Joseph White
Latimer was born August 27th 1843 in Oak Ridge, Prince William,
Virginia. He was attending the Virginia
Military Institute and was in his second year at the school when the Civil War
started. While at VMI Latimer was taught
artillery tactics by Thomas Jonathan Jackson.
When the war
started Latimer left the school to join the Confederacy where he started in
1861 with the Richard Hampden Artillery.
He saw his first action in 1862 in the Shenandoah Valley Campaign as
part of Confederate Major General Richard S Ewell’s division and was
commissioned First Lieutenant. Latimer
distinguished himself and was given command of a battalion. He was commanding at the Battle of
Fredericksburg in December 1862. In
March 1863 he received a promotion to Major, with Ewell referring to him as
“Young Napoleon”, however for most the nick name became “The Boy Major”. His promotion placed him in Confederate Major
Richard Snowden Andrew’s Battalion a part of Confederate Major General Edward
“Allegheny” Johnson’s Division. Andrew
was wounded at the Battle of Stephenson’s Depot and this placed Latimer in
command at the Battle of Gettysburg.
On the
afternoon of July 2nd 1863 Latimer’s command was located on Benner’s
Hill and was heavily engaged with Union artillery on Steven’s Knoll and East
Cemetery Hill. Latimer’s position on
Benner’s Hill was exposed and while moving his guns off, he was wounded in the
arm, the shot killing his horse which pinned him underneath. Latimer was taken to the Daniel Lady Farm
where his right arm was amputated. When
the Confederates retreated from Gettysburg he was moved to Winchester, and then
again as the Union troops perused to Harrisonburg, Virginia. While at the home of ETH Warren Latimer
developed gangrene, he died August 1st 1863. He is buried in Woodbine Cemetery in
Harrisonburg.
1 comment:
I have the digital copy of a photograph of Joseph White Latimer. He's in my family history. Would you like to see this photo?
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