U.S. Corps of Topographical Engineers
Charles Nesbit Turnbull
1832 - 1874
Charles Nesbit Turnbull, son of William Turnbull, born in Washington, D. C., 14 August, 1832; died in Boston, Massachusetts, 2 December, 1874, was graduated at the United States Military Academy in 1854, and made 2d Lieutenant of Topographical Engineers. He was on the survey of the boundary-line between the United States and Mexico in 1854-56, on that of the northern lakes in 1856-59, and at the United States Military Academy as assistant professor of mathematics in 1859-60. During the civil war he served at first on the staff of General Benjamin F. Butler and in the Department of the Gulf, after which, in 1863-64, he was with the Army of the Potomac. He received his promotion as captain of Topographical Engineers, 14 July, 1862, and was transferred to the Corps of Engineers on 3 March, 1863. In June, 1864, he was Chief Engineer of the Cavalry Corps, during General Philip H. Sheridan's raid, and later Chief Engineer of the 8th Army Corps. He received the brevets of major, lieutenant-colonel, and colonel for his services, and after the war served on the repairs of Fort Hamilton. Colonel Turnbull resigned on 31 December. 1865, and engaged in the commission business in Boston, Massachusetts, where he continued until his death.
Appletons Encyclopedia
Obituary
Col. Charles N Turnbull
The death of this officer is announced by telegraph from Boston. Col. Turnbull was a native of the District of Columbia, and was appointed a cadet at large at the military Academy in 1850, graduated in 1854, when he entered the Army as second lieutenant in the Topographical Engineers. He served on the surveys of the Mexican boundary line and of the northern lakes, from 1854 to 1859, when he was appointed Assistant Professor of Mathematics at the Military Academy. He was promoted to first lieutenant in 1859, and at the end of his detail to West Point served as lighthouse engineer of the First and Second Districts. At the beginning of the rebellion he was sent to Boston to recruit Topographical Engineer troops, and in November, 1861, was appointed on the staff of Gen. Butler, and was Chief Topographical engineer of the Department of the Gulf up to May, 1862, when he was given sick leave of absence till October following. He was promoted to a captaincy in July, 1862, and was Chief Topographical engineer of the Department of the Missouri to May, 1863. He served with the battalion of engineer troops at the headquarters of the Army of the Potomac, from May, 1863, two July 10, 1864, and was engaged in throwing a pontoon bridge across the Rappahannock at Franklins Crossing in June, 1863, under fire from the enemy on the opposite bank, and subsequently in bridging the rivers for the Army of the Potomac in moving into Pennsylvania and in pursuing the enemy into Virginia, July, 1863, and again in the advance to the wilderness; at headquarters in the Richmond campaign, and in all the battles to the James River of May and June, 1864. He was Gen. Sheridan's chief engineer during his rage in June, 1864, and at the battle of Trevyllian Station on the 12th of that month. He also took part in the siege of Petersburg. He was detached on reconnaissance to select sites for works to protect the lower fords of the Susquehanna against the rebel raid in August, 1864. He was Chief Engineer of the Eighth Army Corps, and was breveted Major for talent and meritorious services during the campaign before Richmond. He next served in superintending the defenses of Baltimore and repairs at Fort Hamilton, up to December 31, 1865, when he re-signed and engaged in business as a commission merchant in Boston, where he resided till his death.
New York Times
December 6, 1874