Charles R . Woods Charles Robert Woods ( February 19 , 1827 – February 26 , 1885 ) was a career United States Army officer and a Union general during the American Civil War . He is noted for commanding the relief troops that first attempted to resupply Fort Sumter prior to the start of the conflict , and served with distinction during the war . Early life and career . Charles Woods was born in the city of Newark in Licking County , Ohio , the younger brother of William Burnham Woods and the brother - in - law of Willard Warner , both future Union generals . He grew up on his family ' s farm in Ohio , where he received a minimal education from tutoring . Woods entered the United States Military Academy at West Point in July 1848 , and graduated four years later , standing 20th out of 43 cadets . He was appointed a brevet second lieutenant on July 1 , 1852 , and ordered to join the 1st U . S . Infantry Regiment . On July 31 of that year Woods was promoted to the rank of second lieutenant . During 1855 he was transferred to the 9th U . S . Infantry as of March 3 , and was promoted to first lieutenant on October 16 . Woods ' pre - war military career consisted of " routine duty " in Texas as well as in the Washington Territory until 1860 . Civil War service . In early 1861 , Woods was ordered by the U . S . Army to lead reinforcements to Fort Sumter , located in Charleston Harbor , South Carolina . On January 5 his command of 200 officers and men left from Governors Island in New York Harbor aboard the steamer SS " Star of the West " , escorted by the sloop USS " Brooklyn " , for Fort Sumter . On January 8 at dark Woods arrived off Charleston Harbor , and when it was light enough on January 9 they entered the bay . Woods and the steamer weren ' t fired upon until they arrived within one and three - quarter miles ( about half a kilometer ) of both Sumter and Fort Moultrie , when they were fired on by an artillery battery near the northern end of Morris Island . Woods described in his report what occurred next : Woods and the " Star of the West " returned to New York Harbor on January 12 , 1861 , and he filed his full report the next day from Fort Columbus . On April 1 he was promoted to the rank of captain , and on October 13 he was given command of the 76th Ohio Infantry Regiment with the rank of colonel . Woods ' first assignment with his regiment was briefly in what is now West Virginia in the fall of 1861 . In 1862 , Woods began his Western Theater service . His regiment participated in the capture of Fort Donelson in Tennessee on February 16 , 1862 , as well as the Battle of Shiloh on April 6 . Woods was promoted to brigade command in the Army of the Tennessee shortly before the Siege of Corinth on April 29 , which lasted until June 10 . He then took charge of his prior regiment during the Battle of Chickasaw Bayou that December . Woods fought well during rest of the Vicksburg Campaign and the Siege of Vicksburg , and for his performance during the siege Woods was appointed a brevet lieutenant colonel in the Regular Army as of July 4 , 1863 . Woods fought with distinction at the Third Battle of Chattanooga in November 1863 , and was made a brevet colonel in the Regular Army as of November 24 for his efforts there . He was promoted to the rank of brigadier general in the Union Army on August 4 , and by January 1864 was given divisional command . He was promoted to major in the Regular Army in the 18th U . S . Infantry on April 20 , 1864 , and was appointed a brevet major general in the Union Army for his actions during the Battle of Griswoldville on November 22 , the first engagement of Sherman ' s March to the Sea . Woods was then appointed a regular brevet brigadier general and quickly then to brevet major general on March 13 , 1865 , both in the Regular Army . Postbellum . Woods chose to continue his military career and remain in the U . S . Army after the end of the American Civil War . He was assigned to command the Department of Alabama from June 27 , 1865 to May 19 , 1866 , and then commanded the Department of the South until August 6 . He was promoted in the Regular Army to lieutenant colonel on July 28 in the 33rd U . S . Infantry , and was mustered out of the volunteer service on September 1 . On September 24 , 1866 Woods was transferred to the 27th U . S . Infantry , lasting until March 15 , 1869 , when he was unassigned for 19 days . On March 24 he was assigned to the 5th U . S . Infantry , and on February 18 , 1874 , he was promoted to colonel and given command of the 2nd U . S . Infantry . He held this post until retiring on December 15 due to his failing health . Woods died at the age of 58 at his estate named " Woodside " in Newark , Ohio . He was buried there in Cedar Hill Cemetery , as would be his brother and brother - in - law .