Charles Marshall

Charles Marshall (October 3, 1830 – April 19, 1902) was a Confederate States Army officer during the American Civil War. Marshall served as an aide de camp, assistant adjutant general and military secretary to General Robert E. Lee.

Charles Marshall in The Guns of the South
During the winter of 1863/64 Major Charles Marshall served as General Robert E. Lee's aid-de-camp as the Army of Northern Virginia wintered near Orange Court House.

On January 20, 1864 Major Marshall, along with his fellow staff officers, watched Andries Rhoodie's demonstration of a new rifle for General Lee. He assisted in placing human cut-out targets in a firing range out to 500 yards. As he returned to the firing line, he began to jokingly refer to the cut-outs by the names of various Federal generals. His fellow staff officers joined in. After the demonstration, he helped collect the cut-outs.

For whatever reason, Marshall took an immediate dislike to Rhoodie. When Rhoodie claimed he could deliver 100,000 AK-47s, Marshall expressed scepticism. Lee asked what he would do if Rhoodie failed to deliver. He replied a good horsewhipping to teach him to not brag. Rhoodie, however, was willing to risk it.