CSA Bios: WP Lane, JH Lane, Kirkland

[Battleline]

Brig. Gen. Walter P. Lane (b. 1817, d. 1892) Walter Paye Lane nearly didn’t achieve the general’s rank during the Civil War. He was promoted to brigadier general March 17, 1865, and confirmed by the Confederate Senate on the last day it met. A Texan who fought in the Battle of San Jacinto during the Texas War for Independence, Lane spent his career in the western theaters. Born in County Cork, Ireland, Feb. 18, 1817, Lane emigrated with his parents to the United States in 1821, first settling in Guernsey County, Ohio. At the age of 18, Lane moved to Louisville and then to Texas. As a young man, he fought against the Mexican Army and was part of the victory at San Jacinto. Following that, he lived a fascinating life that included stints as a crew member aboard a Texas privateer, fighting Indians and teaching school. During the Mexican War, he was captain of a company of rangers. From 1849 until 1858, Lane mined in California, Nevada, Arizona and Peru, making and losing small fortunes. At the start of the Civil War, Lane was elected lieutenant colonel of the Third Texas Cavalry and later colonel of the First Texas Partisan Rangers. He fought at Wilson’s Creek and had a horse shot out from under him. He led five companies of Texans on a successful raid of Chustenahlah, Indian Territory. At Elkhorn Tavern, he commanded a brigade in McIntosh’s Division. In May of 1862, he earned praise from Gen. Beauregard for a charge during the Battle of Corinth. His troops were in Louisiana in 1863 and fought in the Red River Campaign. He was severely wounded at the Battle of Mansfield, but returned three months later under Gen. Edmund Kirby Smith, who considered Lane one of the three best brigade commanders in the Trans-Mississippi Department and one of the finest cavalry officers. Following the war, Lane returned to Marshall, Texas, becoming a merchant. He wrote his memoirs, “The Adventures and Recollections of Walter P. Lane” which was published in 1887. Lane became a symbol of Texas history, a local celebrity and an idol of the Daughters of the Republic of Texas and United Daughters of the Confederacy. Lane died Jan. 28, 1892, in Marshall, Texas.

Brig. Gen. James H. Lane (b. 1833, d. 1907) As a brigadier general in the Army of Northern Virginia, it was James Henry Lane’s misfortune to have to lead his men through Pickett’s Charge as part of Trimble’s Division, where it suffered nearly 50 percent in casualties. Somehow, Lane survived the carnage to command through the rest of the war. Lane was born at Mathews Court House, Virginia, July 28, 1833. A member of the Virginia Military Institute Class of 1854, Lane then attended the University of Virginia and graduated from there in 1857. He returned to VMI as an assistant professor of mathematics and tactics. At the start of the Civil War, he was teaching military tactics at North Carolina Military Institute. Joining the First North Carolina Volunteers, the celebrated “Bethel Regiment,” Lane was a major and in charge of a scouting party when the unit fought at Big Bethel June 10, 1861. When the First North Carolina Volunteers were reorganized into regiments, Lane became the colonel of the 28th North Carolina, part of Gen. Lawrence O. Branch’s brigade. That unit was sent to Virginia and fought with the Army of Northern Virginia throughout the entire war. Lane was wounded three times, White Oak Swamp, Malvern Hill and Cold Harbor, in the conflict. After the Battle of Sharpsburg, the 28th North Carolina was the army’s rearguard on the retreat out of Maryland. He was promoted to brigadier general, to replace the deceased Branch, to date from Nov. 1, 1862. Despite the fact he was a Virginia native, Lane’s men petitioned for the promotion. At Gettysburg, the brigade (consisting of the 7th, 18th, 28th, 33rd and 37th North Carolina Regiments) was part of A.P. Hill’s Third Corps and fought in the opening action, driving the Federals from Seminary Ridge to Cemetery Hill. When Gen. Pender was wounded, Lane briefly commanded the division before Trimble was assigned that duty. During Pickett’s Charge, Lane’s men charged on the left flank on Cemetery Ridge. Lane’s horse was shot out under him, but he was not hurt. Lane continued to encourage his troops. Trimble confirmed Lane’s men were the last to leave the field. After his final wound at Cold Harbor, he rejoined his men in the Petersburg trenches and stayed with his command all the way to Appomattox. After the war, Lane returned home to find his parents in need and the family plantation in disrepair. He went back into teaching, first with private schools in Virginia and North Carolina. He then taught at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and the Missouri School of Mines. For the last 26 years of his life, he taught at Alabama Polytechnic Institute as a professor of civil engineering. He died in Auburn, Alabama, Sept. 21, 1907.

Brig. Gen. William W. Kirkland (b. 1833, d. 1915) Promoted to general in the aftermath of Gettysburg, William Whedbee Kirkland was three times wounded while commanding troops during the Civil War. Kirkland was born at “Ayrmont” in Hillsboro, North Carolina, Feb. 13, 1833. He received an appointment to the U.S. Military Academy in 1852, but did not graduate. Instead, he was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Marine Corps in 1855. He resigned from that branch in August of 1860. He was appointed as a captain in the Regular Confederate Army March 16, 1861, and elected colonel of the 21st North Carolina. He led the regiment into battle at First Manassas and took part in Stonewall Jackson’s Valley Campaign of 1862. Kirkland was wounded at the First Battle of Winchester and incapacitated for several months. While still recovering, he did serve as chief of staff for Gen. Cleburne at the Battle of Murfreesboro. He rejoined his regiment in time for the Pennsylvania Campaign and led his men at Gettysburg. Promoted to brigadier general in Heth’s Division to rank from Aug. 29, 1863, Kirkland was wounded again at the Battle of Bristoe Station in October 1863. He returned to duty, but was wounded again near Gaines’ Mill June 2, 1864, during the Overland Campaign. When he returned from this wound, he was assigned to command the brigade formerly of James G. Martin in Hoke’s Division, serving under Gen. Longstreet north of the James River. He was ordered to North Carolina in December of 1865 and was present during fighting at Fort Fisher. He commanded men at the Battle of Bentonville and was at the surrender of Gen. Joseph Johnston. After the war, he settled in Savannah and worked in the commission business. His daughter, Bess, became a Broadway star under the name “Odette Tyler.” He moved to New York and held a position in the post office. Near the turn of the century, Kirkland became an invalid and spent his remaining days at a soldier’s home in Washington, D.C. He died May 12, 1915, and was buried in Shepherdstown, West Virginia.

[Gil R.]

Finally copied, thanks.