Charles Whittlesey (October 1, 1819 – December 9, 1874) was an American lawyer and newspaper publisher who briefly served as the Attorney General of Virginia at the end of Congressional Reconstruction.
[2] During the American Civil War, Whittlesey recruited infantry Company I, of the 22nd Connecticut volunteers, and served as its captain.
[4] As Congressional Reconstruction was ending, General Edward Richard Sprigg Canby (who had succeeded Gen. John Schofield as governor of Military District No.
Whittlesey held that position for about three months (September 10, 1869 until January 19, 1870, a week before Congress officially restored Virginia to the Union and seated her Senators and Congressmen).
During the 1869 election, Whittlesey was the Republican candidate for U.S. Congress from Virginia's 7th District, but lost to Conservative Lewis McKenzie.