General Charles King
(1844-)
| Father | General Rufus King (1814-1876) |
| Mother | Susan Elliot |
General Charles King, son of General Rufus King and Susan Elliot, was born in Albany, New York StateG, on 12 October 1844.1
Charles King was a career soldier. He served in the American Civil War in 1861 and 1862 as a mounted orderly in his father's command. He entered West Point Academy in June 1862, graduating in June 1866 as a second lieutenant. He was an instructor at West Point and served in the 5th Cavalry in the Apache campaign in Arizona (1874), the Sioux campaign (1876), and the Nez Perces campaign (1877). He was promoted to Captain in 1879 and retired soon after from active service because of wounds he had received in the Indian campaigns. He served two years as professor of military science and tactics at the University of Wisconsin and eight years as State inspector and instructor of Wisconsin National Guard, commanding the State troops during the labor riots of Milwaukee in 1886. He also served as Colonel of the 4th Regiment of Wisconsin National Guard, was a member of the Board of Visitors to West Point in 1889, and later spent considerable time in Europe. In May 1898, he was appointed Brigadier General of Volunteers and served in the Philippines. He left the army In 1899, and in 1901 became commandant of Orchard Lake Military Academy.
Charles King was a career soldier. He served in the American Civil War in 1861 and 1862 as a mounted orderly in his father's command. He entered West Point Academy in June 1862, graduating in June 1866 as a second lieutenant. He was an instructor at West Point and served in the 5th Cavalry in the Apache campaign in Arizona (1874), the Sioux campaign (1876), and the Nez Perces campaign (1877). He was promoted to Captain in 1879 and retired soon after from active service because of wounds he had received in the Indian campaigns. He served two years as professor of military science and tactics at the University of Wisconsin and eight years as State inspector and instructor of Wisconsin National Guard, commanding the State troops during the labor riots of Milwaukee in 1886. He also served as Colonel of the 4th Regiment of Wisconsin National Guard, was a member of the Board of Visitors to West Point in 1889, and later spent considerable time in Europe. In May 1898, he was appointed Brigadier General of Volunteers and served in the Philippines. He left the army In 1899, and in 1901 became commandant of Orchard Lake Military Academy.
At the outbreak of the war for the preservation of the Union, [General Charles King] was a freshman at Columbia, but in 1861 left college and joined his father's command in the field, serving as a mounted orderly. In June, 1862, having accepted a cadetship tendered him by President Lincoln, he entered West Point Academy. There in 1865 he was made Adjutant of the Cadet Corps, and in June, 1866, graduated in the artillery arm of the service with the rank of second lieutenant. That summer he remained at West Point as instructor in artillery tactics, and then was stationed with a light battery of his regiment at New Orleans, where he remained until 1869. The following year he was promoted to the rank of first lieutenant, assigned to the 5th Cavalry and ordered to duty at West Point, as instructor in artillery and cavalry tactics. In 1871 he was appointed aid-de-camp to Major General Emory, serving also as acting Judge Advocate and Engineer Officer of the Department of the Gulf.
In 1874 he joined his troop for the Apache campaign in Arizona, and after several engagements was severely wounded at Sunset Pass. Recovering he served as adjutant of his regiment through the Sioux campaign of 1876, and the Nez Perces campaign of 1877. On May 1st, 1879, was promoted to rank of captain and shortly thereafter was retired from active service "by reason of wounds received in line of duty." After which he served two years as professor of military science and tactics at the University of Wisconsin and eight years as State inspector and instructor of Wisconsin National Guard, commanding the State troops during the labor riots of Milwaukee in 1886. He also served as Colonel of 4th Regiment of Wisconsin National Guard, was a member of the Board of Visitors to West Point in 1889, and later spent considerable time in Europe.
In May, 1898, he was appointed Brig. General of Volunteers, and served under General Lawton in the Philippines. In August, 1899, he again left the army, and in 1901 became commandant of Orchard Lake Military Academy.
General King is perhaps best known as an author of military history and soldier stories, notably, "Between the Lines," "Under Fire," "Compaigning with Crooke," "The General's Double," "The Colonel's Daughter," "Marion's Faith," and "Captain Blake."
—Weygant, The Sacketts of America
In 1874 he joined his troop for the Apache campaign in Arizona, and after several engagements was severely wounded at Sunset Pass. Recovering he served as adjutant of his regiment through the Sioux campaign of 1876, and the Nez Perces campaign of 1877. On May 1st, 1879, was promoted to rank of captain and shortly thereafter was retired from active service "by reason of wounds received in line of duty." After which he served two years as professor of military science and tactics at the University of Wisconsin and eight years as State inspector and instructor of Wisconsin National Guard, commanding the State troops during the labor riots of Milwaukee in 1886. He also served as Colonel of 4th Regiment of Wisconsin National Guard, was a member of the Board of Visitors to West Point in 1889, and later spent considerable time in Europe.
In May, 1898, he was appointed Brig. General of Volunteers, and served under General Lawton in the Philippines. In August, 1899, he again left the army, and in 1901 became commandant of Orchard Lake Military Academy.
General King is perhaps best known as an author of military history and soldier stories, notably, "Between the Lines," "Under Fire," "Compaigning with Crooke," "The General's Double," "The Colonel's Daughter," "Marion's Faith," and "Captain Blake."
—Weygant, The Sacketts of America
Notes & Citations
- Charles Weygant, The Sacketts of America, "5096. Charles King, b. Oct. 12, 1844."
| Appears in | Sacketts in the Military |
| Sackett line | 8th great-grandson of Thomas Sackett the elder of St Peter in Thanet |
| Charts | Line 3a (American) |
| Generation.Tree | 5096.9Q.3 |
| Last Edited | 4 Jul 2012 |
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