James Fleming Fagan (March 1, 1828September 1, 1893) was an American farmer, politician, and senior

officer An officer is a person who has a position of authority in a hierarchical organization. The term derives from Old French ''oficier'' "officer, official" (early 14c., Modern French ''officier''), from Medieval Latin ''officiarius'' "an officer," fro ...

of the

Confederate States Army The Confederate States Army (CSA), also called the Confederate army or the Southern army, was the Military forces of the Confederate States, military land force of the Confederate States of America (commonly referred to as the Confederacy) duri ...

during the

American Civil War The American Civil War (April 12, 1861May 26, 1865; also known by Names of the American Civil War, other names) was a civil war in the United States between the Union (American Civil War), Union ("the North") and the Confederate States of A ...

. His brigade distinguished itself in the Camden Expedition of 1864, helping to drive the

U.S. Army The United States Army (USA) is the primary land service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is designated as the Army of the United States in the United States Constitution.Article II, section 2, clause 1 of the United Stat ...

's Seventh Corps from southwest

Arkansas Arkansas ( ) is a landlocked state in the West South Central region of the Southern United States. It borders Missouri to the north, Tennessee and Mississippi to the east, Louisiana to the south, Texas to the southwest, and Oklahoma ...

Early life

James Fleming Fagan was born in

Clark County, Kentucky Clark County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. As of the 2020 census, the population was 36,972. Its county seat is Winchester. The county was created in 1792 from Bourbon and Fayette counties and is named for Revolutionary Wa ...

. When he was ten years old, his family moved to

Little Rock Little Rock is the List of capitals in the United States, capital and List of municipalities in Arkansas, most populous city of the U.S. state of Arkansas. The city's population was 202,591 as of the 2020 census. The six-county Central Arkan ...

. His father had been hired to work on the Arkansas State House. His father died during his youth and his mother, Catherine A. Fagan, in 1842 married

Samuel Adams Samuel Adams (, 1722 – October 2, 1803) was an American statesman, Political philosophy, political philosopher, and a Founding Father of the United States. He was a politician in Province of Massachusetts Bay, colonial Massachusetts, a le ...

, who became acting

governor of Arkansas The governor of Arkansas is the head of government of the U.S. state of Arkansas. The Governor (United States), governor is the head of the Executive (government), executive branch of the Politics and government of Arkansas, Arkansas government a ...

two years later. After his stepfather's death, Fagan took control of the family farm along the Saline River in southern Arkansas. Though he was a member of the Whig Party, he represented the heavily Democratic Saline County for two terms in the

General Assembly A general assembly or general meeting is a meeting of all the members of an organization or shareholders of a company. Specific examples of general assembly include: Churches * General Assembly (presbyterian church), the highest court of presby ...

. Fagan served in the

United States Volunteers United States Volunteers also known as U.S. Volunteers, U.S. Volunteer Army, or other variations of these, were military volunteers called upon during wartime to assist the United States Army but who were separate from both the Regular Army (United ...

during the

Mexican–American War The Mexican–American War (Spanish language, Spanish: ''guerra de Estados Unidos-México, guerra mexicano-estadounidense''), also known in the United States as the Mexican War, and in Mexico as the United States intervention in Mexico, ...

with Company C, Arkansas Mounted Infantry Regiment, under Colonel

Archibald Yell Archibald Yell (August 9, 1797 – February 23, 1847) was an American politician and lawyer who served as the U.S. representative from Arkansas from 1836 to 1839, and 1845 to 1846. He was the second governor of Arkansas, serving from 1840 to 184 ...

and was promoted to the rank of second lieutenant.

American Civil War

At the start of the American Civil War, Fagan raised a company for the

and became its

captain Captain is a title, an appellative for the commanding officer of a military unit; the supreme leader or highest rank officer of a navy ship, merchant ship, aeroplane, spacecraft, or other vessel; or the commander of a port, fire or police depa ...

. When his unit was folded in with the 1st Arkansas Infantry Regiment on May 6, 1861, the very day that

seceded from the Union, he was elected as

colonel Colonel ( ; abbreviated as Col., Col, or COL) is a senior military Officer (armed forces), officer rank used in many countries. It is also used in some police forces and paramilitary organizations. In the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries, a colon ...

of the combined 900-man regiment. They were formally mustered into service in

Lynchburg, Virginia Lynchburg is an independent city (United States), independent city in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. First settled in 1757 by ferry owner and Abolitionism, abolitionist John Lynch (1740–1820), J ...

in May 1861. His regiment was a part of the first wave of Confederate attacks under General

Albert Sidney Johnston General officer, General Albert Sidney Johnston (February 2, 1803 – April 6, 1862) was an American military officer who served as a general officer in three different armies: the Texian Army, the United States Army, and the Confederate States ...

at the

Battle of Shiloh The Battle of Shiloh, also known as the Battle of Pittsburg Landing, was a major battle in the American Civil War fought on April 6–7, 1862. The fighting took place in southwestern Tennessee, which was part of the war's Western Theater of the ...

. He also participated in the

Siege of Corinth The siege of Corinth, also known as the first battle of Corinth, was an American Civil War engagement lasting from April 29 to May 30, 1862, in Corinth, Mississippi. A collection of Union forces under the overall command of Major General Henry H ...

, but fell into disfavor with his superior officer, General

Braxton Bragg Braxton Bragg (March 22, 1817 – September 27, 1876) was an American army Officer (armed forces), officer during the Second Seminole War and Mexican–American War and Confederate General officers in the Confederate States Army, general in th ...

. Fagan was soon transferred to the

Trans-Mississippi Theater The trans-Mississippi theater of the American Civil War was the scene of the major military operations west of the Mississippi River. The area is often thought of as excluding the states and territories bordering the Pacific Ocean, which formed ...

, where he fought at the battles of Cane Hill and Prairie Grove in command of the 1st Arkansas Cavalry Regiment. He was promoted to brigadier-general on September 12, 1862, and assumed command of a

brigade A brigade is a major tactical military unit, military formation that typically comprises three to six battalions plus supporting elements. It is roughly equivalent to an enlarged or reinforced regiment. Two or more brigades may constitute ...

composed of the 34th Arkansas, 35th Arkansas, 37th Arkansas, and Hawthorn's Arkansas infantry regiments. Fagan played a central role in the

Battle of Helena The Battle of Helena was fought on July 4, 1863, near Helena, Arkansas, during the American Civil War. Union (American Civil War), Union troops captured the city in July 1862, and had been using it as a base of operations. Over 7,500 Confeder ...

, where he and his Arkansas brigade made repeated

frontal assault A frontal assault is a military tactic which involves a direct, full-force attack on the front line of an enemy force, rather than to the flanks or rear of the enemy. It allows for a quick and decisive victory, but at the cost of subjecting the a ...

s on United States artillery batteries. During the

Little Rock Campaign The Little Rock Campaign (August 1 – September 14, 1863), officially known as the Advance of the Union forces upon Little Rock, Arkansas, was a Military campaign, campaign conducted by the Union Army in Arkansas during the American Civil Wa ...

, Fagan was given temporary command of

Sterling Price Sterling Price (September 14, 1809 – September 29, 1867) was an American politician and military officer who was a senior General officers in the Confederate States Army, officer of the Confederate States Army, fighting in both the Weste ...

's division. Fagan fought in the Camden Expedition, including the successful destruction of a Federal supply train at the Battle of Marks' Mills, which led to the Federal retreat from southern Arkansas. In recognition for his service in the Camden Expedition, he was promoted to major-general on April 24, 1864, and commanded the Arkansas division of Confederate

cavalry Historically, cavalry (from the French word ''cavalerie'', itself derived from ''cheval'' meaning "horse") are groups of soldiers or warriors who Horses in warfare, fight mounted on horseback. Until the 20th century, cavalry were the most mob ...

during Price's Missouri Expedition. His division broke in a "disgraceful manner" during the failed assault on Fort Davidson at Pilot Knob, Missouri. During Price's withdrawal from Missouri and Kansas, Fagan and John S. Marmaduke's divisions were overwhelmed at the

Battle of Mine Creek The Battle of Mine Creek, also known as the Battle of Little Osage, was fought on October 25, 1864, in Linn County, Kansas, as part of Price's Missouri Campaign during the American Civil War. Major-General Sterling Price had begun an expediti ...

. The end of the war found Fagan in command of the District of Arkansas of the

Trans-Mississippi Department The Trans-Mississippi Department was a territorial department of the Confederate States Army that embraced Arkansas, Louisiana west of the Mississippi river, Texas (including what is now New Mexico and Arizona), and the Indian Territory. It w ...

, which was active militarily until late April 1865.

Later life

Fagan was paroled by United States military authorities on June 20, 1865. After his parole, he returned to his farm to make a living. Fagan commanded Joseph Brooks' militia forces during the so-called Brooks-Baxter War of 1874, despite Fagan's former service as a Confederate States Army general. He was appointed

United States Marshal The United States Marshals Service (USMS) is a Federal law enforcement in the United States, federal law enforcement agency in the United States. The Marshals Service serves as the enforcement and security arm of the United States federal judi ...

by President

Ulysses S. Grant Ulysses S. Grant (born Hiram Ulysses Grant; April 27, 1822July 23, 1885) was the 18th president of the United States, serving from 1869 to 1877. In 1865, as Commanding General of the United States Army, commanding general, Grant led the Uni ...

in 1875, working for "Hanging Judge" Parker. In this capacity, Fagan recruited

Bass Reeves Bass Reeves (July 1838 – January 12, 1910) was a deputy U.S. Marshal, gunfighter, farmer, scout, tracker, railroad agent, and a runaway slave. He spoke the languages of several Native American tribes including Cherokee, Choctaw, Chickasaw, Sem ...

as the first black deputy marshal to work west of the Mississippi River. He served as a receiver for the United States Land Office in 1877. In 1890, Fagan ran for the office of state railroad commissioner but was defeated. He died of

malaria Malaria is a Mosquito-borne disease, mosquito-borne infectious disease that affects vertebrates and ''Anopheles'' mosquitoes. Human malaria causes Signs and symptoms, symptoms that typically include fever, Fatigue (medical), fatigue, vomitin ...

in Little Rock, Arkansas, and was buried at the historic

Mount Holly Cemetery Mount Holly Cemetery is a historic cemetery located in the Quapaw Quarter area of downtown Little Rock in the U.S. state of Arkansas, and is the burial place for numerous Arkansans of note. It was listed on the National Register of Historic ...

in that city.

Personal life

Fagan's first wife was the sister of Confederate States Army general William N. R. Beall. He was also related by marriage to Arkansas governor Henry M. Rector.

Legacy

Chapter No. 280 of the

Military Order of the Stars and Bars A military, also known collectively as armed forces, is a heavily armed, highly organized force primarily intended for warfare. Militaries are typically authorized and maintained by a sovereign state, with their members identifiable by a d ...

Jonesboro, Arkansas Jonesboro () is a city located on Crowley's Ridge in the northeastern corner of the U.S. State of Arkansas. Jonesboro is one of two county seats of Craighead County, Arkansas, Craighead County. In 2023, the city had an estimated population of ...

, was named after him.

References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Fagan, James Fleming 1828 births 1893 deaths American military personnel of the Mexican–American War Arkansas Know Nothings Arkansas state senators Arkansas Whigs Burials at Mount Holly Cemetery Businesspeople from Little Rock, Arkansas Confederate States Army major generals Deaths from malaria Farmers from Arkansas Grant administration personnel Infectious disease deaths in Arkansas Members of the Arkansas House of Representatives Military personnel from Arkansas People of Arkansas in the American Civil War People of the Brooks–Baxter War People from Clark County, Kentucky Politicians from Saline County, Arkansas People pardoned by Andrew Johnson United States Army officers 19th-century United States Marshals 19th-century members of the Arkansas General Assembly