Julius Adolphus De Lagnel (July 24, 1827 – June 3, 1912), was a

Confederate States Army The Confederate States Army, also called the Confederate Army or the Southern Army, was the military land force of the Confederate States of America (commonly referred to as the Confederacy) during the American Civil War (1861–1865), fighting ...

officer, who was appointed and confirmed as a

brigadier general Brigadier general or Brigade general is a military rank used in many countries. It is the lowest ranking general officer in some countries. The rank is usually above a colonel, and below a major general or divisional general. When appointed ...

, during the

American Civil War The American Civil War (April 12, 1861 – May 26, 1865; also known by other names) was a civil war in the United States. It was fought between the Union ("the North") and the Confederacy ("the South"), the latter formed by states th ...

, but who declined the appointment. He was second in command to Brigadier General

Josiah Gorgas Josiah Gorgas (July 1, 1818 – May 15, 1883) was one of the few Northern-born Confederate generals and was later president of the University of Alabama. As chief of ordnance during the American Civil War, Gorgas managed to keep the Confederate ...

Gorgas, who had married Amelia Gayle, daughter of former Alabama Governor John Gayle, also was born in the north, in

Dauphin County, Pennsylvania Dauphin County (; Pennsylvania Dutch: Daffin Kaundi) is a county in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. As of the 2020 census, the population was 286,401. The county seat and the largest city is Harrisburg, Pennsylvania's state capital and nint ...

. in the Confederate Ordnance Bureau and at times was an inspector of arsenals. Before the war, he served in the

United States Army The United States Army (USA) is the land service branch of the United States Armed Forces. It is one of the eight U.S. uniformed services, and is designated as the Army of the United States in the U.S. Constitution.Article II, section 2, cla ...

from March 8, 1847, until May 17, 1861. After the war, he was engaged in Pacific steamship service.

Early life

Julius Adolphus De Lagnel was born on July 24, 1827, in

Newark, New Jersey Newark ( , ) is the most populous city in the U.S. state of New Jersey and the seat of Essex County and the second largest city within the New York metropolitan area.Eicher, John H., and

David J. Eicher David John Eicher (born August 7, 1961) is an American editor, writer, and popularizer of astronomy and space. He has been editor-in-chief of ''Astronomy'' magazine since 2002. He is author, coauthor, or editor of 23 books on science and American ...

. ''Civil War High Commands''. Stanford, CA: Stanford University Press, 2001. . p. 206Warner, Ezra J. ''Generals in Gray: Lives of the Confederate Commanders.'' Baton Rouge: Louisiana State University Press, 1959. . p. 71 De Lagnel was commissioned directly into the U.S. Army in 1847 as a second lieutenant of artillery without having attended the United States Military Academy or a military college. He was promoted to first lieutenant on January 26, 1849. He resigned on May 17, 1861, and moved to his "adopted" state of Virginia to join the

.Boatner, Mark Mayo, III. ''The Civil War Dictionary''. New York: McKay, 1988. . First published New York, McKay, 1959. p. 232

American Civil War

After his resignation from the U.S. Army, Julius A. De Lagnel was appointed a captain of artillery in the Regular Army of the Confederate States. In June 1861, he was assigned as chief of artillery to Brigadier General

Robert S. Garnett Robert Selden Garnett (December 16, 1819 – July 13, 1861) was a career military officer, serving in the United States Army until the American Civil War, when he became a Confederate States Army brigadier general. He was the first general offi ...

, commander of the Army of the Northwest. Garnett had been sent to reorganize the Confederate force in the western counties of Virginia after their rout at the

Battle of Philippi The Battle of Philippi was the final battle in the Wars of the Second Triumvirate between the forces of Mark Antony and Octavian (of the Second Triumvirate) and the leaders of Julius Caesar's assassination, Brutus and Cassius in 42 BC, at P ...

and to hold the area for the Confederacy. De Lagnel defended the crest of Rich Mountain with a force of four companies and one gunSifakis, Stewart. ''Who Was Who in the Civil War.'' New York: Facts On File, 1988. . p. 177 during the

Battle of Rich Mountain The Battle of Rich Mountain took place on July 11, 1861, in Randolph County, Virginia (now West Virginia) as part of the Operations in Western Virginia Campaign during the American Civil War. Background Maj. Gen. George B. McClellan assumed com ...

, July 11, 1861. The main Confederate force did not immediately know that De Lagnel's men were under attack by a superior force commanded by Brigadier General

William S. Rosecrans William Starke Rosecrans (September 6, 1819March 11, 1898) was an American inventor, coal-oil company executive, diplomat, politician, and U.S. Army officer. He gained fame for his role as a Union general during the American Civil War. He was ...

. De Lagnel's force eventually was overwhelmed. After De Lagnel used the sole artillery piece to fight by himself for a period of time, he was wounded and hid in a thicket in an effort to escape from the Union troops. He first escaped from the battlefield to a mountaineer's cabin. After two days of recuperation, he tried to return to Confederate lines disguised as a herder. Union troops detected, identified and captured him near

Laurel Hill, Virginia Laurel Hill is a census-designated place in Fairfax County, Virginia, United States. The population as of the 2010 census was 6,855. Formerly part of the Lorton CDP, it comprises most of what was formerly the Lorton Reformatory grounds, which wer ...

, on July 13, 1861. On December 18, 1861, De Lagnel was exchanged for Union

Brigadier General Brigadier general or Brigade general is a military rank used in many countries. It is the lowest ranking general officer in some countries. The rank is usually above a colonel, and below a major general or divisional general. When appointed ...

James B. Ricketts James Brewerton Ricketts (June 21, 1817 – September 22, 1887) was a career officer in the United States Army, serving as a Union Army general during the Civil War. At First Bull Run, he was wounded and captured, but later exchanged. He fought a ...

. De Lagnel was appointed and confirmed as a Confederate brigadier general to rank from April 12, 1862, but on July 31, 1862, he declined the commission. Historian Stewart Sifakis says the reason for De Lagnel's action is unknown. De Lagnel then served as major of artillery in the 20th Battalion of Virginia Artillery in the

Army of Northern Virginia The Army of Northern Virginia was the primary military force of the Confederate States of America in the Eastern Theater of the American Civil War. It was also the primary command structure of the Department of Northern Virginia. It was most oft ...

, in June and July 1862.Wert, Jeffry D. "De Lagnel, Julius Adolph" in ''Historical Times Illustrated History of the Civil War'', edited by Patricia L. Faust. New York: Harper & Row, 1986. . p. 214 In July 1862, De Lagnel was appointed lieutenant colonel of ordnance. He served as second in command of the Confederate Ordnance Bureau under Brigadier General Josiah Gorgas. He also commanded the

Fayetteville, North Carolina Fayetteville () is a city in and the county seat of Cumberland County, North Carolina, United States. It is best known as the home of Fort Bragg, a major U.S. Army installation northwest of the city. Fayetteville has received the All-America C ...

, arsenal in July 1862 – 1863. In addition to his ordnance duties, De Lagnel also acted as inspector of arsenals. He was paroled at

Greensboro, North Carolina Greensboro (; formerly Greensborough) is a city in and the county seat of Guilford County, North Carolina, United States. It is the third-most populous city in North Carolina after Charlotte and Raleigh, the 69th-most populous city in the Un ...

, May 1, 1865.

Aftermath

After the Civil War, De Lagnel was engaged in Pacific steamship service for many years. He died on June 3, 1912, at

Washington, D.C. ) , image_skyline = , image_caption = Clockwise from top left: the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial on the National Mall, United States Capitol, Logan Circle, Jefferson Memorial, White House, Adams Morgan, ...

Julius Adolph De Lagnel was buried in the cemetery of St. Paul's Episcopal Church,

Alexandria, Virginia Alexandria is an independent city (United States), independent city in the northern region of the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Virginia, United States. It lies on the western bank of the Potomac River approximately south of Downto ...

Notes

References

* Boatner, Mark Mayo, III. ''The Civil War Dictionary''. New York: McKay, 1988. . First published New York, McKay, 1959. * Eicher, John H., and

. ''Civil War High Commands''. Stanford, CA: Stanford University Press, 2001. . * Sifakis, Stewart. ''Who Was Who in the Civil War.'' New York: Facts On File, 1988. . * Warner, Ezra J. ''Generals in Gray: Lives of the Confederate Commanders.'' Baton Rouge: Louisiana State University Press, 1959. . * Wert, Jeffry D. "De Lagnel, Julius Adolph" in ''Historical Times Illustrated History of the Civil War'', edited by Patricia L. Faust. New York: Harper & Row, 1986. . p. 214.

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