Charles H. Hunter (soldier)

Charles Henry Hunter
Born	(1817-09-29)September 29, 1817 Berks County, Pennsylvania
Died	June 3, 1870(1870-06-03) (aged 52) Berks County, Pennsylvania
Allegiance	Pennsylvania
Service/branch	United States Army Infantry
Years of service	1856–1863 (Pennsylvania Militia)
Rank	Private (Militia) Captain (Militia) Colonel (Militia) Brigadier General (Militia)
Unit	Washington Grays (Philadelphia) 11th Pennsylvania Volunteer Militia Infantry Regiment (1862)
Commands held	1st Brigade, 5th Division Pennsylvania Militia (1856) 42nd Pennsylvania Volunteer Militia Infantry Regiment (1863)
Battles/wars	American Civil War
Spouse(s)	Emilie Elizabeth Nicholson.
Other work	Physician

Charles Henry Hunter, (September 19, 1817 - June 3, 1870), was a Pennsylvania militia officer, and physician from Rockland, Berks County, Pennsylvania, who fought in the American Civil War.

Early life

Charles H. Hunter was born on September 19, 1817, in Rockland, Berks County, Pennsylvania. His father was Jacob VanReed Hunter, and mother, Sarah Fisher. He was the sixth child in his family, and had eight siblings, five older, and three younger. Charles enlisted as a Private into the Washington Grays (Philadelphia), a Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Militia Regiment. In that organization he was later promoted to a Captain. In 1856, Hunter was promoted a Brigadier General, and given the command of the 1st Brigade, 5th Division, Pennsylvania Volunteers. Charles married Emilie Elizabeth Nicholson. He followed the practice of a physician.

American Civil War

When the American Civil War began in April, 1861, Charles Hunter sided with the Union. He became the Captain of Company E, 11th Pennsylvania Volunteer Militia Infantry Regiment, on September 12, 1862, and was mustered out on September 24, or 25, 1862.^[1] On July 6, 1863, Hunter was mustered in as the Colonel, in the Field and Staff (Headquarters) Company, of the 42nd Pennsylvania Volunteer Militia Infantry Regiment. The regiment was raised to fight Confederate General Robert E. Lee's 1863 invasion into Pennsylvania that resulted in the Gettysburg Campaign.^[2] Hunter was mustered out of the 42nd Pennsylvania Militia as Colonel, on August 12, 1863. In 1864, Charles became a Surgeon in the Volunteer Aid Corps, under the command of Major Joseph Smith.^[3]

Later life

Charles Henry Hunter and Emilie Elizabeth Nicholson had six sons. They were, Charles H. Hunter, (born 1860), Jacob Van Reed Hunter, (born 1862), James Nicholson Hunter, (born 1865), Henry M. Hunter (born 1867), and Edward Clymer Hunter (born 1869). Charles Henry Hunter died on June 3, 1870, in Reading, Berks County, Pennsylvania.

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