James Dearing
Encyclopedia
James Dearing was a Confederate States Army
officer during the American Civil War
. He was mortally wounded at the Battle of High Bridge
during the Appomattox Campaign
, making him one of the last officers to die in the war; there are claims that he was the last general officer to die in the war.
. He attended Hanover Academy, but received an appointment to the United States Military Academy
in 1858. He was first in his class and nearing the completion of his West Point education when his home state seceded. He resigned on April 22, 1861, and was commissioned a lieutenant of artillery in the Virginia Militia
.
in the Washington Artillery out of New Orleans. He and his guns served with George E. Pickett's Brigade at Yorktown
, Williamsburg
, Seven Pines
, and with Pickett's Division at Fredericksburg
. He was promoted to captain
during this time.
At the Battle of Gettysburg
Dearing commanded a battalion of artillery in Lt. Gen.
James Longstreet
's First Corps, Army of Northern Virginia
, as a major
. He actively participated in the second and third days of battle including the massive artillery bombardment prior to Pickett's Charge
. He was promoted to lieutenant colonel
on February 27, 1864. He took command of the horse artillery
for Robert E. Lee
's army and then commanded various cavalry brigades through the end of the war.
Dearing was appointed a brigadier general of "volunteer troops" on April 29, 1864, but this appointment was never confirmed by the Confederate Congress. He served through the Siege of Petersburg
with Lee's cavalry, under Maj. Gen. W.H.F. "Rooney" Lee
. During the retreat to Appomattox
, Dearing fought a close range pistol duel with Union Col. Theodore Read at the Battle of High Bridge
on April 6, 1865. Read was killed and Dearing mortally wounded.
Dearing died in Lynchburg, Virginia
, and is buried there in Spring Hill Cemetery. Just prior to his death at the Ladies' Aid Hospital, he was visited and paroled by his old West Point classmate, Brig. Gen. Ranald S. Mackenzie
, then commanding in Lynchburg. There are claims that he was the last general to die in the Civil War, although his lack of congressional approval for that rank means that he formally was serving in his previous rank of lieutenant colonel at the time of his death.
Confederate States Army
The Confederate States Army was the army of the Confederate States of America while the Confederacy existed during the American Civil War. On February 8, 1861, delegates from the seven Deep South states which had already declared their secession from the United States of America adopted the...
officer during the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
. He was mortally wounded at the Battle of High Bridge
Battle of High Bridge
The Battle of High Bridge was fought on April 6–7, 1865, near the end of the Appomattox Campaign of the American Civil War. On April 6, the Confederate cavalry fought stubbornly to secure the Appomattox River bridges. On April 7, elements of the Union II Corps came up against Lt. Gen. James...
during the Appomattox Campaign
Appomattox Campaign
The Appomattox Campaign was a series of battles fought March 29 – April 9, 1865, in Virginia that culminated in the surrender of Confederate General Robert E...
, making him one of the last officers to die in the war; there are claims that he was the last general officer to die in the war.
Early life
Dearing was born in Campbell County, VirginiaCampbell County, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 51,078 people, 20,639 households, and 14,694 families residing in the county. The population density was 101 people per square mile . There were 22,088 housing units at an average density of 44 per square mile...
. He attended Hanover Academy, but received an appointment to the United States Military Academy
United States Military Academy
The United States Military Academy at West Point is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located at West Point, New York. The academy sits on scenic high ground overlooking the Hudson River, north of New York City...
in 1858. He was first in his class and nearing the completion of his West Point education when his home state seceded. He resigned on April 22, 1861, and was commissioned a lieutenant of artillery in the Virginia Militia
Virginia Militia
The Virginia militia is an armed force composed of all citizens of the Commonwealth of Virginia capable of bearing arms. The Virginia militia was established in 1607 as part of the British militia system. Militia service in Virginia was compulsory for all free males...
.
Civil War
Dearing fought in at the First Battle of Bull RunFirst Battle of Bull Run
First Battle of Bull Run, also known as First Manassas , was fought on July 21, 1861, in Prince William County, Virginia, near the City of Manassas...
in the Washington Artillery out of New Orleans. He and his guns served with George E. Pickett's Brigade at Yorktown
Battle of Yorktown (1862)
The Battle of Yorktown or Siege of Yorktown was fought from April 5 to May 4, 1862, as part of the Peninsula Campaign of the American Civil War. Marching from Fort Monroe, Union Maj. Gen. George B. McClellan's Army of the Potomac encountered Maj. Gen. John B. Magruder's small Confederate force...
, Williamsburg
Battle of Williamsburg
The Battle of Williamsburg, also known as the Battle of Fort Magruder, took place on May 5, 1862, in York County, James City County, and Williamsburg, Virginia, as part of the Peninsula Campaign of the American Civil War...
, Seven Pines
Battle of Seven Pines
The Battle of Seven Pines, also known as the Battle of Fair Oaks or Fair Oaks Station, took place on May 31 and June 1, 1862, in Henrico County, Virginia, as part of the Peninsula Campaign of the American Civil War. It was the culmination of an offensive up the Virginia Peninsula by Union Maj. Gen....
, and with Pickett's Division at Fredericksburg
Battle of Fredericksburg
The Battle of Fredericksburg was fought December 11–15, 1862, in and around Fredericksburg, Virginia, between General Robert E. Lee's Confederate Army of Northern Virginia and the Union Army of the Potomac, commanded by Maj. Gen. Ambrose E. Burnside...
. He was promoted to captain
Captain (OF-2)
The army rank of captain is a commissioned officer rank historically corresponding to command of a company of soldiers. The rank is also used by some air forces and marine forces. Today a captain is typically either the commander or second-in-command of a company or artillery battery...
during this time.
At the Battle of Gettysburg
Battle of Gettysburg
The Battle of Gettysburg , was fought July 1–3, 1863, in and around the town of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. The battle with the largest number of casualties in the American Civil War, it is often described as the war's turning point. Union Maj. Gen. George Gordon Meade's Army of the Potomac...
Dearing commanded a battalion of artillery in Lt. Gen.
Lieutenant General (United States)
In the United States Army, the United States Air Force and the United States Marine Corps, lieutenant general is a three-star general officer rank, with the pay grade of O-9. Lieutenant general ranks above major general and below general...
James Longstreet
James Longstreet
James Longstreet was one of the foremost Confederate generals of the American Civil War and the principal subordinate to General Robert E. Lee, who called him his "Old War Horse." He served under Lee as a corps commander for many of the famous battles fought by the Army of Northern Virginia in the...
's First Corps, Army of Northern Virginia
Army of Northern Virginia
The Army of Northern Virginia was the primary military force of the Confederate States of America in the Eastern Theater of the American Civil War, as well as the primary command structure of the Department of Northern Virginia. It was most often arrayed against the Union Army of the Potomac...
, as a major
Major
Major is a rank of commissioned officer, with corresponding ranks existing in almost every military in the world.When used unhyphenated, in conjunction with no other indicator of rank, the term refers to the rank just senior to that of an Army captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel. ...
. He actively participated in the second and third days of battle including the massive artillery bombardment prior to Pickett's Charge
Pickett's Charge
Pickett's Charge was an infantry assault ordered by Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee against Maj. Gen. George G. Meade's Union positions on Cemetery Ridge on July 3, 1863, the last day of the Battle of Gettysburg during the American Civil War. Its futility was predicted by the charge's commander,...
. He was promoted to lieutenant colonel
Lieutenant colonel
Lieutenant colonel is a rank of commissioned officer in the armies and most marine forces and some air forces of the world, typically ranking above a major and below a colonel. The rank of lieutenant colonel is often shortened to simply "colonel" in conversation and in unofficial correspondence...
on February 27, 1864. He took command of the horse artillery
Horse artillery
Horse artillery was a type of light, fast-moving and fast-firing artillery which provided highly mobile fire support to European and American armies from the 17th to the early 20th century...
for Robert E. Lee
Robert E. Lee
Robert Edward Lee was a career military officer who is best known for having commanded the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia in the American Civil War....
's army and then commanded various cavalry brigades through the end of the war.
Dearing was appointed a brigadier general of "volunteer troops" on April 29, 1864, but this appointment was never confirmed by the Confederate Congress. He served through the Siege of Petersburg
Siege of Petersburg
The Richmond–Petersburg Campaign was a series of battles around Petersburg, Virginia, fought from June 9, 1864, to March 25, 1865, during the American Civil War...
with Lee's cavalry, under Maj. Gen. W.H.F. "Rooney" Lee
William Henry Fitzhugh Lee
William Henry Fitzhugh Lee , known as Rooney Lee or W.H.F. Lee, was the second son of Robert E. Lee and Mary Anna Randolph Custis. He was a planter, a Confederate cavalry General in the American Civil War, and later a member of the U.S. Congress.-Early life:Lee was born at Arlington House in...
. During the retreat to Appomattox
Appomattox Campaign
The Appomattox Campaign was a series of battles fought March 29 – April 9, 1865, in Virginia that culminated in the surrender of Confederate General Robert E...
, Dearing fought a close range pistol duel with Union Col. Theodore Read at the Battle of High Bridge
Battle of High Bridge
The Battle of High Bridge was fought on April 6–7, 1865, near the end of the Appomattox Campaign of the American Civil War. On April 6, the Confederate cavalry fought stubbornly to secure the Appomattox River bridges. On April 7, elements of the Union II Corps came up against Lt. Gen. James...
on April 6, 1865. Read was killed and Dearing mortally wounded.
Dearing died in Lynchburg, Virginia
Lynchburg, Virginia
Lynchburg is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The population was 75,568 as of 2010. Located in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains along the banks of the James River, Lynchburg is known as the "City of Seven Hills" or "The Hill City." Lynchburg was the only major city in...
, and is buried there in Spring Hill Cemetery. Just prior to his death at the Ladies' Aid Hospital, he was visited and paroled by his old West Point classmate, Brig. Gen. Ranald S. Mackenzie
Ranald S. Mackenzie
Ranald Slidell Mackenzie was a career United States Army officer and general in the Union Army during the American Civil War, described by General Ulysses S. Grant as its most promising young officer...
, then commanding in Lynchburg. There are claims that he was the last general to die in the Civil War, although his lack of congressional approval for that rank means that he formally was serving in his previous rank of lieutenant colonel at the time of his death.