Charles Griffin (December 18, 1825 – September 15, 1867) was a career officer in the United States Army and a Union general in the American Civil War.

He attended the nearby Kenyon College in Gambier, and graduated from the U.S. Military Academy in West Point, New York, placing 23rd out of 38 in the Class of 1847.

One famous example of Griffin's hot temper came during the Battle of the Wilderness when he was angered that his division had been driven back in disorder by a Confederate counterattack, which he said was the fault of Major General Gouverneur Warren, the commander of the V Corps, and Major General Horatio Wright, who commanded one of the VI Corps's divisions, for failing to support them properly.

Griffin participated in most of the major battles of the Army of the Potomac in 1864, including the Overland Campaign and Siege of Petersburg.

[4] Griffin assumed command of V Corps during its final campaign and was present when Robert E. Lee surrendered at Appomattox Court House.

[6] Griffin mustered out of the volunteer service in January 1866 and was given the regular army rank of colonel in command of the 35th US Infantry.

He strictly enforced the ironclad oath of allegiance (forcing men to publicly swear that they had never served the Confederacy) as the basis for jury selection.

Dissatisfied with the performance of appointed Governor James W. Throckmorton, Griffin persuaded General Sheridan to remove him from office and replace him with a Republican and loyal Unionist, Elisha M. Pease.