Charles Caroll Works was born on October 9, 1848, in New Sharon, Maine, to Cyrus and Rebecca Works. His father was a farmer who owned $800 of real estate and $250 of personal property by 1860. He grew up and attended school in New Sharon.
He enlisted in the Union army on January 19, 1864, and he mustered in as a private in Company M of the 2nd Maine Cavalry. He apparently lied about his age, claiming that he was 18 years old. He fell ill that summer, and army officials granted him a furlough to return home and recover. He died en route, in Alexandria, Virginia, on September 16, 1864.