Brig. Gen. James J. Archer

[jkBluesman]

Brig. Gen. James Jay Archer (b. 1817, d. 1864). A solid officer Archer is mostly remembered as the first general officer of the Army of Northern Virginia (under Gen. Robert E. Lee) to be taken prisoner. Born in Bel-Air, Maryland, he attended Princeton, Bacon College in Kentucky and the University of Maryland in Baltimore before passing the bar exam and working as a lawyer. At the beginning of the Mexican-American War in 1846, Archer volunteered and was commissioned a captain (probably due to his family’s influence). His service was remarkable, especially at Chapultepec where his performance won him a brevet. After the war, he resumed his law practise before joining the army in 1855 serving in the Pacific Northwest. In the secession crisis of 1860/1861 he was stationed in Washington Territory. He sided with the South and resigned his commission in March (other sources say May) of 1861. In the Confederate army he was given the 5th Texas Infantry and served under Gen John B. Hood in the early stages of the Peninsula Campaign in spring of 1862. Promoted to brigadier general on June 3 after good service at Seven Pines, he was given a brigade in Gen. A.P. Hill’s “Light Division” in which he fought during the Seven Days. Dubbed “The Little Gamecock” by his men, he led them at Cedar Mountain and Second Manassas in August. During the ensuing Maryland Campaign he had to direct his troops from an ambulance as he suffered from an unknown illness. He led the remaining men of his “Tennessee Brigade” at Antietam, where they were part of A.P. Hill’s counterattack that drove back the Federals on the afternoon of September 17, thus saving the army. During the Confederate retreat, Archer commanded part of the rear-guard that broke off the Union pursuit at Shepherdstown on September 20. His following service included the Battle of Fredericksburg in December and Chancellorsville in May 1863, where he participated in Gen. Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson’s successful flanking march. During the invasion of Pennsylvania starting in June, Archer’s brigade was part of Gen. Henry Heth’s division. On July 1, the whole division started on a reconnaissance mission towards the town of Gettysburg. Archer’s brigade pushed towards Seminary Ridge where they encountered – instead of the anticipated cavalry – the famous “Iron Brigade” and were repulsed. Falling back, the exhausted Archer and part of his command were captured in the engagement. While his brigade would take part in Pickett’s Charge two days later and loose more men, Archer was brought to Johnston’s Island in Ohio. In June 1864 he was transferred to Fort Delaware before being exchanged two months later. Although his health was failing, Archer resumed command of his former brigade and led it in the Petersburg trenches. At the end of September it was attacked at Peebles’ Farm, an inconclusive engagement which allowed the Federals to extend the lines on their left flank. Archer had to resign on health reasons after the battle and went to Richmond. He died there three weeks later and was buried in Hollywood Cemetery.

Ldr: 4
Tact: 3
Init: 2
Cmd: 3
Cav: 0

Teaches: Blasted (his brigade captured several guns in the Maryland campaign), Shooters

[Gil R.]

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