Charles Devens

Charles Devens Jr. (April 4 1820 – January 7 1891) was an American lawyer, judge, and military officer who served as the United States Attorney General from 1877 to 1881 under President Rutherford B. Hayes. Born in Charlestown, Massachusetts, he pursued a legal career that spanned several decades before entering federal office. Devens also distinguished himself during the Civil War, rising to the rank of major general and commanding Union forces at several key battles. After his tenure as Attorney General, he continued to serve on the state Supreme Judicial Court until his death.

Early life and career

Charles Devens Jr. entered the world in Charlestown, Massachusetts, on April 4 1820. His formative years were shaped by a rigorous education that began at Boston Latin School, an institution known for its classical curriculum. He progressed to Harvard College, where he completed his undergraduate studies in 1838, and then pursued legal training at Harvard Law School, graduating in 1840. Following his admission to the bar in Franklin County, Massachusetts, Devens established a practice that would last until 1849.

In 1848, Devens stepped into public service as a member of the Massachusetts Senate. The following year he accepted an appointment as United States Marshal for Massachusetts, a role he fulfilled until 1853. During his tenure as marshal, he was involved in the remand of Thomas Sims, a fugitive slave who had been captured and returned to slavery in 1851. Although constrained by federal duty, Devens later attempted to purchase Sims’ freedom—a gesture that ultimately proved unsuccessful.

After concluding his service as marshal, Devens resumed private legal work in Worcester, Massachusetts, where he practiced from 1853 until the outbreak of the Civil War in 1861. His reputation as a competent lawyer and public servant laid the groundwork for his subsequent military career.

On April 16, 1861, Devens delivered an impassioned address at Mechanics Hall in Worcester, urging local men to support President Lincoln’s call for volunteers. Three days later he was appointed major of the 3rd Massachusetts Rifle Battalion. In July 1861 he received a commission as colonel of the 15th Massachusetts Infantry and was wounded at the Battle of Ball's Bluff in Virginia in October.

Despite his injuries, Devens continued to rise through the ranks. He was promoted to brigadier general of volunteers in April 1862 and assigned command of the 1st Brigade/1st Division. He sustained a second wound at the Battle of Seven Pines and spent much of the summer recovering. His brigade later joined the VI Corps, where he commanded the 2nd Brigade/3rd Division during the Battle of Fredericksburg.

In January 1863 Devens was given command of the 1st Brigade, 3rd Division, VI Corps. After Major General Oliver O. Howard took command of the XI Corps, Devens was appointed a division commander and was wounded a third time at Chancellorsville. A report by Gen. Steward L. Woodford noted that Devens remounted his horse after being wounded, remained with his men, and delayed hospitalization until the troops had bivouacked.

Devens distinguished himself further at the Battle of Cold Harbor while commanding the 3rd Division/XVIII Corps in Ulysses S. Grant’s Overland Campaign. During the final stages of the Siege of Petersburg he led the 3rd Division of the XXIV Corps, and his forces were the first to occupy Richmond after its fall in April 1865.

Following the war, Devens served as commander of the military district of Charleston, South Carolina, for a year before mustering out. He later became the fifth Commander-in-Chief of the Grand Army of the Republic from 1873 to 1875 and remained a veteran companion of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States.

In January 1866 President Andrew Johnson nominated Devens for the honorary grade of brevet major general, United States Volunteers, with rank retroactive to April 3 1865 for his service during the Richmond campaign. The U.S. Senate confirmed the award on March 12 1866. Devens also played a key role in investigating the execution of Confederate veteran Calvin Crozier by soldiers of the 33rd Regiment, U.S. Colored Troops, at Newberry, South Carolina, in September 1865. Over Devens’s objections, the officer responsible was exonerated after two separate trials, including a General Court Martial.

His judicial career began with service on the Massachusetts Superior Court from 1867 to 1873 and continued as an associate justice of the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court from 1873 to 1877. He returned to that court in 1881 after his federal appointment and served until his death in 1891.

Cabinet tenure

In 1877 President Rutherford B. Hayes nominated Charles Devens to serve as United States Attorney General. The Senate confirmed the appointment, and Devens held the office through 1881. During this period he worked within the Department of Justice under the administration of President Hayes, contributing to federal legal policy and enforcement. His tenure was marked by close professional association with the president; Devens was regarded as a trusted confidant and enjoyed prominence in Washington society.

While serving as Attorney General, Devens maintained his judicial responsibilities at the state level. He had previously served on the Massachusetts Superior Court from 1867 to 1873 and on the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court from 1873 to 1877; after leaving federal office he returned to the state supreme court in 1881 and continued there until his death in 1891.

In addition to his legal duties, Devens was elected a member of the American Antiquarian Society in 1878, reflecting his engagement with scholarly and historical pursuits during his time in Washington.

Legacy

Charles Devens died of heart failure on January 7 1891 in Boston, Massachusetts. He was interred at Mount Auburn Cemetery in Cambridge, Massachusetts. His legacy is commemorated through several memorials and institutions that bear his name.

In 1906 the city of Worcester erected an equestrian statue of Devens in front of the former Worcester Courthouse on Court Hill; the statue has since been relocated to the courthouse’s front side. The military installation Camp Devens—later renamed Fort Devens—was established in 1917 across the towns of Ayer, Harvard, Lancaster, and Shirley in Massachusetts, honoring his service as a Union general.

Beyond these physical memorials, Devens’ contributions to public service are remembered through his long career as a lawyer, judge, military officer, and cabinet secretary. His work during the Civil War—particularly his leadership at battles such as Ball’s Bluff, Seven Pines, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Cold Harbor, and the Siege of Petersburg—positioned him among the notable Union generals of the era. As Attorney General he played a role in shaping federal legal policy under President Hayes, while his subsequent judicial service on the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court further cemented his influence within the state’s legal system.

Charles Devens’ life exemplifies a trajectory of public duty that spanned local, state, and national arenas, leaving an enduring imprint on American legal and military history.