The son Lemuel and Margaret Lang, his wife was Elizabeth. They had six children. He cast his fortunes with the South, although he was opposed to slavery. In 1861 and 1862 he performed as a Confederate scout. He was made a major in the 62nd Virginia Mounted Infantry. He was described as a cool, brave officer. In a letter to his wife July 13, 1864, from Blair's House near Washington, he said he had been under fire every day since May 7th and had marched over 600 miles, escaping with nothing more than a few holes throughout his clothing, until the day before. He had been given the post of honor and was put in front, driving the enemy five miles back to the fort. In the fight, his spur was struck by a ball, which slightly disabled him. The spur saved his foot from amputation. On September 5, 1864, while commanding the skirmish line at Bunker Hill, eight miles below Winchester, he fell mortally wounded and died the next day at Winchester, having to be carried off the field by his comrades. He said, "If he could see his wife and little children, he could die happy".
The son Lemuel and Margaret Lang, his wife was Elizabeth. They had six children. He cast his fortunes with the South, although he was opposed to slavery. In 1861 and 1862 he performed as a Confederate scout. He was made a major in the 62nd Virginia Mounted Infantry. He was described as a cool, brave officer. In a letter to his wife July 13, 1864, from Blair's House near Washington, he said he had been under fire every day since May 7th and had marched over 600 miles, escaping with nothing more than a few holes throughout his clothing, until the day before. He had been given the post of honor and was put in front, driving the enemy five miles back to the fort. In the fight, his spur was struck by a ball, which slightly disabled him. The spur saved his foot from amputation. On September 5, 1864, while commanding the skirmish line at Bunker Hill, eight miles below Winchester, he fell mortally wounded and died the next day at Winchester, having to be carried off the field by his comrades. He said, "If he could see his wife and little children, he could die happy".
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