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Charles James Mills.
Second Lieutenant 2d Mass. Vols. (Infantry), August 14, 1862; first Lieutenant, August 17, 1862; first Lieutenant 56th Mass. Vols. (Infantry), August 22, 1863; Captain July 7, 1864; Captain and A. A. G. (U. S. Vols.), July 25, 1864; Brevet Major, January, 1865; killed at Hatcher's Run, Va., March 31, 1865.Charles James Mills was born in Boston on the 8th of January, 1841; being the son of Charles H. Mills, a Boston merchant, and of Anna Cabot Lowell, daughter of Edmund Dwight, of Boston. During boyhood he was never long separated from his parents, and after thorough preparation at the schools of Mr. T. G. Bradford and Mr. E. S. Dixwell, he entered Harvard in July, 1856. During the College course he joined heartily in the sports common among students, and was nowise behindhand in study. A part at commencement, on graduating, gratified his parents' wishes and his own ambition. When the Class of 1860 departed from Harvard's halls to make good the boast of its song,
Side by side we've sought for honors,no more honest, earnest, warm heart entered upon the world than that of Charlie Mills. Younger than the average of graduates, he had not yet made choice of a profession. For mental training and useful occupation he entered the Scientific School, and undertook the study of Engineering. He also devoted much time to computations for the Nautical Almanac. In April, 1861, came that great blow to the nation which left no young man cause for hesitation as to duty or occupation. Mills was soon interested, and, on hearing of the Bull Run disaster, became devoted to the cause. From that period until August, 1862, his time was employed in vain attempts to procure a commission. The first effort was signalized
Sought the front in every fray,