Background
James Jay Archer was born on December 19, 1817, in Havre De Grace, Maryland, United States. he was the son of Dr. John Archer and his wife Ann Stump.
Princeton, NJ 08544, United States
James Archer attended Princeton College (now Princeton University) in 1835.
Georgetown, Kentucky, United States
James Archer studied civil engineering at Bacon College (now Transylvania University) in Georgetown, Kentucky.
James Jay Archer was born on December 19, 1817, in Havre De Grace, Maryland, United States. he was the son of Dr. John Archer and his wife Ann Stump.
James Archer attended Princeton College (now Princeton University) in 1835 and studied civil engineering at Bacon College (now Transylvania University) in Georgetown, Kentucky, in 1838 before studying law with his brother, Henry.
Archer practiced law in Maryland but had no important prewar civilian career.
A captain during the Mexican War, he was breveted major at Chapultepec. He re-entered civilian life but joined the army again in 1855 as a captain in the Pacific Coast service. He resigned his commission in 1861 and volunteered for the Confederate Army.
At the battle of Seven Pines in June 1862, he was part of the “light division" under Ambrose P. Hill. He was promoted to brigadier general on June 3, 1862. Archer fought at Mechanicsville and Gaines’ Mill during the Seven Days’ battles, at Cedar Mountain, Second Manassas, Ox Hill (Maryland), Antietam, and Fredericksburg in 1862, and at the Battle of Chancellorsville in May 1863.
He served as a distinguished officer in Longstreet’s corps. At the battle of Gettysburg, he was captured, and his brigade was largely dispersed. Held in Northern Pines for a year, he was exchanged in the summer of 1864.
Archer was given his old brigade in the Army of Northern Virginia, but he never recovered from his confinement.
James Archer was hated by the Texans, who considered him a "tyrant" for his Old Army discipline.
Archer got along better with his brigade and earned the nickname "the little gamecock" for his ferocity in combat, small stature, and frail build.