Charles enlisted for Civil War army service in Company E(Cleveland Grays), 1st Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, in Cleveland, Ohio, April 16, 1861, for a 3-month term of service. He was mustered out August 1, 1861 at the end of his term of service. Rank: Private. He then enlisted in the 2nd Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Cavalry as Commissary Sergeant, September 14, 1861 for a 3-year term of service and was mustered into Field and Staff on the same date. He was discharged for disability February 2, 1862. His name is on Panel #1 in the Cuyahoga County Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument, Public Square, Cleveland, Ohio for service in Company E, 1st Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry.
See www.soldiersandsailors.com for Monument information.
Charles applied for an invalid pension for his army service, May 4, 1871. It was issued as Certificate #121568 but no state was listed. His widow, Julia A. Abbey, applied for a widow's pension, July 3, 1901 in the State of Washington but there is no indication that it was ever issued.
Charles was shown living in Clark County Washington with a Post office of Hopewell in the 1890 U.S. Census for Veterans. The 1900 U.S. Census shows Charles, born October 1833, 66 years old, married 31 years, born OH with both parents born in New York, farming. His wife, Julia, was shown born in New York in January 1838, 62 years old, married 31 years, with one child of one living. Her father was born in Pennsylvania and her mother in Connecticut. Also in the household was Alden Warren, born November 1891, 8 years old, grandson, born in Washington with his father born in Ohio and mother in Germany.