Brig. Gen. Junius Daniel

[jkBluesman]

Brig. Gen. Junius Daniel (b. 1828, d. 1864). Nobody could say that Daniel was a poor man fighting a rich man’s war. Born to parents from two influential and wealthy families he grew up in Halifax, North Carolina. Graduating from West Point in 1851 after spending five years instead of the usual four at the United States Military Academy he served in Kentucky and on the Western Frontier before resigning from the army in 1858. Together with his father he started a career as planter in Louisiana. When Pres. Abraham Lincoln called for volunteers to put down the rebellion in April 1861, Daniel travelled to his native state and offered his service to the governor of North Carolina. He led several regiments as colonel in Virginia throughout the rest of 1861 and first half of 1862 without seeing any combat. During the Seven Days he served in Gen. Theophilus Holmes division, seeing first action at Malvern Hill. Promoted to brigadier general on September 1, 1862, he led a brigade on costal defence duty in Virginia and North Carolina until being summoned to the Army of Northern Virginia for the Pennsylvania Campaign in summer of 1863. His inexperienced but well-drilled brigade fought remarkably in the II corps on the First Day of Gettysburg suffering high casualties. The brigade lost more men two days later during futile assaults on Culp's Hill before retreating with the army to Virginia. In May of 1864 Daniel led his men into the Battle of the Wilderness. His brigade turned the tide on the Southern left flank on the battle's first day by a well-timed counterattack for which Daniel was recommended in Gen. Robert E. Lee's Official Report. Daniel's men stood their ground on the second day. A week later at Spotsylvania Court House Daniel fought off several assaults on the first day. On May 12, his men were involved in another counterattack following the Federal breakthrough at the "muleshoe". Although the assault was a success Daniel would never lead another attack. Struck by an enemy bullet in the abdomen he survived only one day. He was buried in Halifax.

Ldr: 5
Tact: 5
Init: 4
Cmd: 3
Cav: 0

Teaches: Disciplined, Sustained Volley

[Gil R.]

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