Lt. Charles W. Tilden was a twenty-nine year old resident of coastal Castine, Maine when the Civil War broke out and he was commissioned as 1st Lieutenant of Co. B of the 2nd Maine Infantry.

Infantry.  This unusually large 15 X 19 inch albumen in its   22 ½ X 27 inch mat and frame is hand tinted in oil and
originally hung in the home of the Brig. General Tilden in
Hallowell, Maine.  

The 16th Volunteers would see some of the wars bloodiest action.  Of Tilden it was recorded in the regimental history that; it is no exaggeration to say that no regiment in all the army had a more soldierly commander than Colonel Tilden, nor was there one braver, more skillful, or cooler under all circumstances.