Charles Josephus Nourse (June 1, 1786–March 19, 1851) was an officer in the United States Army who served as acting Adjutant General of the U.S. Army from 1822 to 1825.Nourse was born in Brooklyn, New York on June 1, 1786. In 1808 Nourse carried private messages to England for President James Madison. In 1809 he was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Army. He was promoted to first lieutenant in 1812 and received brevets to captain (1813), and major (1814).