petersburg. His troops were the first to enter Richmond when it fell in April 1865.
After the war, Devens joined the Massachusetts Commandery of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States. This was a group for Union officers.
Life After the War
On January 13, 1866, President Andrew Johnson honored Devens. He was given the honorary rank of major general for his service during the Richmond campaign. Devens stayed in the army for a year. He commanded the military district of Charleston, South Carolina. Then he returned home.
He later became the fifth Commander-in-Chief of the Grand Army of the Republic. This was a large group for Civil War veterans. He led the group from 1873 to 1875.
Devens was also involved in an investigation in September 1865. He strongly disagreed when an officer was not held responsible for a serious incident involving a former soldier.
He became a judge of the Massachusetts superior court from 1867 to 1873. He was also an associate justice of the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court from 1873 to 1877. He served there again from 1881 to 1891. From 1877 to 1881, he was the Attorney General of the United States. This meant he was the chief lawyer for the U.S. government. He served in the Cabinet of President Rutherford B. Hayes.
He was chosen to be a member of the American Antiquarian Society in 1878.
Charles Devens died in Boston, Massachusetts, in 1891. He is buried in Mount Auburn Cemetery in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
Memorials
In 1906, the city of Worcester, Massachusetts, put up a statue of Charles Devens. It is an equestrian statue, meaning he is shown on a horse. It stands in front of the former Worcester Court House.
Camp Devens, which later became Fort Devens, was built in 1917. It was named after General Devens. This camp is located in the Massachusetts towns of Ayer, Harvard, Lancaster, and Shirley.
See also
- List of American Civil War generals (Union)
- List of Massachusetts generals in the American Civil War
- Massachusetts in the American Civil War
