Charles W. Field

Charles William Field

Born	(1828-04-06)April 6, 1828 Woodford County, Kentucky
Died	April 9, 1892(1892-04-09) (aged 64) Washington, D.C.
Place of burial	Loudon Park Cemetery, Baltimore, Maryland
Allegiance	United States of America Confederate States of America Khedivate of Egypt
Service/branch	United States Army Confederate States Army Egyptian Army
Years of service	1849–1861 (USA) 1861–1865 (CSA) 1875–1877 (Egypt)
Rank	Captain (USA) Major General (CSA) Colonel (Egypt)
Battles/wars	American Civil War Valley Campaign Peninsula Campaign Second Battle of Bull Run Overland Campaign Battle of Cold Harbor Siege of Petersburg Battle of Deep Bottom

Charles William Field (April 6, 1828 – April 9, 1892) was a career military officer, serving in the United States Army and then, during the American Civil War, in the Confederate States Army. His division was considered as one of the finest in the Army of Northern Virginia. Field was one of a handful of American officers who advised the army of Egypt following the Civil War.

Field was born at the family plantation, "Airy Mount," in Woodford County, Kentucky. His parents had immigrated from Virginia, and his father was a personal friend of Henry Clay. Through Clay's and Andrew Jackson's influence, President James K. Polk appointed Field as an "at large" cadet to the United States Military Academy. Field graduated 27th of 43 cadets in the Class of 1849 and accepted a commission as a brevet second lieutenant in the 2nd U.S. Dragoons. He was assigned to frontier duty for five years at various posts in New Mexico, Texas, and the Great Plains. In 1855, he was promoted to first lieutenant and assigned to the newly organized 2nd U.S. Cavalry, a regiment under Col. Albert Sidney Johnston that also included Robert E. Lee and numerous other future Civil War generals. In 1856, Field returned to West Point as Assistant Instructor of Cavalry Tactics. He was promoted to captain in January 1861.