Charles Pomeroy Stone

Charles Pomeroy Stone
Charles Pomeroy Stone and his daughter Hettie, photographed together in the spring of 1863; Stone's USMA class ring can be seen on the little finger of his right hand.
Born	(1824-09-30)September 30, 1824 Greenfield, Massachusetts
Died	January 24, 1887(1887-01-24) (aged 62) New York City, New York
Place of burial	West Point Cemetery
Allegiance	United States of America Khedivate of Egypt
Service/branch	United States Army Egyptian Army
Years of service	1845–1856, 1861–1864 (USA) 1870–83 (Egypt)
Rank	Brigadier General (USA) Lieutenant General (Egypt)
Commands held	Benicia Arsenal Defenses of Washington, D.C. 14th Infantry Regiment Corps of Observation Chief of Staff, Army of the Gulf Chief of Staff, Egyptian Army
Battles/wars	Mexican–American War American Civil War

Charles Pomeroy Stone (September 30, 1824 – January 24, 1887) was a career United States Army officer, civil engineer, and surveyor. He fought with distinction in the Mexican–American War, earning two brevet promotions for his performance in the conflict. After resigning and surveying for the Mexican Government, he returned to the U.S. Army to fight in the American Civil War.

Stone was reportedly the first volunteer to enter the Union Army, and during the war he served as a general officer, noted for his involvement at the Battle of Ball's Bluff in October 1861. Held responsible for the Union defeat, Stone was arrested and imprisoned for almost six months, mostly for political reasons. He never received a trial, and after his release he would not hold a significant command during the war again. Stone later served again with distinction as a general in the Egyptian Army, and is also noted for his role in constructing the base of the Statue of Liberty.

Stone was born in Greenfield, Massachusetts, a son of Alpheus Fletcher Stone, the town's doctor, and his wife Fanny Cushing. In 1841 he entered the United States Military Academy at West Point and graduated four years later, standing seventh out of 41 cadets. He was appointed a brevet second lieutenant of ordnance on July 1, 1845.

Stone stayed at West Point, serving as an assistant professor and teaching geography, history, and also ethics from August 28, 1845, to January 13, 1846. Afterwards he was posted to the Watervliet Arsenal in New York as Assistant Ordnance Officer, and then to Fortress Monroe at Old Point Comfort, Virginia, both in 1846. While there Stone worked in the facilities arsenal and was an assistant to Capt. Benjamin Huger, whom he would serve under in the war with Mexico.