Charles Dudley Rhodes (February 10, 1865 – January 24, 1948) was a United States Army major general. He was a prominent commander of

cavalry Historically, cavalry (from the French word ''cavalerie'', itself derived from "cheval" meaning "horse") are soldiers or warriors who fight mounted on horseback. Cavalry were the most mobile of the combat arms, operating as light cavalry ...

units from the Indian Wars through World War I, and was a lecturer and author.

Early life

The son of Major Dudley Woodbridge Rhodes and Marcia Parrish, Charles D. Rhodes was nicknamed "Teddy". He was born in Delaware, Ohio on February 10, 1865, and graduated from Columbian University (now George Washington University) in 1885. In 1889 he graduated from the United States Military Academy, receiving a commission as a

second lieutenant Second lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer military rank in many armed forces, comparable to NATO OF-1 rank. Australia The rank of second lieutenant existed in the military forces of the Australian colonies and Australian Army until ...

. Among his fellow graduates included several men who would become

general officer A general officer is an officer of high rank in the armies, and in some nations' air forces, space forces, and marines or naval infantry. In some usages the term "general officer" refers to a rank above colonel."general, adj. and n.". OED O ...

s, such as

William S. Graves Major General William Sidney Graves (27 March 1865 – 27 February 1940) was a United States Army officer who commanded American forces in Siberia during the Siberian Expedition, part of the Allied Intervention in Russia, towards the end of Worl ...

, Clement Flagler,

Eben Eveleth Winslow Eben Eveleth Winslow (May 13, 1866 – June 28, 1928) was a career officer in the United States Army. He graduated from the United States Military Academy ranked first in the Class of 1889, and served in the Army's United States Army Corps of Eng ...

Frank Daniel Webster Frank or Franks may refer to: People * Frank (given name) * Frank (surname) * Franks (surname) * Franks, a medieval Germanic people * Frank, a term in the Muslim world for all western Europeans, particularly during the Crusades - see Farang Curre ...

Walter Augustus Bethel Walter Augustus Bethel (November 25, 1866 – January 11, 1954) was a career officer in the United States Army. A veteran of the Spanish–American War and World War I, he attained the rank of major general and was most notable for his service as ...

, Winthrop S. Wood, Chester Harding, William L. Kenly, Joseph D. Leitch, Edward McGlachlin Jr.,

George LeRoy Irwin George LeRoy Irwin (April 26, 1868 – February 19, 1931) was a major general of the United States Army. Fort Irwin National Training Center is named in his honor. Early life Irwin was born on April 26, 1868 at Fort Wayne, Michigan. His parent ...

William Wright Harts William Wright Harts (August 29, 1866 – April 21, 1961) was a United States Army officer in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. He served in several conflicts and capacities, including in World War I, and he received the Army Distinguished S ...

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, Charles Crawford and

William Lassiter William Lassiter (September 29, 1867- March 29, 1959) was a career in the United States Army. He was a veteran of the Spanish–American War, Occupation of Veracruz, World War I, and Occupation of the Rhineland and attained the rank of major gener ...

. Charles Young was another distinguished graduate, becoming the first African American to attain the rank of colonel.

Early military career

Rhodes served in the 6th Cavalry Regiment during the final US Army campaign against the

Sioux The Sioux or Oceti Sakowin (; Dakota language, Dakota: Help:IPA, /otʃʰeːtʰi ʃakoːwĩ/) are groups of Native Americans in the United States, Native American tribes and First Nations in Canada, First Nations peoples in North America. The ...

. Rhodes' post-Indian Wars assignments included professor of military science at

Ohio Wesleyan University Ohio Wesleyan University (OWU) is a private liberal arts college in Delaware, Ohio. It was founded in 1842 by methodist leaders and Central Ohio residents as a nonsectarian institution, and is a member of the Ohio Five – a consortium ...

and commander of a cavalry troop during the

China Relief Expedition The China Relief Expedition was an expedition in China undertaken by the United States Armed Forces to rescue United States citizens, European nationals, and other foreign nationals during the latter years of the Boxer Rebellion, which lasted f ...

Spanish–American War

Rhodes served with the 6th Cavalry Regiment in the Philippines during the Spanish–American War. He received the Distinguished Service Cross for heroism at Cavite on the island of Luzon.

Citation for Distinguished Service Cross

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Charles D. Rhodes, Captain, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action near the barrio of San Nicolas, Pueblo of Bacoor, Cavite, Luzon, Philippine Islands, December 31, 1901. Captain Rhodes gallantly and fearlessly led an attack on a superior body of insurgents with two men of his troop, killing two of the enemy and wounding two, including their leader, and dispersing the remainder. General Orders No. 126, War Department, 1919

Post Spanish–American War

Rhodes graduated from the Command and General Staff College in 1908. In 1911, Rhodes was an umpire at the mounted exercise conducted by the

Massachusetts Volunteer Militia The Massachusetts State Defense Force (MSDF) is the currently inactive state defense force of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. It was inactivated in 2016 by Governor Charlie Baker. The purpose of the Massachusetts State Defense Force, when acti ...

. Later in 1911, Rhodes and Paul Y. Malone took part in a confidential mission, traveling to Mexico disguised as journalists to assess the likelihood that Francisco I. Madero could remain in power if he won the presidency in the 1912 election. During the 1912 Connecticut Maneuvers, Rhodes served as assistant chief of staff for the Red Division. In 1913 Rhodes was assigned as adjutant of the Cavalry Camp of Instruction at Fort Riley, Kansas, and from 1914 to 1917 Rhodes served as commandant of Fort Riley's Mounted Service School.

World War I

From June to December, after the American entry into World War I, Rhodes commanded the 21st Cavalry Regiment, which was reorganized as the 79th Field Artillery Regiment. Charles Dudley Rhodes

During World War I, he commanded the 157th Artillery Brigade, part of the 82nd Division from February to October 1918, leading the brigade overseas to the

Western Front Western Front or West Front may refer to: Military frontiers *Western Front (World War I), a military frontier to the west of Germany *Western Front (World War II), a military frontier to the west of Germany *Western Front (Russian Empire), a majo ...

with the rest of the division in May. Rhodes later assumed command of the 42nd "Rainbow" Infantry Division, receiving temporary promotion to major general. Within days of taking command of the 42nd Division in late 1918, Rhodes was injured in a plane crash, and turned the command over to Brigadier General

Douglas MacArthur Douglas MacArthur (26 January 18805 April 1964) was an American military leader who served as General of the Army for the United States, as well as a field marshal to the Philippine Army. He had served with distinction in World War I, was C ...

so he could recuperate.

Post World War I

Rhodes graduated from the Army War College in 1920. His post-World War I assignments included commander of the 34th Infantry Division and Chief of Staff of US forces in the Philippines. He was promoted to permanent brigadier general in 1925, and major general in 1928.

Awards and decorations

Rhodes' awards included the Distinguished Service Cross,

Army Distinguished Service Medal The Distinguished Service Medal (DSM) is a military decoration of the United States Army that is presented to soldiers who have distinguished themselves by exceptionally meritorious service to the government in a duty of great responsibility. Th ...

and

Silver Star The Silver Star Medal (SSM) is the United States Armed Forces' third-highest military decoration for valor in combat. The Silver Star Medal is awarded primarily to members of the United States Armed Forces for gallantry in action against an e ...

. For his World War I service, Rhodes received the Order of the Bath from Great Britain and the

Legion of Honor The National Order of the Legion of Honour (french: Ordre national de la Légion d'honneur), formerly the Royal Order of the Legion of Honour ('), is the highest French order of merit, both military and civil. Established in 1802 by Napoleon ...

from France.

Career as an author

Rhodes was a writer and lecturer. He authored several books and magazine articles, as well as historical works on cavalry in the Civil War. His works include
''History of the Cavalry of the Army of the Potomac''
(1900)
''The Vicksburg Campaign''
(1908)
''Letters of a West Point Cadet: An Epic in Blank Verse of the Class of 1889, United States Military Academy''
(1935)
''Chief Joseph and the Nez Perces Campaign of 1877''
(1937); an
''Diary Notes of a Soldier''
(1940). Beginning in the 1890s, Rhodes also authored numerous articles and short stories which were published in magazines.

Retirement and death

Rhodes retired from the Army in 1929 and resided in Washington, D.C. He died at Walter Reed Hospital on January 24, 1948 and was buried with his wife Mary Counselman (1867–1943) at Arlington National Cemetery.Burial Detail: Rhodes, Charles D (Section 3, Grave 1486)
– ANC Explorer

References

External links

at ArlingtonCemetery.net, an unofficial webpage
Overview of the Charles Dudley Rhodes diary extracts
Hoover Institution, Online Archive of California, accessed April 25, 2011 {{DEFAULTSORT:Rhodes, Charles Dudley United States Army Cavalry Branch personnel People from Delaware, Ohio People from Washington, D.C. Columbian College of Arts and Sciences alumni United States Military Academy alumni United States Army Command and General Staff College alumni American military personnel of the Indian Wars American military personnel of the Spanish–American War United States Army generals of World War I United States Army generals Recipients of the Distinguished Service Cross (United States) Recipients of the Distinguished Service Medal (US Army) Recipients of the Silver Star Honorary Knights Commander of the Order of the Bath Commandeurs of the Légion d'honneur 1865 births 1948 deaths Military personnel from Ohio Burials at Arlington National Cemetery United States Army War College alumni