Charles L. Phillips

Charles L. Phillips (October 16, 1856 – March 3, 1937) was a career officer in the United States Army. A veteran of the Spanish–American War and World War I, he was a Field Artillery specialist who joined the Coast Artillery Corps when it was created as a separate branch. Phillips served from 1881 to 1920 and attained the rank of brigadier general.

Phillips was a native of Gardner, Illinois, and was raised and educated in Waterville, Maine. He attended Colby College from 1874 to 1877, when he began attendance at the United States Military Academy (West Point). He graduated in 1881 and received his commission as a second lieutenant, then served at posts in the western United States, including Fort Canby, Washington and Fort Snelling, Minnesota. When the Coast Artillery Corps was separated from the Field Artillery Branch, Phillips transferred to the Coast Artillery. He commanded Coast Artillery posts on both the Atlantic and Pacific coasts of the United States, as well as posts in the Philippines.

At the start of World War I, Phillips commanded the 51st Field Artillery Brigade, a unit of the 26th Division, and the 52nd Field Artillery Brigade, a subordinate command of the 27th Division. He also served as acting commander of the 27th Division on several occasions. In March 1918, he reverted from his temporary rank of brigadier general to his permanent rank of colonel and commanded the Coast Defenses of Puget Sound until retiring in 1920. Legislation passed in 1930 allowed the general officers of World War I to retire at their highest rank, and Phillips was promoted to brigadier general on the retired list.

In retirement, Phillips was a resident of El Centro, California. He died in El Centro on March 3, 1937, and was buried at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery. Provided by Wikipedia