Junius Daniel



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



Back to North Carolina Veterans of the Civil War

Back to NC in the Civil War Home Page

© 2005-2011  Diane Siniard