General Charles Powell Adams saw a lot of action during the Civil War. At the start of the fighting, Adams joined the First Minnesota Volunteer Infantry Regiment and was elected captain of his company. He was wounded at Bull Run, Antietam, Malvern Hill, and Gettysburg, where he was hit three times. Despite his many injuries, Adams survived and fought until the end of the war, when he was promoted to brevet brigadier general. After the war, he returned to Minnesota and served in the state legislature.