Joseph W. Latimer
| Joseph White Latimer | |
|---|---|
Joseph White Latimer
|
|
| Born |
August 27, 1843 Oak Ridge, Prince William County, Virginia |
| Died | August 1, 1863 (aged 19) Harrisonburg, Rockingham County, Virginia |
| Buried at | Woodbine Cemetery, Harrisonburg, Rockingham County, Virginia |
| Allegiance |
 Confederate States of America
|
| Service/branch |
 Confederate States Army
|
| Years of service | 1861–63 |
| Rank |
 Major
|
| Battles/wars | American Civil War |
Joseph White Latimer (August 27, 1843 – August 1, 1863), "The Boy Major," was a promising young officer in the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia's artillery branch during the American Civil War. He was mortally wounded at the Battle of Gettysburg.
Latimer was born in Oak Ridge, Prince William County, Virginia. He was educated at the Virginia Military Institute (VMI) and studied artillery tactics under Stonewall Jackson.
During Latimer's second year of studies, the Civil War broke out and Latimer left VMI to serve the Southern Confederacy. He first served as cadet drillmaster for the Richmond Hampden Artillery during the spring and summer of 1861. In the fall, he was commissioned as a first lieutenant and saw action with Maj. Gen. Richard S. Ewell's division in the Shenandoah Valley Campaign of 1862. After distinguishing himself with his battery at such battles as First Winchester and Cedar Mountain, Latimer was promoted to command of the battalion that had previously belonged to A. R. Courtney. After commanding the battalion at Fredericksburg in December 1862, Latimer was promoted to major in March 1863. Ewell referred to him as the "Young Napoleon", but his contemporaries noted his youth and small, slight stature by calling the "Boy Major." He became an officer in Maj. Richard Snowden Andrews's Battalion of Maj. Gen. Edward "Allegheny" Johnson's Division.
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Wikipedia