Charles Grymes McCawley
8th Commandant of the Marine Corps
Charles Grymes McCawley (January 29, 1827 – October 13, 1891) was the eighth commandant of the Marine Corps and served as an officer in the United States Marine Corps during the Mexican–American War and the American Civil War.
Biography
Born at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, McCawley was appointed a second lieutenant in the Marine Corps on March 3, 1847 by President James K. Polk. He took part in the Battle of Chapultepec and the capture of Mexico City during the Mexican–American War. (It is this battle which is commemorated in the Marine Hymn's words, "From the Halls of Montezuma ...")
He was brevetted first lieutenant September 13, 1847, for gallantry in those actions. After the war he commanded the guard of the frigates USS Cumberland and USS Independence in the Mediterranean from 1849 to 1852. He then served at the Philadelphia Navy Yard until 1854. He received promotion to first lieutenant on January 2, 1855 and, after various services afloat and ashore, became captain on July 26, 1861.
In the Civil War, he aided in the capture of Port Royal, South Carolina, November 7, 1861, and led a detachment of 200 marines to reoccupy the Norfolk Navy Yard, May 1862. He subsequently commanded Marine detachments during operations in Charleston Harbor against Forts Wagner, Gregg, and Sumter. For gallant and meritorious conduct during the boat attack on Fort Sumter, September 8, 1863, he was brevetted to the rank of major and received a full promotion to that rank on June 10, 1864.
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