Charles G. Sawtelle | |
|---|---|
.jpg) From 1913's Forty-Fourth Annual Reunion of the Association of the Graduates of the United States Military Academy | |
| Born | May 10, 1834 Norridgewock, Maine, U.S. |
| Died | January 4, 1913 (aged 78) Washington, D.C. |
| Buried | |
| Allegiance | United States Union |
| Service | United States Army Union Army |
| Years of service | 1854–1897 |
| Rank | Brigadier General |
| Unit | U.S. Army Quartermaster Corps |
| Commands | Perryville, Maryland Quartermaster Depot Acting Chief Quartermaster, Army of the Potomac Chief Quartermaster, II Corps Chief Quartermaster, Right Grand Division Chief Quartermaster, Cavalry Corps, Army of the Potomac Chief Quartermaster, Union Army Cavalry Bureau Chief Quartermaster, Brownsville, Texas Chief Quartermaster, Military Division of West Mississippi Chief Quartermaster, Military Division of the Southwest Chief Quartermaster, Military Division of the Gulf Chief Quartermaster, Department of the Gulf Chief Quartermaster, Fifth Military District Chief Quartermaster, Department of California Chief Quartermaster, Third Quartermaster's District, Department of the East Chief Quartermaster, Third District, Division of the Atlantic Chief Quartermaster, First District, Division of the Atlantic New York City Quartermaster Depot Chief Quartermaster, Department of the East Chief Quartermaster, Department of the Columbia Chief Quartermaster, Department of the South Chief Quartermaster, Division of the Atlantic Philadelphia Quartermaster Depot Quartermaster General of the United States Army |
| Wars | American Indian Wars American Civil War |
| Alma mater | Phillips Academy United States Military Academy |
| Spouse(s) | Alice Chester Munroe (m. 1869–1913, his death) |
| Children | 3 |
| Relations | Cullen Sawtelle (Father) Abner Ellis (Great-great-grandfather) |
Charles G. Sawtelle (May 10, 1834 – January 4, 1913) was a career officer in the United States Army. A veteran of the American Indian Wars and American Civil War, he served from 1854 to 1897 and attained the rank of brigadier general while serving as Quartermaster General of the United States Army.
A native of Norridgewock, Maine and the son of attorney and politician Cullen Sawtelle, Sawtelle was an 1854 graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point, and received his commission as a second lieutenant of Infantry. Assigned to the 6th Infantry Regiment, he initially served in the western United States during the American Indian Wars, including postings to Fort Laramie and Fort Pierre Chouteau in Dakota Territory and Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. He was promoted to first lieutenant in 1860.
After duty in California, Sawtelle served in Union Army chief quartermaster postings throughout the American Civil War, and was assigned to units and depots in Virginia, Maryland, Washington, D.C., Texas, and Louisiana. During the war, he was promoted to captain in the regular army, and lieutenant colonel of and colonel of United States Volunteers. After the war, he received brevet promotions to major, lieutenant colonel, colonel, and brigadier general in recognition of the superior service he rendered throughout the war.
After the Civil War, Sawtelle was promoted to permanent major and continued to serve as chief quartermaster of depots, districts, and divisions. He was promoted to lieutenant colonel in 1881 and colonel in 1894. After serving as commander of the Philadelphia Quartermaster Depot from 1890 to 1894, and assistant quartermaster general beginning in 1894, in August 1896 Sawtelle was selected to serve as Quartermaster General of the United States Army; he received promotion to brigadier general and served until retiring in February 1897. In retirement, Sawtelle was a resident of Washington, D.C. He died in Washington on January 14, 1913, and was buried at Arlington National Cemetery.