In the 12th New Jersey recollections, it was said of Charles that he, “Was amongst the first to sign the roll of Company F, and was mustered in with that first squad at Woodbury, July 29th, 1862, and was immediately appointed third sergeant. He was twenty-one years old, of magnificent physical development, straight, broad-shouldered, strong in limbs, mind and body, he seemed to realize the seriousness and importance of the work before him and immediately took up the study of drill and tactics, and in a few weeks he could drill a squad or platoon equal to any old regular. He was of genial, social disposition and enjoyed the love and respect of his comrades, and his bravery and courage were of the highest order. He had that rare faculty of controlling his feelings, so as to appear calm and unruffled in the midst of the wildest scene of danger and excitement, and this ability to command soon led to his promotion as sergeant major of the regiment, then First Lieutenant of Company F, November 26, 1863, and Captain of Company B, September 13, 1864. He participated in nearly all our battles, and seldom failed to get a wound; indeed, this seemed to be the one great military lesson that he never could learn; he always dodged the wrong way, and thus got more wounds than any other man in the company. He was slightly wounded at Chancellorsville, May 3rd, 1863, again at Gettysburg, July 3rd, 1863, once more in the Wilderness, May 6th, 1864, and much more seriously at Spotsylvania, May 12th, 1864 where his cheek-bone collided with one bullet and his arm with another, and this combination sent him on his first visit to the hospital; but he was soon back in his place and got his regular bullet through his coat at Boyden Road. He came back with the last of the regiment at the close of the war and was discharged at Trenton, July 15, 1865. Came home and married his best girl, and is now a successful merchant and storekeeper at Swedesboro, N.J., and draws no pension.”

During the Appomattox Campaign, the 12th New Jersey belonged to Thomas A. Smyth’s 3rd Brigade, Francis C. Barlow’s 2nd Division, Andrew Humphreys’ 2nd Corps, U.S. Army of the Potomac. The 12th New Jersey supported the 6th Corps as they broke through Lee’s Confederate lines around Petersburg on April 2nd, chasing after the rebel army the next couple days. At the Battle of Sailor’s Creek on April 6th, Charles and the 12th New Jersey was held in reserve with the rest of their division, while the other two divisions of the 2nd Corps assaulted Gordon’s 2nd Confederate Corps near the Lockett’s Farm. The Confederates attempted to burn the bridges at High Bridge across the Appomattox River in their retreat, but Charles, the 12th New Jersey, and Humphreys’ 2nd Corps were able to extinguish the flames and save the bridges. They marched across the river, caught up with the Confederates, and engaged them about 2pm on April 7th near Cumberland Church. During this engagement, Charles’ brigade commander, Thomas A. Smyth would be mortally wounded from a sharpshooter shooting him through the mouth and shattering his cervical vertebra, paralyzing him. Smyth would be the last Union general killed in the war. The rebels were chased further until they were completely surrounded near Appomattox Court House on April 9th. Charles and the 12th New Jersey were engaging the Confederates in the rear guard near New Hope Church when word of Lee’s surrender reached them.