Contributed by: Diane Siniard Name: Junius Daniel State Served: North Carolina Highest Rank: Brig-Gen Birth Date: 1828 Death Date: 1864 Birth Place: Halifax, North Carolina Army: Confederacy Promotions: Promoted to Full Colonel (14th NC Inf) Promoted to Full Brig-Gen Biography: Brigadier-General Junius Daniel was born at Halifax, N. C., June 27, 1828. He was the youngest son of J. R. J. Daniel, attorney-general of North Carolina and representative in Congress, and a cousin of Judge Daniel of the Superior and Supreme courts of the State. He was appointed to the United States military academy by President Polk as a cadet-at-large, and was graduated in 1851 and promoted to second lieutenant in the fall of that year. After a year or two of service at Newport barracks, Kentucky, he was ordered to New Mexico, where he served in garrison at Forts Filmore, Albuquerque and Stanton, and in skirmishes with the Indians until 1857, when he was promoted first lieutenant, Third infantry. In 1858 he resigned to take charge of his father's plantation in Louisiana. In October, 1860, he married Ellen, daughter of John J. Long, of Northampton county, N. C. When his State had decided to enter the Confederacy, Lieutenant Daniel offered his experience and soldierly ability, and upon the organization of the Fourteenth infantry regiment at Garysburg was elected colonel, and commissioned June 3, 1861. His regiment was an ideal one in its composition, representing the best families of the State, and he gave it a splendid training for the stern warfare which was to follow. He was also elected colonel of the Forty-third regiment, but declined, and was tendered the colonelship of the Second cavalry, which he refused in favor of Col. Sol Williams. After rendering valuable service in the organization of North Carolina troops, he went into the Seven Days' campaign before Richmond in command as senior colonel of a brigade composed of the Forty-third, Fiftieth and Forty-fifth infantry, and Burroughs' battalion of cavalry. He behaved gallantly under fire at Malvern Hill and narrowly escaped injury, his horse being killed under him. Early in September he was commissioned brigadier-general, and the Thirty-second, Forty-third, Forty-fifth, Fifty-third regiments and Second battalion were put under his command. With this brigade he remained near Drewry's bluff until December, 1862, when he was ordered to North Carolina to meet the Federal invasion. Just before the Pennsylvania campaign he and his men were transferred to Rodes' division, Ewell's corps, army of Northern Virginia, with which they took part in the battle of Gettysburg. He was distinguished for coolness and intrepid conduct during the fierce fighting of the first day of that historic struggle, in which his brigade suffered the severest loss of any in the corps, but displayed wonderful discipline and drove the enemy before them. They were again in hard fighting on the second day, and lay under fire during the third. His last battle was at the "bloody angle" on the Spottsylvania lines, May 12, 1864, when, cheering his men forward to drive Hancock from the position the Federals had gained, he fell mortally wounded. On the next day he died, after sending a loving message to his wife. He was a thorough soldier, calm, resolute and unpretending. Before his untimely death he had been recommended by General Lee for promotion to major-general. Source: Confederate Military History, vol. V, p306 |