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Civil War Soldiers - Lightburn

Lightburn, Joseph A. J., brigadier-general, U.S. Army, was born in Westmoreland county, Pa., Sept. 21, 1824. He received a common school education, removed to West Virginia, and was delegate in 1861 from Lewis county in the convention that reorganized the state government. He recruited the 4th Va. regiment for the national army and was made its colonel, Aug. 14, 1861, commanded the District of Kanawha in 1862, and in September of that year conducted the retreat from the Kanawha valley. He was promoted brigadier-general of volunteers, March 16, 1863, participated in the Vicksburg campaign, the battle of Missionary ridge and the battle of Chattanooga, and was with Sherman in his march to Atlanta, where, in Aug. 1864, he received a severe gunshot wound in the head. He took a conspicuous part in the capture of Resaca heights, May 14, 1864. Gen. Lightburn was subsequently given command of a brigade in the Shenandoah valley and was president of the examining board when he resigned his commission, June 22, 1865. He was a representative in the state legislature of West Virginia in 1866-67. Gen. Lightburn was ordained to the Baptist ministry in 1869 and became minister at Mt. Lebanon Baptist church, Harrison county, W. Va. He engaged in the active work of the ministry until Jan., 1901.

Source: The Union Army: A History of Military Affairs in the Loyal States 1861-1865, Volume 8 Biographical, 1908
 


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