Charles Treat

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For the Treasurer of the United States, see Charles H. Treat.
Charles Gould Treat
Charles Treat newspaper shot.jpg
Treat as a Captain in 1901
Nickname(s)Jim[1]
Born(1859-12-30)December 30, 1859
Dexter, Maine
DiedOctober 11, 1941(1941-10-11) (aged 81)
Washington, D.C.
Place of burial
West Point Cemetery
Allegiance United States of America
Service/branchUnited States Department of the Army Seal.svg United States Army
Years of service1882–1922
RankUS-O8 insignia.svg Major general
Commands heldHawaiian Department
37th Infantry Division
Western Department
U.S. Military Mission to Italian Army
Fort Stotsenburg
Battles/warsAmerican Indian Wars
Spanish–American War
World War I
AwardsDistinguished Service Medal (U.S. Army)
Treat in 1916

Charles Gould Treat (December 30, 1859 – October 11, 1941) was a major general in the United States Army.

Biography[]

Charles Gould Treat was born in Dexter, Maine, on December 30, 1859, and was a direct descendant of Governor Robert Treat.[2] He was raised in Monroe, Wisconsin, and graduated from Monroe High School in 1878. His father, Joseph B. Treat, was a member of the Wisconsin State Senate and Chairman of the Republican State Central Committee and his grandfather, Nathaniel Treat, was a member of the Maine House of Representatives. Treat graduated from the United States Military Academy in 1882, and was commissioned a second lieutenant of Artillery.[3]

He attended Columbia Law School in 1884 and 1885, while stationed at Fort Schuyler.[4]

Early military career[]

Treat served in Artillery assignments in the United States, including postings to the western states during the American Indian Wars and duty as aide-de-camp to Oliver O. Howard.[5] During the Spanish–American War he served in Cuba as Assistant Adjutant of an Artillery brigade.[6] From 1901 to 1905 he served as Commandant of Cadets at West Point.[7] Treat was inspector general for US forces in Cuba from 1906 to 1908.[8] In 1910 he graduated from the United States Army War College.[9]

Later military career[]

Treat served on the Army's General Staff for several years, and commanded the Hawaiian Department in 1917.[10]

World War I[]

During World War I Treat commanded the 37th Infantry Division at Camp Sheridan, near Montgomery, Alabama, receiving temporary promotion to Major General.[11] In 1918 he was assigned to command the Western Department, stationed at Fort Mason, California.[12]

He was Chief of the U.S. Military Mission to the Italian Army from 1918 to 1919, and took part in the Battle of Vittorio Veneto.[13][14]

Post–World War I[]

After the war Treat returned to his permanent rank of Brigadier General and served as commander of Fort Stotsenburg, Philippines, remaining on active duty until retiring in 1922.[15]

In 1930 he was promoted to Major General on the retired list.[16]

Awards[]

Treat received the Army Distinguished Service Medal for his World War I service. He was also a recipient of the Order of the White Eagle (Serbia) with swords and the Italian Order of Saints Maurice and Lazarus.[17]

His Distinguished Service Medal citation reads:

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Army Distinguished Service Medal to Brigadier General Charles G. Treat, United States Army, for exceptionally meritorious and distinguished services to the Government of the United States, in a duty of great responsibility during World War I. As Chief of the American Military Mission to Italy and Commanding Base Section No. 8, by his untiring devotion to duty, loyalty, and zeal, General Treat performed his intricate duties with marked ability and sound judgment. By his cheerfulness and sound diplomatic ability he furthered those cordial relations which existed between the American and Italian troops, and was an important factor in maintaining the morale at a high state of efficiency during the trying days prior to the armistice.[18]

Death and burial[]

Treat's former residence (left) in the Dupont Circle residence of Washington, D.C.

Treat resided in Washington, D.C., and died at Walter Reed Army Medical Center on October 11, 1941.[19] He is buried at West Point Cemetery, Section 1, Site B-25.[20]

Family[]

In 1889 Treat married Margaret Louise Cornell, the daughter of John Black Cornell, a wealthy New York City businessman.[21] She died in 1921, and he later married Edith Pennington, the widow of Lieutenant Colonel Godfrey MacDonald (1858–1918) and daughter of Alexander Cummings McWhorter Pennington Jr.[22]

Treat's son Joseph Bradford Treat, grandson Archibald Vincent Arnold Jr., and great-grandson Archibald Vincent Arnold III all graduated from West Point.[23]

References[]

  1. ^ West Point Association of Graduates, memorial, Charles G. Treat, 1882, accessed May 28, 2013
  2. ^ James Terry White, The National Cyclopaedia of American Biography, Volume 42, 1967, page 173
  3. ^ The Story of Monroe, Chapter 15, Carrying the Flag, 1888-1972, 1972, page 8
  4. ^ Columbia University, Annual Register, 1885, page 65
  5. ^ George Washington Cullum, Edward Singleton Holden, Biographical Register of the Officers and Graduates of the U.S. Military Academy, Supplement to Volume IV, 1901, pages 357–358
  6. ^ United States War Department, Annual Report, 1899, page 405
  7. ^ United States War Department, Annual Report, 1905, page 400
  8. ^ United States War Department, Annual Report, 1907, page 617
  9. ^ George Washington Cullum, Edward Singleton Holden, Biographical Register of the Officers and Graduates of the U.S. Military Academy, Supplement, Volume VI-A 1920, page 335
  10. ^ West Point Association of Graduates, memorial, Charles G. Treat, 1882, accessed May 28, 2013
  11. ^ Aaron Barlow, For My Foot Being Off, 2005, page 17
  12. ^ New York Times, Order Gen. Wood to Home Duty on Eve of Sailing, May 28, 1918
  13. ^ Thomas Nelson Page, Italy and the World War, 1920, page 357
  14. ^ New York Times, Italians Capture Vittorio, October 30, 1918
  15. ^ New York Times, Army is Recast with Nine Corps, August 21, 1920
  16. ^ New York Times, Retired Officers Get Army War Rank, August 20, 1930
  17. ^ West Point Association of Graduates, memorial, Charles G. Treat, 1882, accessed May 28, 2013
  18. ^ Military Times, Hall of Valor, Distinguished Service Medal citation, Charles G. Treat, accessed May 28, 2013
  19. ^ New York Times, Major Gen. Treat, Cited in War, Dies, October 12, 1941
  20. ^ U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Nationwide Gravesite Locator, entry for Charles G. Treat, accessed May 29, 2013
  21. ^ New York Times, The Marriage of Miss Cornell and Lieut. Treat, December 31, 1889
  22. ^ Norwalk Hour, Obituary, Edith Pennington Treat, February 11, 1947
  23. ^ West Point Association of Graduates, Genealogical Succession Archived 2012-05-29 at the Wayback Machine, 2002, page 6
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