Napoleon J.T. Dana

Napoleon Jackson Tecumseh Dana (April 15, 1822 – July 15, 1905) was a career U.S. Army officer who fought with distinction during the Mexican–American War and served as a general in the Union Army during the American Civil War. He was wounded several times during his military career, often severely, and later in life was involved with railroads and veteran soldier affairs in the U.S.

Early life Dana was born at Fort Sullivan, in Eastport, Maine. He was a first cousin of James J. Dana and later would be the father-in-law of John C. Tidball. His father Nathaniel G. Dana, also a West Point graduate and officer serving in the 1st U.S. Artillery, was stationed at Fort Sullivan at the time, but his father died when Dana was eleven years old. Dana's paternal grandfather, Luther Dana, was a naval officer in the American Revolution, and his maternal grandfather, Woodbury Langdon, served as a member of the Continental Congress (with his brother John Langdon), and later a U.S. Senator and governor of New Hampshire.

When he was sixteen, Dana entered the U.S. Military Academy in 1838, and graduated from there four years later, standing 29th out of 56. He was commissioned a second lieutenant in the 7th U.S. Infantry Regiment on July 1, 1842.

With the 7th Infantry, Dana was stationed in the garrison at Fort Pike, Louisiana, from 1842 to 1843, then at Pass Christian, Mississippi, in 1843, back at Ft. Pike from 1843 to 1845, and afterwards he was part of the Military Occupation of Texas in 1845.

War with Mexico During the Mexican–American War, Dana and the 7th participated in the defense of Fort Brown from May 3–9, 1846 and then fought at the Battle of Monterrey on September 21–23. He was promoted to first lieutenant on February 16, 1847, and took part in the Siege of Vera Cruz on March 9–29.

On February 6, 1862, Dana was appointed brigadier general, February 3, 1862, and given command of the 3rd Brigade of the 2nd Division in the Union II Corps,

In early July, shortly after Malvern Hill, Dana became ill and was diagnosed with "remittent fever." He was sent to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to recover and he remained there for six weeks. Dana was declared fit for duty near the beginning of the Maryland Campaign and rejoined his command. Because his appointment was not confirmed by the U.S. Senate when first submitted by President Lincoln, the President resubmitted the nomination on March 6, 1863, and the Senate confirmed it on March 9, 1863. He was also in overall command of the area where the steamboat Sultana exploded on the Mississippi River near Memphis, Tennessee on April 27. The paddlewheeler had been contracted by the U.S. Government to return home recently released Union prisoners of war, and when it docked in Vicksburg for repairs to leaky boilers it became grossly overcrowded with soldiers wanting to get home. An April 27, 2007, article in the Washington Times explained what Dana had been told about the ship before it departed Vicksburg:

Capts. Frederick Speed and George A. Williams were responsible for the proper boarding of soldiers. Speed advised Maj. Gen. Napoleon J.T. Dana that the number would not exceed 1,400 men. Speed and Williams both assured Dana that the load was not too large for the boat and that the men appeared comfortable and not overcrowded. As the article states:

Due to a Special Act of the United States Congress in 1894, Dana was commissioned a captain the U.S. Army from August 2–11.

An account of his experiences in the Mexican War was published in Monterrey is Ours! in 1990.

Personal, formal handwritten letter from Maj Gen NJT Dana (b.1822 d.1905) to his grandson Alfred L Dana b.1886 very shortly before the Maj's death. It is possible Alfred received the letter after the Maj's death.

Personal, formal handwritten letter from Maj Gen NJT Dana (b.1822 d.1905) to his grandson Alfred L Dana b.1886 very shortly before the Maj's death. It is possible Alfred received the letter after the Maj's death.