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Charles Hale Morgan was a Major in the 4th United States Artillery Regiment.  The 4th Artillery had been organized in 1821 and took part in fighting against Native Americans and in the Mexican War before the Civil War began.  The 4th saw heavy service during the Civil War.  After that conflict, the 4th was sent to San Francisco in late 1872 and its companies were divided between posts in California and the newly acquired territory of Alaska.  The regiment also fought against the Native American tribes of the Far West, before it was recalled to the East Coast in 1881. 

At the time of his death, Morgan was the commander of the fortress of Alcatraz.  Morgan is also the only "celebrity" interred in the Angel Island Cemetery.  During the Civil War he rose in rank from 1st lieutenant to brigadier general of volunteers.  Serving on the staff of General Winfield Scott Hancock, first as chief of artillery and later as chief of staff, Morgan, according to the 4th Artillery's official history, "proved himself to be a man of the most distinguished military attainments combined with indomitable energy."  The entry on Morgan in Ezra J. Warner's Generals in Blue (Louisiana State University Press, 1964) notes that he was also known by his "talent for profanity exceeded only by that of his chief." 

Like many regular army officers who became generals during the Civil War, Morgan's commission was only good in the volunteer service recruited for the war.  After the conflict ended, he reverted back to a captain of artillery (although he was soon promoted to major).  He was, however, given a mostly honorary "brevet" promotion to the rank of brigadier general.