James H. Lane (general)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
James Henry Lane (July 28, 1833 – September 21, 1907) was a university professor and Confederate general in the American Civil War. He is considered to be the father of Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University and is the namestake of the University's oldest building, Lane Hall, and Lane Stadium.
Another man with the identical name, James Henry Lane, was also prominent in the Civil War era, but on the opposite side: an anti-slavery advocate, U.S. Army General, and senator from Kansas.
Contents |
[edit] Early life
Lane was born in Mathews Court House, Virginia. He graduated from Virginia Military Institute (VMI) in 1854 and the University of Virginia in 1857. He was a professor of mathematics at VMI and then of natural philosophy at the North Carolina Military Institute until the start of the War.
[edit] Civil War
Lane was commissioned as a major in the Confederate States Army and assigned to the 1st North Carolina Infantry regiment on May 11, 1861. Promotions came quickly and he was a colonel and commander of the 28th North Carolina by September 15. In the Seven Days Battles of 1862 he was twice wounded leading his regiment. He served in Maj. Gen. A.P. Hill's division of Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson's Corps for Second Bull Run and received his own brigade for the Battle of Antietam. He was promoted to brigadier general in November 1862, and assumed command of the 2nd Brigade in William Dorsey Pender's Division of Hill's Third Corps of the Army of Northern Virginia the following May, during the beginning of the Gettysburg Campaign.
At the Battle of Gettysburg, Lane's brigade fought on the first day (July 1, 1863) and Lane briefly assumed command of Pender's division following that officer's mortal wounding on the second day. He was replaced in division command by Maj. Gen. Isaac R. Trimble and returned to lead his brigade during Pickett's Charge. Over the three-day battle, his brigade suffered almost 50% casualties.[1]
In 1864, Lane continued in brigade command, through the Overland Campaign and Siege of Petersburg. At the Battle of Cold Harbor, he was wounded in the groin. In February and March 1865, he commanded Cadmus M. Wilcox's division. He continued to serve in the Appomattox Campaign, where he was paroled at Appomattox Court House.[2]
[edit] Postbellum
Lane returned to academic life, as professor of civil engineering and commerce at Virginia Agricultural and Mechanical College (VAMC)—founded in 1872, name changed to Virginia Polytechnic Institute (VPI) in 1896—and from 1881 until his death, professor of civil engineering at Alabama Polytechnic Institute (Auburn University).
General Lane served as the first Commandant of the Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets at VAMC. Before resigning, he had an argument with President Charles Minor, who wanted the college to eliminate strict military restrictions.
[edit] References
- Eicher, John H., and Eicher, David J., Civil War High Commands, Stanford University Press, 2001, ISBN 0-8047-3641-3.
- Warner, Ezra J., Generals in Gray: Lives of the Confederate Commanders, Louisiana State University Press, 1959, ISBN 0-8071-0823-5.
- Web biography
