Charles W. Adams (Confederate general)

Charles William Adams
Col. Charles W. Adams
Born	(1817-08-16)August 16, 1817 Boston, Massachusetts
Died	September 9, 1878(1878-09-09) (aged 61) Memphis, Tennessee
Buried at	Elmwood Cemetery (Memphis, Tennessee)
Allegiance	Confederate States of America
Service/branch	Confederate States Army
Years of service	1861–1865
Rank	Colonel, CSA Appointed to duty as: Acting Brigadier General
Commands held	23rd Arkansas Infantry Regiment Adams' Arkansas Infantry Regiment
Battles/wars	American Civil War * Battle of Prairie Grove * Battle of Missionary Ridge
Other work	Lawyer

Charles William Adams (August 16, 1817 – September 9, 1878) was a Confederate States Army colonel during the American Civil War (Civil War). In 1864, he was commander of the Confederate Northern Sub-District of Arkansas, within the Union Army lines. He had the title, although not the formal rank, of "acting brigadier general." He was not officially appointed by Confederate President Jefferson Davis and confirmed by the Confederate States Senate to brigadier general grade, even though some sources identify him as a brigadier general.

Adams was a planter, lawyer and judge before the war and a lawyer after the war. As a delegate to the Arkansas secession convention, he was an ardent secessionist. He was a law partner of United States Senator William K. Sebastian before the war and of Confederate brigadier general and Sovereign Grand Commander of the Scottish Rite of Freemasons Southern Jurisdiction, Albert Pike, after the war. He was a grandfather of Helen Keller.

Charles W. Adams was born in Boston, Massachusetts on August 16, 1817. His parents were Benjamin and Susannah (Goodhue) Adams. Benjamin was related to President of the United States John Adams.