James Jay Archer (1817 - 1864)

Born 19 Dec 1817 in Stafford, Maryland, United States

Ancestors

Died 24 Oct 1864 at age 46 in Richmond, Virginia, United States

Biography

James Archer served with the United States Army during the Mexican-American War
Service Started: mmm dd, yyyy
Unit(s): Regiment of Voltigeurs and Foot Riflemen
Service Ended: mmm dd, yyyy

BGen James Archer served in the United States Civil War.
Enlisted: 1861
Mustered out: Oct 24, 1864 (DMS)
Side: CSA
Regiment(s): 5th Texas Infantry

James Jay Archer was born on December 19, 1817. He was the son of John Archer and Ann Stump. James graduated from Princeton University in 1835 and attended law school at the University of Maryland. He passed the bar exam and established a law practice.^[1]

James served during the Mexican-American War in the Regiment of Voltigeurs. After the war, he moved to Texas, and was wounded in a duel with Andrew Porter (who was later a Brigadier General for the Union Army). He later returned to Maryland and resumed practicing as a lawyer. However, in 1855, he joined the Regular Army and was a captain in the 9th Infantry Regiment, and was stationed in the Washington Territory. ^[1]

At the start of the Civil War, James resigned his commission in the 9th Infantry Regiment and joined the Confederate Army. He was soon named the colonel of the 5th Texas Infantry. He was promoted to Brigadier General on June 3, 1862. James was in ill health beginning in September of 1862, but continued to serve in the Civil War. He was captured at the Battle of Gettysburg and was sent to Johnson's Island Prisoner of War Camp. After about a year, he was sent to Fort Delaware, and was exchanged in the summer of 1864. He rejoined the army and traveled to Petersburg, Virginia. He served in the Siege of Petersburg. He died during military service on October 24, 1864 in Richmond, Virginia.^[1]

James was buried in the Hollywood Cemetery, Richmond, Virginia.^[2]

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2} Wikipedia:James_J._Archer
2. ↑ Find A Grave: Memorial #9854

• United States Census, 1850," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MD4N-Y36 : 9 November 2014), James F Archer, Harford county, part of, Harford, Maryland, United States; citing family 929, NARA microfilm publication M432 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).

• http://www.civilwar.org/education/history/biographies/james-jay-archer.html