Charles Dudley Rhodes

Charles Dudley Rhodes

Major General Charles D. Rhodes, 1918
Nickname Teddy
Born February 10, 1865(1865-02-10)
Delaware, Ohio
Died January 24, 1948(1948-01-24) (aged 82)
Washington, DC
Place of burial Arlington National Cemetery
Allegiance United States of America
Service/branch United States Army
Years of service 1889-1929
Rank Major General
Commands held Mounted Service School
79th Field Artillery Regiment
157th Artillery Brigade
42nd Infantry Division
34th Infantry Division
Battles/wars Indian Wars
China Relief Expedition
Spanish-American War
World War I
Awards Distinguished Service Cross
Distinguished Service Medal
Silver Star
Order of the Bath
Legion of Honor
Other work Author, Lecturer

Charles Dudley Rhodes (February 10, 1865-January 24, 1948) was a United States Army Major General. He was a prominent commander of cavalry units from the Indian Wars through World War I, and was a lecturer and author.

Contents

Early life

The son of Major Dudley Woodbridge Rhodes and Marcia Parrish, Charles D. Rhodes was nicknamed "Teddy".[1][2] He graduated from Columbian University (now George Washington University) in 1885.[3] In 1889 he graduated from the United States Military Academy, receiving a commission as a Second Lieutenant of cavalry.[4]

Early military career

Rhodes served in the 6th Cavalry Regiment during the final US Army campaign against the Sioux.[5]

Rhodes' post-Indian Wars assignments included professor of military science at Ohio Wesleyan University[6] and commander of a cavalry troop during the China Relief Expedition.[7]

Spanish-American War

Rhodes served in the Philippines during the Spanish-American War.[8]

Post Spanish-American War

Rhodes graduated from the Command and General Staff College in 1908.[9]

In 1911 Rhodes was an umpire at the mounted exercise conducted by the Massachusetts Volunteer Militia.[10]

Later in 1911 Rhodes and Paul Y. Malone took part in a confidential mission, traveling to Mexico disguised as journalists to assess the likelihood that Francisco I. Madero could remain in power if he won the presidency in the 1912 election.[11]

During the 1912 Connecticut Maneuvers Rhodes served as assistant chief of staff for the Red Division.[12]

In 1913 Rhodes was assigned as adjutant of the Cavalry Camp of Instruction at Fort Riley, Kansas, and from 1914 to 1917 Rhodes served as commandant of Fort Riley's Mounted Service School.[13]

From June to December Rhodes commanded the 21st Cavalry Regiment, which was reorganized as the 79th Field Artillery Regiment.[14][15]

World War I

During World War I he commanded the 157th Artillery Brigade.[16]

Rhodes later assumed command of the 42nd "Rainbow" Infantry Division, receiving temporary promotion to Major General. Within days of taking command of the 42nd Division in late 1918 Rhodes was injured in a plane crash, and turned the command over to Douglas MacArthur so he could recuperate.[17][18]

Post World War I

Rhodes graduated from the Army War College in 1920.[19]

His post-World War I assignments included commander of the 34th Infantry Division and Chief of Staff of US forces in the Philippines.[20] He was promoted to permanent Brigadier General in 1925, and Major General in 1928.[21][22]

Awards and decorations

Rhodes' awards included the Distinguished Service Cross, Distinguished Service Medal and Silver Star.[23][24] For his World War I service Rhodes received the Order of the Bath from Great Britain and the Legion of Honor from France.[25]

Career as an author

Rhodes was a writer and lecturer. He authored several books and magazine articles, as well as historical works on cavalry in the Civil War. His works include: History of the Cavalry of the Army of the Potomac (1900); The Vicksburg Campaign (1908); Letters of a West Point Cadet: An Epic in Blank Verse of the Class of 1889, United States Military Academy (1935); Chief Joseph and the Nez Perces Campaign of 1877 (1937); and Diary Notes of a Soldier (1940). Beginning in the 1890s Rhodes also authored numerous articles and short stories which were published in magazines.

Retirement and death

Rhodes retired from the Army in 1929 and resided in Washington, D.C.[26][27] He died at Walter Reed Hospital and was buried at Arlington National Cemetery, Section 3, Site 1486.[28]

External resources

Find A Grave page, Charles Dudley Rhodes, accessed April 25, 2011
Arlington Cemetery.net page, Charles Dudley Rhodes, accessed April 25, 2011
Overview of the Charles Dudley Rhodes diary extracts, Hoover Institution, Online Archive of California, accessed April 25, 2011

References

  1. ^ Generals in Khaki, by Henry Blaine Davis, 1998, page 307
  2. ^ The Regulars: The American Army, 1898-1941, by Edward M. Coffman, 2007, page 459
  3. ^ General Alumni Catalogue, George Washington University, published by the university, 1930, page 53
  4. ^ The Rhodes Family in America, compiled and published by Nelson Osgood Rhoades, 1919, page 7
  5. ^ The World Almanac & Book of Facts, published by Facts on File, Inc., 1903, page 405
  6. ^ Fifty Years of History of the Ohio Wesleyan University, Delaware, Ohio: 1844-1894, compiled by Professor W.G. Williams, published by Ohio Wesleyan University, 1895, page 97
  7. ^ America in the China Relief Expedition, by Aaron Simon Daggett, 1903, page 115
  8. ^ The Problem in the Philippines, by Henry Moore Teller, 1902, page 60
  9. ^ Annual Report for 1908 published by U.S. Government printing Office, 1908, Volume IV, page 28
  10. ^ Biographical Register of the Officers and Graduates of the United States Military Academy, by George Washington Cullum and Edward Singleton Holden, 1920, Volume 6, Part 1, page 523
  11. ^ [The Archaeologist was a Spy: Sylvanus G. Morley and the Office of Naval Intelligence], by Charles Houston Harris III and Louis R. Sadler, 2003, page 13
  12. ^ Biographical Register of the Officers and Graduates of the United States Military Academy, by George Washington Cullum and Edward Singleton Holden, 1920, Volume 6, Part 1, page 523
  13. ^ National Cyclopedia of American Biography, by J.T. White, 1964, Volume 1, page 433
  14. ^ Generals in Khaki, by Henry Blaine Davis, 1998, page 307
  15. ^ National Cyclopedia of American Biography, by J.T. White, 1964, Volume 1, page 433
  16. ^ Newspaper article, Who's Who In Our Army, New York Times, September 8, 1918
  17. ^ Newspaper article, Who's Who In Our Army, New York Times, December 1, 1918
  18. ^ Newspaper article, Gen. C.D. Rhodes Improved, Baltimore Sun, December 25, 1918
  19. ^ Who's Who Among North American Authors, by Golden Syndicate Publishing Company, 1929, Volume 6, page 867
  20. ^ Philippines-Japan Relations, by Setsuho Ikehata and Lydia N. Yu-Jose, 2003, page 54
  21. ^ Newspaper article, To Retain Gen. Patrick; War Department Recommends His Reappointment as Air Service Chief, New York Times, July 28, 1935
  22. ^ Newspaper article, Two New Major Generals, by Associated Press, published in Syracuse Herald, May 19, 1928
  23. ^ Major Military Awards, Charles Dudley Rhodes, Hall of Valor, published by Military Times, accessed April 25, 2011
  24. ^ Record of Hearing before the Committee on U.S. Senate Committee on Military Affairs, on Senate Bill 2328, published by U.S. Senate, March 19, 1940, page 17
  25. ^ National Cyclopedia of American Biography, by J.T. White, 1964, Volume 1, page 433
  26. ^ Obituary, Charles Dudley Rhodes, Washington Post, January 27, 1948
  27. ^ Official U.S. Army Register, published by U.S. Army Adjutant General, 1929, page 532
  28. ^ Nationwide Gravesite Locator, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs