CHARLES JAMES WESTON -- 22nd INFANTRY and 7th U. S. INFANTRYJOINED THE REGULAR ARMY IN 1862 - When Charles James Weston enlisted in the 22nd Infantry in Keeseville on December 16, 1861, men still had the option to serve for two years or three. When he met up with the regiment, they had been in Washington since July and were in General McDowell's Division of the 1st Brigade of the Army of the Potomac.The regiment was in winter quarters at Upton's Hill on the south bank of the Potomac opposite the capital and in March 1862 traveled west along the river. They were recalled to Upton's Hill and put on transports for Falmouth, VA. The summer of 1862 was spent in Virginia, and they lost 180 men to casualty.By September, they had marched north to Maryland to fight at South Mountain, losing 30 more men and three days later, on September 17th engaged at Antietam where they lost 30 more men. After the battle, they moved back to Falmouth where Charles took the opportunity to enlist in the 7th U. S. Infantry in November. He fought in Tennessee and Georgia and after 1865, fought in the Indian Wars.Charles married Ellen Reeder in Pennsylvania in 1885 and remained there for the rest of his life. He supported his family by being a carriage painter. In 1907, The Call, a newspaper in Schuylkill Haven, PA, about 60 miles west of Allentown, carried his death notice - Charles J. Weston, a veteran of the Civil War, died on Saturday at his home on Canal Street. Death was due to a severe attack of pneumonia. Deceased was in his sixty seventh year. He had an honorable record as a private in Company I, 7th Regiment, U. S. Infantry. The funeral took place on Wednesday afternoon and services were conducted by Reverend Allott of the M. E. Church. Interment was made at Union Cemetery. His widow, two daughters and a son survive.
