Charles Staples Jr

Charles Staples Jr (abt 1846 - March 7, 1929) served as an under cook in Company K, 13th Tennessee Volunteer Cavalry. He is one of twenty-three black men known to have served with the regiment, all of whom served as company cooks.

Personal life
Charles Staples was born about 1846 in King and Queen County, Virginia.

Civil War service
Staples enlisted in Company K on February 1, 1864 at Nashville, Tennessee for a period of three years. He mustered in on April 16, 1864 in Nashville.

At enlistment he was 18 years old, 5' tall, black complexion, black eyes, and black hair. At the time of his enlistment he was living near Livingston in Overton County where he was a farmer.

According to the muster rolls Staples was present every month throughout his service. He mustered out with the regiment on September 5, 1865 at Knoxville. Records state that he was last paid to August 31, 1864 and owed $27.72 to the government for his clothing.

Later life
Staples applied for an invalid's pension on December 23, 1903 while living in Louisiana. He died March 7, 1929 and is buried at Memphis National Cemetery.