Charles Dudley Rhodes

Charles Dudley Rhodes (February 10, 1865 – January 24, 1948) was a United States Army major general. He was a prominent commander of 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 of cavalry. Among his fellow graduates included several men who would become general officers, such as William S. Graves, Clement Flagler, Eben Eveleth Winslow, Frank Daniel Webster, Walter Augustus Bethel, Winthrop S. Wood, Chester Harding, William L. Kenly, Joseph D. Leitch, Edward McGlachlin Jr., George LeRoy Irwin, William Wright Harts, William G. Haan, Charles Crawford and William Lassiter. 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.
Rhodes' post-Indian Wars assignments included professor of military science at Ohio Wesleyan University and commander of a cavalry troop during the China Relief Expedition.
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. The DSC citation reads:
Post Spanish–American War
Rhodes graduated from the United States Army Command and General Staff College in 1908.
In 1911, Rhodes was an umpire at the mounted exercise conducted by the Massachusetts Volunteer Militia.
Later in 1911, Rhodes and Paul Bernard 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.
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 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 so he could recuperate.
For his services during the war, Rhodes was awarded the Army Distinguished Service Medal and the Silver Star. The citation for his Army DSM reads:
He also received the Order of the Bath from Great Britain and the Legion of Honor from France.
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.
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); and 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.
References
External links
Charles Dudley Rhodes at ArlingtonCemetery.net, an unofficial webpage
Overview of the Charles Dudley Rhodes diary extracts, Hoover Institution, Online Archive of California, accessed April 25, 2011
1865 births
1948 deaths
United States Army Cavalry Branch personnel
People from Delaware, Ohio
Military personnel 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
Commanders of the Legion of Honour
Military personnel from Ohio
Burials at Arlington National Cemetery
United States Army War College alumni