Charles Edward Phelps (May 1, 1833 – December 27, 1908) was a colonel in the Union Army during the Civil War, later received a brevet as a brigadier general of volunteers, served as a city councilman, a U.S.

In later life, he was professor of equity at University of Maryland Law School and served for many years as judge on the Circuit Court of Baltimore.

[3] Phelps received the Medal of Honor for valor at the Battle of Spotsylvania Court House on May 8, 1864.

[4] After the war, Phelps became a companion of the Maryland Commandery of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States.

The citation read, Rode to the head of the assaulting column, then much broken by severe losses and faltering under the close fire of artillery, placed himself conspicuously in front of the troops, and gallantly rallied and led them to within a few feet of the enemy's works, where he was severely wounded and captured.

[8] Phelps further argued, The power of impeachment is expressly limited to cases of "treason, bribery, or other crimes and high misdemeanors."

No charge is preferred against the president other than an official act which is by a forced construction of the Tenure of Office law claimed to be a "high misdemeanor".

[8]In 1872, he served as the state manager of Prince George's County's House of Reformation for Colored Children.

[1] In 1882, he was appointed by Governor William Thomas Hamilton to serve as an associate judge of the Circuit Court of Baltimore.