Charles J. (Charles Joseph) Murphy

Born in 1832, Charles J. Murphy was an American soldier and author whose best-known book, Reminiscences of the War of the Rebellion, and of the Mexican War, was published in 1882. The work presents his own memories of military service and gives readers a ground-level view of two major 19th-century conflicts.

Murphy also served in the Civil War as a first lieutenant and quartermaster with the 38th New York Infantry. Contemporary Medal of Honor records note that he received the award for extraordinary heroism at the First Battle of Bull Run on July 21, 1861, after voluntarily taking up a rifle and fighting with his regiment.

That mix of service and storytelling makes his writing especially compelling. Rather than offering distant history, Murphy writes from lived experience, making his memoir appealing to listeners interested in war narratives, personal testimony, and 19th-century American history.