[
236]
the esteem of his neighbors, who with the true
Kentucky spirit admire a brave man, whether they were with him or on the other side in the four years war.
Major-General Charles W. Field was born in
Woodford county, Ky., in 1818.
Upon his graduation at
West Point in 1849 he was commissioned as brevet secondlieu-tenant in the Second dragoons,
Colonel Harney commanding.
For five succeeding years he served against the Indians on the frontiers of
New Mexico and
Texas and on the plains.
June 30, 1851, he was promoted to second-lieutenant, and March 3, 1855, to first-lieutenant and transferred to the Second cavalry, of which
A. S. Johnston was colonel and
R. E. Lee lieutenant-colonel.
From 1856 to 1861 he served at
West Point as chief of cavalry, being assistant instructor of cavalry tactics.
On January 31, 1861, he was promoted to captain in the Second cavalry.
On May 30th he resigned this position, and going to
Richmond offered his services to the Confederate government.
He was at once appointed captain of cavalry, and rapid promotion followed to major of the Sixth Virginia cavalry in July, then lieutenantcol-onel, and, in August, colonel.
It was not, however, until 1862 that he appeared conspicuously in the field.
On March 9th of that year he was commissioned brigadier-general, and assigned to an infantry brigade (all
Virginians) in the division of
A. P. Hill, under whose command he fought in the Seven Days battles,
Cedar Run and
Second Manassas.
In the last-named battle he was severely wounded, the injury confining him to his bed for nearly a year.
He was still on crutches when he reported for duty, and on the 12th of February, 1864, he was commissioned major-general.
Field's division consisted of some of the best troops in the army.
In the
battle of the Wilderness (March 6th) this division and
Kershaw's restored the fortunes of the day, when it looked as though
Lee's right wing was about to be swept
