- Charles F. Walcott, Union Brigadier General, 61 st Regiment Massachusetts Volunteers, History of the 21 st Regiment Massachusetts Volunteers in the War for the Preservation of the Union. 1882 502 page history of The 21st regiment Massachusetts volunteer Infantry inscribed by the author, Charles Walcott, a Civil War Brigadier General, to Jesse W. Reno, the son and namesake of the regiment’s commanding officer Major General Jesse Reno, who’s picture appears on the frontis. Loose boards, bumping to corners of cover, A rare volume, with incredible association. George F. Walcott was born December 22, 1836, in Hopkinton, Massachusetts. He was a graduate of Harvard University in 1857 and Harvard University Law School in 1860 and a lawyer. On August 5, 1861, Walcott was appointed captain of the 21st Regiment Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry. He resigned on April 25, 1863. He was appointed captain of the 12th Regiment of Massachusetts Militia on May 16, 1864. He was mustered out of the volunteers on August 15, 1864.[1] He was appointed lieutenant colonel of the 61st Regiment Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry on September 24, 1864, and colonel of the regiment on February 28, 1865.[1] Walcott was mustered out of the volunteers on June 4, 1865. On January 13, 1866, President Andrew Johnson nominated Walcott for appointment to the grade of brevet brigadier general of volunteers for gallant and meritorious service resulting in the fall of Richmond, Virginia, and surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia, to rank from April 9, 1865, and the United States Senate confirmed the appointment on March 12, 1866. Jesse W. Reno was an American inventor and produced the escalator.