Julius A. De Lagnel facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Julius Adolphus De Lagnel
Born	(1827-07-24)July 24, 1827 Newark, New Jersey
Died	June 3, 1912(1912-06-03) (aged 84) Washington, D.C.
Buried	Alexandria, Virginia
Allegiance	United States of America  Confederate States of America
Service/branch	United States Army  Confederate States Army
Years of service	1847–1861 (USA) 1861–1865 (CSA)
Rank	First lieutenant, USA Lieutenant colonel, CSA Brigadier general, CSA
Unit	2nd United States Artillery
Commands held	Inspector of Arsenals
Battles/wars	American Civil War Battle of Rich Mountain
Other work	Pacific steamship service.

Julius Adolphus De Lagnel (July 24, 1827 – June 3, 1912) was an important officer during the American Civil War. He served in the United States Army before the war. When the war started, he joined the Confederate States Army. He was even offered the rank of brigadier general, which is a high military rank, but he chose not to accept it.

De Lagnel was second in command of the Confederate Ordnance Bureau. This bureau was in charge of making and supplying weapons and equipment. He also worked as an inspector for military arsenals. After the war, he worked with steamships in the Pacific Ocean.

Early Life and Military Start

Julius Adolphus De Lagnel was born on July 24, 1827. His hometown was Newark, New Jersey.

In 1847, De Lagnel joined the U.S. Army directly. He became a second lieutenant in the artillery. He did not go to a military academy like West Point. On January 26, 1849, he was promoted to first lieutenant.

In May 1861, he left the U.S. Army. He then moved to Virginia, which he considered his home state. There, he joined the Confederate States Army.

Role in the American Civil War

After leaving the U.S. Army, Julius A. De Lagnel became a captain of artillery. This was in the regular army of the Confederate States.

Battle of Rich Mountain

In June 1861, De Lagnel was made chief of artillery. He worked for Brigadier General Robert S. Garnett. Garnett was leading the Army of the Northwest. His job was to reorganize Confederate forces in western Virginia. He also had to hold the area for the Confederacy.

On July 11, 1861, De Lagnel defended Rich Mountain. He had four companies of soldiers and one cannon. They were attacked by a much larger Union force. This force was led by Brigadier General William Rosecrans.

De Lagnel's men were eventually overwhelmed. He even used the single cannon to fight by himself for a while. He was wounded during the battle. To escape, he hid in a thick bush.

Capture and Exchange

After the battle, De Lagnel escaped to a mountaineer's cabin. He rested there for two days. Then, he tried to return to his Confederate lines. He disguised himself as a herder.

However, Union troops found him on July 13, 1861. They identified and captured him near Laurel Hill, Virginia. Later, on December 18, 1861, De Lagnel was exchanged. This meant he was traded for a Union officer, Brigadier General James B. Ricketts.

Declining a General's Rank

De Lagnel was offered a promotion to Confederate brigadier general. This rank was approved on April 12, 1862. However, on July 31, 1862, he turned down the offer. It is not known why he chose not to accept this high rank.

After this, De Lagnel served as a major of artillery. He was part of the 20th Battalion of Virginia Artillery. This unit was in the Army of Northern Virginia in June and July 1862.

Ordnance Duties

In July 1862, De Lagnel became a lieutenant colonel of ordnance. He was second in command of the Confederate Ordnance Bureau. This bureau was led by Brigadier General Josiah Gorgas. It was responsible for all military supplies.

De Lagnel also commanded the Fayetteville, North Carolina arsenal. He worked there from July 1862 to 1863. Besides his ordnance duties, he also inspected other arsenals. He was released from service in Greensboro, North Carolina, on May 1, 1865. This was near the end of the war.

Life After the War

After the Civil War ended, De Lagnel worked for many years. He was involved in Pacific steamship service. This meant he worked with ships that traveled across the Pacific Ocean.

Julius Adolphus De Lagnel passed away on June 3, 1912. He died in Washington, D.C.. He was buried in the cemetery of St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Alexandria, Virginia.