Virginia P. Hosley Collection

These three photographs depict General Charles G. Morton during his early years: in 1861 at six months (left), as a young man (middle), and as a young cadet at West Point in 1881 (right).

Golden Gate NRA, Park Archives, Virginia P. Hosley Collection, GOGA-1766

 

In this informal group photograph, Morton appears in the lower left sporting a full beard, circa 1898.

Golden Gate NRA, Park Archives, Virginia P. Hosley Collection, GOGA-1766

General Charles Gould Morton was born on January 15, 1861 in Massachusetts, the son of Brigadier General Charles Morton. In 1879 he entered the U.S. Military Academy and graduated in 1883 with a commission as second lieutenant in the Sixth U.S. Infantry. He quickly rose through the ranks and served as a Lieutenant Colonel with the First Maine Volunteer Infantry during the Spanish American War.

 

This 1914 portrait of Morton, then with the 5th Infantry Regiment, was taken by Brush Studio, which was based in Pittsburgh and New York.

Golden Gate NRA, Park Archives, Virginia P. Hosley Collection, GOGA-1766

From 1904 to 1905, while serving as Commander ofWarwick Barracks, he attended the Army War College, after which he served in various Inspector General positions. In 1912 he became an instructor for the Massachusetts National Guard. From 1913 to 1916, he commanded the 5^th Infantry Regiment before commanding U.S. troops in Panama.

When he returned to the United States, he was assigned as the Commanding General of the Tenth Division, defending the Texas border from 1916 to 1917 during the Mexican Expedition.He participated in World War I as the Commanding General of the 29^th Infantry Division.

 

This sandbag (right) was given to Major General Morton as a souvenir by James McHare, Chaplain for the 29th Infantry Division during World War I. McHare’s note (left), found inside the sandbag, states the item was found in a German Dugout near trenches along the front in Verdun, France. The note is dated December 24, 1918.

Golden Gate NRA, Museum Collection, GOGA 27114

 

Major General Morton finished his career at the Presidio of San Francisco, and these photographs depict his life on post. The Major is seen with a dog (top) and buying flowers from a young girl at the Army Relief Entertainment, held on the Presidio on May 19, 1923 (bottom).

Golden Gate NRA, Park Archives, Virginia P. Hosley Collection, GOGA-1766

From 1919 to 1921, after the armistice, Major General Morton returned to the U.S. as Commander of the Hawaiian Department before serving on the War Department General Staff for a year.He spent the final years of his career as the Commanding General of the Ninth Army Corps Area, headquartered at the Presidio of San Francisco, from 1922 until his retirement on January 15, 1925. He died in 1933 at Letterman General Hospital of a tetanus infection which was caused by wounds sustained lighting firecrackers on the Fourth of July for the young niece of his housekeeper.

Morton’s military career spanned 42 years and merited such honors as the Distinguished Service Medal, the Croix de Guerre with two palms, and the title of Commander of the Legion of Honor, for which he was awarded a plot in Arlington National Cemetery. In addition, the transport ship, the USS General C.G. Morton (AP-183), was named in his honor and saw service in World War II and the Korean War.

The Virginia P. Hosley Collection was donated to the Presidio Army Museum in 1979.

 

This panoramic photograph of the June 1924 celebration to commemorate the 149th Anniversary of the Quartermaster Corps was taken by J.D. Givens, a prominent San Francisco photographer with a lab on post at the Presidio of San Francisco. Major General Morton is seated in uniform in the center of the frame.

Golden Gate NRA, Park Archives, Virginia P. Hosley Collection, GOGA-1766

 

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