Biography of Colonel David Lang

David Lang would be the temporary commander of the Third Corps "Florida Brigade," containing the only troops from that state with the Army of Northern Virginia.

A native of Georgia, born in 1838, Lang was a graduate of the Georgia Military Institute. He moved to Florida and became a surveyor. Entering service as a private in Company H of the 1st Florida, he was colonel of the 8th Florida regiment by October 2, 1862. Serving for a period in Florida, the 8th Florida soon joined Perry's Florida Brigade in Anderson's Division of the Army of Northern Virginia.

Lang fought with the 8th at 2d Manassas, Sharpsburg, and at Fredericksburg. At Fredericksburg, Lang particularly distinguished himself.

Attached to William Barksdale's brigade, the Florida troops helped to snipe at the Union troops trying to lay a pontoon bridge on December 11, 1862. In the action, Lang was noted for his bravery and was badly wounded in the head when a shell struck a chimney and knocked a large chunk of masonry down upon his head.

Recovering, Lang was back in time to lead the brigade at Gettysburg when General Perry was stricken ill with typhoid fever. Returning to his regiment when Perry was over his illness, Lang served out the War in command of his regiment, occasionally commanding the brigade, fighting at the Wilderness, Spotsylvania, Cold Harbor, and in the battles around Petersburg. Lang was in command of the brigade during the last stages of the Petersburg campaign and led it at the surrender at Appomattox.

After the War, Lang returned to being a civil engineer in Florida. Despite two wounds (one at Fredericksburg and one at Sharpsburg), Lang was long lived and one of the last surviving brigade commanders of the Third Corps -- he died in December 1917.