Julius A. De Lagnel
Encyclopedia
Julius A. De Lagnel was a Confederate States Army
officer, who was appointed and confirmed as a brigadier general, during the American Civil War
, but who declined the appointment. He was second in command to Brigadier General Josiah Gorgas in the Confederate Ordnance Bureau and at times was an inspector of arsenals. Before the war, he served in the United States Army
from March 8, 1847 until May 17, 1861. After the war, he was engaged in Pacific steamship service.
.
De Lagnel was commissioned directly into the U.S. Army in 1847 as a second lieutenant of artillery without attending 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 Confederate States Army
.
, commander of the Army of the Northwest, who was sent to reorganize the Confederate force in the western counties of Virginia after their rout at the Battle of Philippi and to hold the area for the Confederacy. De Lagnel defended the crest of Rich Mountain with a force of four companies and one gun during the Battle of Rich Mountain
, July 11, 1861. The main Confederate force did not immediately know that De Lagnel was under attack by a superior force commanded by Brigadier General William S. Rosecrans. De Lagnel's force eventually was overwhelmed. After fighting with the sole artillery piece by himself for a period of time, De Lagnel was wounded and hid in a thicket in an effort to escape. He initially did escape from the battlefield to a mountaineer's cabin and after two days of recuperation, he tried to return to Confederate lines disguised as a herder. He was detected and captured near Laurel Hill, Virginia on July 13, 1861. On December 18, 1861, De Lagnel was exchanged for Union Brigadier General
James B. Ricketts
.
De Lagnel was appointed and confirmed as a brigadier general to rank from April 12, 1862, but on July 31, 1862, he declined the commission. Historian Stewart Sifakis says the reason for this is unknown. De Lagnel then briefly served as major of artillery in the 20th Battalion of Virginia Artillery in the Army of Northern Virginia
, in June and July 1862.
In July 1862, De Lagnel was appointed lieutenant colonel of ordnance and served as second in command of the Confederate Ordnance Bureau under Brigadier General Josiah Gorgas. He also commanded the Fayetteville, North Carolina arsenal, July 1862-1863. In addition to his ordnance duties, De Lagnel also acted as inspector of arsenals. He was paroled at Greensboro, North Carolina, May 1, 1865.
. Julius Adolph De Lagnel was buried in St. Paul's Churchyard
, Alexandria, Virginia
.
Confederate States Army
The Confederate States Army was the army of the Confederate States of America while the Confederacy existed during the American Civil War. On February 8, 1861, delegates from the seven Deep South states which had already declared their secession from the United States of America adopted the...
officer, who was appointed and confirmed as a brigadier general, during the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, but who declined the appointment. He was second in command to Brigadier General Josiah Gorgas in the Confederate Ordnance Bureau and at times was an inspector of arsenals. Before the war, he served in the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
from March 8, 1847 until May 17, 1861. After the war, he was engaged in Pacific steamship service.
Early life
Julius Adolph De Lagnel was born on July 24, 1827 in Newark, New JerseyNewark, New Jersey
Newark is the largest city in the American state of New Jersey, and the seat of Essex County. As of the 2010 United States Census, Newark had a population of 277,140, maintaining its status as the largest municipality in New Jersey. It is the 68th largest city in the U.S...
.
De Lagnel was commissioned directly into the U.S. Army in 1847 as a second lieutenant of artillery without attending 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 Confederate States Army
Confederate States Army
The Confederate States Army was the army of the Confederate States of America while the Confederacy existed during the American Civil War. On February 8, 1861, delegates from the seven Deep South states which had already declared their secession from the United States of America adopted the...
.
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. GarnettRobert S. Garnett
Robert Selden Garnett 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 officer killed in the Civil War.-Early life and career:Garnett was born at the family plantation...
, commander of the Army of the Northwest, who was sent to reorganize the Confederate force in the western counties of Virginia after their rout at the Battle of Philippi and to hold the area for the Confederacy. De Lagnel defended the crest of Rich Mountain with a force of four companies and one gun during the Battle of Rich Mountain
Battle of Rich Mountain
The Battle of Rich Mountain took place on July 11, 1861, in Randolph County, Virginia as part of the Operations in Western Virginia Campaign during the American Civil War.-Background:...
, July 11, 1861. The main Confederate force did not immediately know that De Lagnel was under attack by a superior force commanded by Brigadier General William S. Rosecrans. De Lagnel's force eventually was overwhelmed. After fighting with the sole artillery piece by himself for a period of time, De Lagnel was wounded and hid in a thicket in an effort to escape. He initially did escape from the battlefield to a mountaineer's cabin and after two days of recuperation, he tried to return to Confederate lines disguised as a herder. He was detected and captured near Laurel Hill, Virginia on July 13, 1861. On December 18, 1861, De Lagnel was exchanged for Union Brigadier General
Brigadier general (United States)
A brigadier general in the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, is a one-star general officer, with the pay grade of O-7. Brigadier general ranks above a colonel and below major general. Brigadier general is equivalent to the rank of rear admiral in the other uniformed...
James B. Ricketts
James B. Ricketts
James Brewerton Ricketts was a career officer in the United States Army, serving as a Union Army general in the Eastern Theater during the American Civil War.-Early life and career:...
.
De Lagnel was appointed and confirmed as a brigadier general to rank from April 12, 1862, but on July 31, 1862, he declined the commission. Historian Stewart Sifakis says the reason for this is unknown. De Lagnel then briefly served as major of artillery in the 20th Battalion of Virginia Artillery in the Army of Northern Virginia
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, as well as the primary command structure of the Department of Northern Virginia. It was most often arrayed against the Union Army of the Potomac...
, in June and July 1862.
In July 1862, De Lagnel was appointed lieutenant colonel of ordnance and served as second in command of the Confederate Ordnance Bureau under Brigadier General Josiah Gorgas. He also commanded the Fayetteville, North Carolina arsenal, July 1862-1863. In addition to his ordnance duties, De Lagnel also acted as inspector of arsenals. He was paroled at Greensboro, North Carolina, May 1, 1865.
Aftermath
After the Civil War, De Lagnel was engaged in the Pacific steamship service for many years. He died on June 3, 1912 at Washington, D.C.Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
. Julius Adolph De Lagnel was buried in St. Paul's Churchyard
St. Paul's Episcopal Church (Alexandria, Virginia)
St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, in the Old Town area of Alexandria, Virginia, is a historic Episcopal church in the Anglican Communion. The church sanctuary, consecrated in 1818, was designed by Benjamin Latrobe, the second architect of the United States Capitol...
, Alexandria, Virginia
Alexandria, Virginia
Alexandria is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia. As of 2009, the city had a total population of 139,966. Located along the Western bank of the Potomac River, Alexandria is approximately six miles south of downtown Washington, D.C.Like the rest of northern Virginia, as well as...
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