Biography of Charles Championette Putnam(1843-1863)

Charles Championette Putnam was one of Levi Houlton Putnam's brothers and my third great uncle.  My brother and I were talking about him and I thought I would put together what we know of his short life and his service in the Civil War.  Here is his brief biography.

Charles Championette Putnam(1843-1863)
Birth: November 24th, 1843 in Houlton, ME
Father: Amos Putnam(1794-1849)-P8
Mother: Christiana Jane Wormwood(1804-1894)-P9

Death:  June 19th, 1863 in Middleburg, VA

Charles Championette Putnam was born on November 24th, 1843 in Houlton, ME to Amos Putnam and Christiana Jane Wormwood.  He was the fourteenth of seventeen children.  His father died on December 29th, 1849 when Charles was 6 years old.  Leonard Pierce was made his guardian.  Charles lived with his mother and many of his siblings from the dime of his fathers death until 1861.  He enlisted under Captain Black Hawk Putnam in Company E of the 1st Maine Calvary on October 19th, 1861 at age 18.



Charles, as part of the 1st Maine Calvary saw a lot of action during the war.  During his service he was promoted to Sergeant.  The table below lists the battles he was involved in:

Date	Battle	Map
May 1st, 1862
May 24th, 1862	Middletown, VA
August 9th, 1862	Battle of Cedar Mountain
August 15th, 1862
August 16th, 1862
August 20th, 1862
August 22nd, 1862
August 27th, 1862
September 12th, 1862	Frederick, MD
September 14th, 1862	Battle of South Mountain
September 15th, 1862
September 17th, 1862	Battle of Antietam
September 24th, 1862
October 12th, 1862
March 2nd, 1863
April 14th, 1863
April 16th, 1863
May 2nd, 1863
May 10th, 1863
May 24th, 1863
June 9th, 1863	Battle of Brandy Station
June 15th, 1863	Aldie, VA
June 17th, 1863	Battle of Aldie
June 19th, 1863	Battle of Middleburg

On June 19th, 1863, Companies M and E, commanded by Captain Brown and Lieut. Ellis, were sent into the woods at the left of the pike, beyond which was an open field, and charged across this field to a stone wall, where they met the enemy, and a severe fight ensued, resulting in a victory for the Maine boys. Sergeant Charles C. Putnam, guidon bearer of Company E, was shot and killed within twelve feet of the wall.


His service pistol was sent back to his mother and it has been passed down in the family.  I haven't been able to locate his grave site, but suspect he was buried near where he fell.  My brother found this Go Fund Me page for placing a monument to those who fell as part of the 1st Maine Calvary at the beginning of the Gettysburg campaign. 

Sources:

• 1850 United States Federal Census: Year: 1850; Census Place: Houlton, Aroostook, Maine; Roll: M432_248; Page: 56A; Image: 113
• 1860 United States Federal Census: Year: 1860; Census Place: Houlton, Aroostook, Maine; Roll: M653_434; Page: 219; Image: 219; Family History Library Film: 803434
• U.S. Civil War Soldiers, 1861-1865: Name Charles C. Putnam, Side Union, Regiment State/Origin Maine, Regiment 1st Regiment, Maine Cavalry, Company E, Rank In Corporal, Rank Out Corporal, Film Number M543 roll 17, Other Records 1st Regiment, Maine Cavalry
• U.S., Adjutant General Military Records, 1631-1976: California State Library; Sacramento; Annual Report of the Adjutant General of the State of Maine, Name Charles C Putnam, Report Year 1863, Service State Maine
• U.S., American Civil War Regiments, 1861-1866: Regiment 1st Cavalry Regiment Maine, Date of Organization 31 Oct 1861, Muster Date 1 Aug 1865, Regiment State Maine, Regiment Type Cavalry, Regiment Number 1st, Officers Killed or Mortally Wounded 15, Officers Died of Disease or Accident 3, Enlisted Killed or Mortally Wounded 159, Enlisted Died of Disease or Accident 341
• U.S., Civil War Soldier Records and Profiles, 1861-1865: Name Charles C Putnam,  Residence Maine, Age at enlistment 18, Enlistment Date 1 Oct 1861, Rank at enlistment Corporal, State Served Maine, Survived the War? No, Service Record Enlisted in Company E, Maine 1st Cavalry Regiment on 19 Oct 1861.Promoted to Full Sergeant.Mustered out on 19 Jun 1863 at Middleburg, VA., Birth Date abt 1843, Sources Report of the Adjutant General of the State of Maine