Charles Jesup Arms
Charles Jesup Arms was born on June 9, 1841, in Norwich, Connecticut, to Hiram and Abby Jane Arms. His father was a minister who owned $2,500 of real estate by 1850. He grew up and attended school in Norwich before enrolling at Yale College. He supported the Republican Party, and he joined the Wide Awakes during the 1860 presidential election season. As he explained to his father, “I take time every day to read the papers carefully, and if a great speaker is in town I go to hear him.” In February 1861, he wrote that he was "not in favor of peaceable secession...Nor am I in favor of coercion as the term is generally understood. It would seem to be better if the Government, ignoring all ordinances of secession parsed by the Gulf States, should quietly, or, if need be, forcibly, continue to collect its revenues, take possession & hold possession of its forts, arsenals & custom houses, and in short perform all its lawful functions."
 
In April 1861, several of Arms’s friends enlisted in the Union army, and he asked his parents for permission to join them. “You see Yale is alive,” he noted. “Are you willing to write a son if he is willing to go? Somebody must go. May I?” His parents apparently refused, and Arms remained in college. By July 1862, however, he was failing his classes. In a despondent letter to his father, he offered to “keep up in the studies of next term, and reenter [college] as soon as possible. But if you desire, the whole affair may be hushed up, and I will enlist immediately, while the excitement of volunteering is at its heighth.”
 
His father’s answer has apparently not survived, but Arms joined the Union army soon afterward. He received a commission as a 1st lieutenant in the 20th Connecticut Infantry, and he mustered in on September 8, 1862. He was promoted to captain on November 19, 1862. He was wounded in the Battle of Chancellorsville on May 3, 1863, and he resigned his commission on May 17, 1863. He returned to the Union army in July 1863, serving as a 1st lieutenant in Company B of the 16th Connecticut Infantry. In May 1864, he declared that the war had become a "struggle between Civilization & Barbarism, Christianity and Heathenism, Light & Darkness Liberty & Tyranny--God & Satan." He hoped to "live to see one of two things...the utter, complete & enslaving subjugation of the South, or their equally complete annihilation. A race of people such as they have proved themselves to be, are not fit to inhabit God's beautiful world." He mustered out on June 24, 1865.
 
After the war, Arms studied law in New York City, and he was admitted to the bar in April 1866. He moved to Lewistown, Pennsylvania, soon afterward and began working as a lawyer. He worked as an editor for the Pittsburgh Commercial from 1873 until 1876, when he began working for the Philadelphia Times. He married Alice Avery on October 16, 1873, and they had four children: Lily, born on May 29, 1875; Audubon, born on July 19, 1876; Natalie, born on November 3, 1877; and Elsie, born on December 1, 1878. They lived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, until around 1885, when they moved to East Greenwich, Rhode Island. He served in the Rhode Island senate in the mid-1890s. By 1900, the family was living in Providence, Rhode Island. Arms died there on March 9, 1901.
 
Image: Charles J. Arms (School Catalogs, 1765-1935, available from Ancestry.com)
2603
DATABASE CONTENT
(2603)Arms, Charles Jesup1841-06-091901-03-09
  • Conflict Side: Union
  • Role: Soldier
  • Rank in: 1st Lieutenant
  • Rank out: 1st Lieutenant
  • Rank highest: Captain
  • Gender: Male
  • Race: White

Documents - Records: 128

  • (3478) [writer] ~ Charles J. Arms to Abby J. Arms, 11 April 1855
  • (7554) [writer] ~ Charles J. Arms to Hiram P. Arms, 7 January 1859
  • (7705) [writer] ~ Charles J. Arms to Francis H. Arms, 28 November 1859
  • (7706) [writer] ~ Charles J. Arms to Hiram P. Arms, 24 November 1859
  • (7707) [associated with] ~ Jonathan T. Clarke to Hiram P. Arms, 1 December 1862
  • (7766) [writer] ~ Charles J. Arms to Hiram P. Arms, 5 November 1862
  • (7767) [writer] ~ Charles J. Arms to Hiram P. Arms, 22 October 1859
  • (7848) [writer] ~ Charles J. Arms to Hiram P. Arms, 29 October 1862
  • (7899) [writer] ~ Charles J. Arms to Hiram P. Arms, 14 December 1862
  • (7940) [writer] ~ Charles J. Arms to Hiram P. Arms, 17 December 1862
  • (7941) [writer] ~ Charles J. Arms to Hiram P. Arms, 19 December 1862
  • (7942) [writer] ~ Charles J. Arms to Hiram P. Arms, 21 December 1862
  • (7943) [writer] ~ Charles J. Arms to Hiram P. Arms, 26 December 1862
  • (7944) [writer] ~ Charles J. Arms to Hiram P. Arms, 14 January 1863
  • (7945) [writer] ~ Charles J. Arms to Hiram P. Arms, 22 January 1863
  • (7956) [writer] ~ Charles J. Arms to Hiram P. Arms, 30 January 1863
  • (7957) [writer] ~ Charles J. Arms to Abby J. Arms, 4 February 1863
  • (7958) [writer] ~ Charles J. Arms to Hiram P. Arms, 7 February 1863
  • (7960) [writer] ~ Charles J. Arms to Hiram P. Arms, 25 October 1862
  • (7961) [writer] ~ Charles J. Arms to Brother, 23 October 1862
  • (8077) [writer] ~ Charles J. Arms to Hiram P. Arms, 17 February 1863
  • (8079) [writer] ~ Charles J. Arms to Hiram P. Arms, 28 February 1863
  • (8080) [writer] ~ Charles J. Arms to Abby J. Arms, 5 March 1863
  • (8142) [writer] ~ Charles J. Arms to Hiram P. Arms, 7 March 1863
  • (8144) [writer] ~ Charles J. Arms to Abby J. Arms, 10 March 1863
  • (8180) [writer] ~ Charles J. Arms to Hiram P. Arms, 13 March 1863
  • (8181) [writer] ~ Charles J. Arms to Hiram P. Arms, 24 March 1863
  • (8182) [writer] ~ Charles J. Arms to Hiram P. Arms, 8 April 1863
  • (8367) [writer] ~ Charles J. Arms to Hiram P. Arms, 18 October 1862
  • (8368) [writer] ~ Charles J. Arms to Hiram P. Arms, 7 October 1862
  • (8369) [writer] ~ Charles J. Arms to Hiram P. Arms, 5 September 1862
  • (8370) [writer] ~ Charles J. Arms to Hiram P. Arms, 1 September 1862
  • (8549) [writer] ~ Charles J. Arms to Hiram P. Arms, 29 August 1862
  • (8550) [writer] ~ Charles J. Arms to Sarah J. Arms, 3 August 1862
  • (8551) [writer] ~ Charles J. Arms to Hiram P. Arms, 21 July 1862
  • (8555) [writer] ~ Charles J. Arms to Hiram P. Arms, 19 October 1859
  • (8556) [writer] ~ Charles J. Arms to Hiram P. Arms, 21 July 1862
  • (8768) [writer] ~ Charles J. Arms to Hiram P. Arms, 17 July 1862
  • (8769) [writer] ~ Charles J. Arms to Hiram P. Arms, 26 May 1862
  • (8770) [writer] ~ Charles J. Arms to Hiram P. Arms, 12 May 1862
  • (8771) [writer] ~ Charles J. Arms to Hiram P. Arms, 5 April 1862
  • (8772) [writer] ~ Charles J. Arms to Hiram P. Arms, 28 March 1862
  • (8773) [writer] ~ Charles J. Arms to Hiram P. Arms, 4 March 1862
  • (8774) [writer] ~ Charles J. Arms to Hiram P. Arms, 1 March 1862
  • (8849) [writer] ~ Charles J. Arms to Hiram P. Arms, 8 February 1862
  • (8850) [writer] ~ Charles J. Arms to Abby J. Arms, 6 February 1862
  • (8851) [writer] ~ Charles J. Arms to Hiram P. Arms, 12 October 1859
  • (8983) [writer] ~ Charles J. Arms to Hiram P. Arms, 22 January 1862
  • (8984) [writer] ~ Charles J. Arms to Hiram P. Arms, 19 November 1861
  • (8985) [writer] ~ Charles J. Arms to Abby J. Arms, 13 November 1861
  • (8986) [writer] ~ Charles J. Arms to Hiram P. Arms, 20 September 1861
  • (8987) [writer] ~ Charles J. Arms to Hiram P. Arms, 5 July 1861
  • (8996) [writer] ~ Charles J. Arms to Hiram P. Arms, 10 June 1861
  • (8997) [writer] ~ Charles J. Arms to Hiram P. Arms, 4 April 1861
  • (8998) [writer] ~ Charles J. Arms to Hiram P. Arms, 29 March 1861
  • (8999) [writer] ~ Charles J. Arms to Hiram P. Arms, 26 January 1861
  • (9000) [writer] ~ Charles J. Arms to Hiram P. Arms, 17 January 1861
  • (9001) [writer] ~ Charles J. Arms to Hiram P. Arms, 6 October 1859
  • (9002) [writer] ~ Charles J. Arms to Hiram P. Arms, 10 December 1860
  • (9003) [writer] ~ Charles J. Arms to Hiram P. Arms, 21 November 1860
  • (9004) [writer] ~ Charles J. Arms to Hiram P. Arms, 26 October 1860
  • (9005) [writer] ~ Charles J. Arms to Hiram P. Arms, 15 April 1863
  • (9006) [writer] ~ Charles J. Arms to Hiram P. Arms, 12 April 1863
  • (9007) [writer] ~ Charles J. Arms to Theodore W. Arms, 25 April 1863
  • (9008) [writer] ~ Charles J. Arms to Hiram P. Arms, 7 May 1863
  • (9009) [writer] ~ Charles J. Arms to Hiram P. Arms, 10 May 1863
  • (9010) [writer] ~ Charles J. Arms and Abby J. Arms to Hiram P. Arms, 17 June 1863
  • (9011) [writer] ~ Charles J. Arms to Hiram P. Arms, 19 July 1863
  • (9012) [writer] ~ Charles J. Arms to Hiram P. Arms, 28 July 1863
  • (9013) [writer] ~ Charles J. Arms to Hiram P. Arms, 13 August 1863
  • (9014) [writer] ~ Charles J. Arms to Hiram P. Arms, 8 September 1863
  • (9015) [writer] ~ Charles J. Arms to Hiram P. Arms, 18 September 1863
  • (9016) [writer] ~ Charles J. Arms to Abby J. Arms, 21 September 1863
  • (9017) [writer] ~ Charles J. Arms to Hiram P. Arms, 17 December 1863
  • (9018) [writer] ~ Charles J. Arms to Hiram P. Arms, 5 March 1864
  • (9019) [writer] ~ Charles J. Arms to Hiram P. Arms, 6 April 1864
  • (9020) [writer] ~ Charles J. Arms to Hiram P. Arms, 20 April 1864
  • (9021) [writer] ~ Charles J. Arms to Hiram P. Arms, 23 April 1864
  • (9022) [writer] ~ Charles J. Arms to Hiram P. Arms, 4 May 1864
  • (9023) [writer] ~ Charles J. Arms to Hiram P. Arms, 11 May 1864
  • (9024) [writer] ~ Charles J. Arms to (?) Sogg, 26 May 1864
  • (9025) [writer] ~ Charles J. Arms to Hiram P. Arms, 31 May 1864
  • (9026) [writer] ~ Charles J. Arms to Hiram P. Arms, 16 July 1864
  • (9027) [writer] ~ Charles J. Arms to Hiram P. Arms, 20 August 1864
  • (9028) [writer] ~ Charles J. Arms to Hiram P. Arms, 25 September 1864
  • (9029) [writer] ~ Charles J. Arms to (?) Sogg, 28 September 1864
  • (9030) [writer] ~ Charles J. Arms to Hiram P. Arms, 5 October 1864
  • (9031) [writer] ~ Charles J. Arms to Hiram P. Arms, 12 October 1864
  • (9032) [writer] ~ Charles J. Arms to (?) Sogg, 2 November 1864
  • (9033) [writer] ~ Charles J. Arms to Hiram P. Arms, 2 November 1864
  • (9034) [writer] ~ Charles J. Arms to Hiram P. Arms, 5 November 1864
  • (9035) [writer] ~ Charles J. Arms to Hiram P. Arms, 31 December 1864
  • (9036) [writer] ~ Charles J. Arms to Hiram P. Arms et al., 23 February 1865
  • (9037) [writer] ~ Charles J. Arms to Hiram P. Arms, 17 March 1865
  • (9038) [writer] ~ Charles J. Arms to Abby J. Arms, 31 March 1865
  • (9039) [writer] ~ Charles J. Arms to Hiram P. Arms, 25 May 1865
  • (9040) [writer] ~ Charles J. Arms to Hiram P. Arms, 6 July 1865
  • (9041) [writer] ~ Charles J. Arms to Hiram P. Arms, 13 December 1865
  • (9042) [writer] ~ Charles J. Arms to Hiram P. Arms, 22 December 1865
  • (9043) [recipient] ~ Franklin B. Dexter to Charles J. Arms, 5 July 1875
  • (9056) [writer] ~ Charles J. Arms to Hiram P. Arms, 11 October 1860
  • (9058) [writer] ~ Charles J. Arms to Hiram P. Arms, 21 September 1860
  • (9062) [writer] ~ Charles J. Arms to Hiram P. Arms, 13 September 1860
  • (9080) [writer] ~ Charles J. Arms to Hiram P. Arms, 5 July 1860
  • (9081) [writer] ~ Charles J. Arms to Hiram P. Arms, 24 June 1860
  • (9083) [writer] ~ Charles J. Arms to Hiram P. Arms, 13 June 1860
  • (9084) [writer] ~ Charles J. Arms to Hiram P. Arms, 12 June 1860
  • (9085) [writer] ~ Charles J. Arms to Hiram P. Arms, 19 September 1859
  • (9549) [writer] ~ Charles J. Arms to Hiram P. Arms, 30 November 1859
  • (9550) [writer] ~ Charles J. Arms to Hiram P. Arms, 6 December 1859
  • (9551) [writer] ~ Charles J. Arms to Hiram P. Arms, 11 December 1859
  • (9552) [writer] ~ Charles J. Arms to Hiram P. Arms, 17 January 1860
  • (9553) [writer] ~ Charles J. Arms to Hiram P. Arms, 25 January 1860
  • (9554) [writer] ~ Charles J. Arms to Hiram P. Arms, 8 February 1860
  • (9555) [writer] ~ Charles J. Arms to Hiram P. Arms, 13 February 1861
  • (9556) [writer] ~ Charles J. Arms to Hiram P. Arms, 25 February 1860
  • (9825) [writer] ~ Charles J. Arms to Hiram P. Arms, 28 February 1860
  • (9826) [writer] ~ Charles J. Arms to Hiram P. Arms, 2 March 1860
  • (9827) [writer] ~ Charles J. Arms to Hiram P. Arms, 8 March 1860
  • (9828) [writer] ~ Charles J. Arms to Hiram P. Arms, 17 March 1860
  • (9829) [writer] ~ Charles J. Arms to Hiram P. Arms, 27 March 1860
  • (9830) [writer] ~ Charles J. Arms to Hiram P. Arms, 31 March 1860
  • (9831) [writer] ~ Charles J. Arms to Hiram P. Arms, 4 April 1860
  • (9832) [writer] ~ Charles J. Arms to Hiram P. Arms, 7 May 1860
  • (9833) [writer] ~ Charles J. Arms to Hiram P. Arms, 19 May 1860
  • (9834) [writer] ~ Charles J. Arms to Hiram P. Arms, 21 May 1860
  • (9835) [writer] ~ Charles J. Arms to Hiram P. Arms, 23 May 1860
  • (9836) [writer] ~ Charles J. Arms to Hiram P. Arms, 28 May 1860

People - Records: 6

  • (2724) Arms, Hiram Phelps is the [parent of] (2603) Arms, Charles Jesup
  • (2725) Arms, Francis Hiram is the [half sibling of] (2603) Arms, Charles Jesup
  • (2892) Arms, Abby Jane is the [parent of] (2603) Arms, Charles Jesup
  • (3129) Arms, Sarah Jane is the [sibling of] (2603) Arms, Charles Jesup
  • (3331) Arms, Theodore Winthrop is the [sibling of] (2603) Arms, Charles Jesup
  • (3332) Sogg, (?) is the [friend of] (2603) Arms, Charles Jesup

Places - Records: 2

  • (290) [birth] ~ New Haven, New Haven County, Connecticut
  • (832) [death] ~ Providence, Providence County, Rhode Island

Show in Map

Regiments - Records: 2

  • (610) [officer] ~ 16th Connecticut Infantry
  • (781) [officer] ~ 20th Connecticut Infantry

Groups - Records: 1

  • (3) [politician] ~ Republican Party
SOURCES

1850, 1860, 1880, and 1900 United States Federal Censuses, available from Ancestry.com; Civil War Soldier Records and Profiles, 1861-1865, available from Ancestry.com; School Catalogs, 1765-1935, available from Ancestry.com; A History of the Class of 1863, Yale College (New York: J. J. Little & Co., 1889); Hartford (CT) Courant, 5 September 1868 and 11 March 1901; Charles J. Arms to Hiram P. Arms, 13 February 1861, DL1140.016, Nau Collection; Charles J. Arms to Hiram P. Arms, 26 October 1860, DL1140.037, Nau Collection; Charles J. Arms to Hiram P. Arms, 4 April 1861, DL1140.043, Nau Collection; Charles J. Arms to Hiram P. Arms, 17 July 1862, DL1140.058, Nau Collection; Charles J. Arms to Hiram P. Arms, 11 May 1864, DL1140.108, Nau Collection