Carle Augustus Woodruff

Carle Augustus Woodruff

First Lieutenant Carle A. Woodruff, September 1863. Library of Congress
Born August 8, 1841
Buffalo, New York
Died July 20, 1913 (aged 71)
Raleigh, North Carolina
Place of burial Historic Oakwood Cemetery, Raleigh, North Carolina
Allegiance United States United States of America
Union
Service/branch United States Union Army
Years of service 1861 - 1903
Rank Brigadier General
Battles/wars American Civil War
*Battle of Gettysburg
*Battle of Trevillian Station
*Battle of Cold Harbor
Awards Medal of Honor

Carle Augustus Woodruff (August 8, 1841 – July 20, 1913), was a career soldier in the United States Army who rose to the rank of brigadier general. He received the Medal of Honor while serving as an artillery officer in the Union Army during the American Civil War.

Early life and Civil War

Woodruff was born in Buffalo, New York, the son of Colonel Isaac Carle Woodruff (1815-1878). He was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the 2nd U.S. Artillery at Washington, D.C. Serving with Combined Batteries B and L, 2nd U.S. Artillery, he was part of the U.S. Horse Artillery Brigade in the Army of the Potomac. As a section chief, he was cited for gallantry during an engagement at Newby's Crossroads, Virginia, on July 24, 1863 and received the Medal of Honor.

Medal of Honor

Woodruff was eventually awarded the Medal of Honor for these actions, on September 1, 1893. He was also awarded brevet promotions for gallantry at the battles of Gettysburg (brevet captain, July 3, 1863) and Trevillian Station (brevet major, June 11, 1864), and for good conduct during the war (lieutenant colonel, March 13, 1865). Serving primarily as a section chief, Woodruff commanded Battery M, 2nd U.S. Artillery, at the Battle of Cold Harbor, June 3, 1864.

Medal of Honor citation

Rank and organization: First Lieutenant, 2d U.S. Artillery. Place and date: At Newbys Crossroads, Va., 24 July 1863. Entered service at: Washington, D.C. Born: Buffalo, N.Y. Date of issue: 1 September 1893.

Citation:

While in command of a section of a battery constituting a portion of the rear guard of a division then retiring before the advance of a corps of Infantry was attacked by the enemy and ordered to abandon his guns. Lt. Woodruff disregarded the orders received and aided in repelling the attack and saving the guns.

Postbellum service

Woodruff remained in the regular army after the Civil War, and gained his captaincy in 1869. He rose steadily through the officers corps, to major of the 2nd U.S. Artillery (1894), lieutenant colonel of the 7th U.S. Artillery (1899), and colonel of the Corps of Artillery, 1901. By the end of his career, he ranked as a brigadier general.

He died in Raleigh, North Carolina, and was buried there at Oakwood Cemetery. His grave can be found in the Magnolia Hill section, Lot 25.

Namesakes

Battery Woodruff at Fort Hughes is named for him. In Raleigh, NC, the Carle A. Woodruff Lodge of the Perfection, Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry is also named for him.

See also

References

     This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Army Center of Military History.

    External links