James Chatham Duane

James Chatham Duane (June 10, 1824 – December 8, 1897) was an engineering officer in the Union Army during the American Civil War, being the Chief Engineer of the Army of the Potomac.

James Chatham Duane in Southern Victory
James Duane had a histroy in the engineer corps, before the War of Secession began. He organized the engineer equipage of McClellanÌs army and commanded a battalion of engineers in the Peninsular campaign. Duane was chief engineer of the Army of the Potomac and attatched to its Headquarters during the disastrous Battle of Camp Hill, where he met George Custer. After the war ended, Duane staied on the engieer corps.

By 1881, Duane was a full Colonel. When the Second Mexican War began later that year, he was attatched to the army of Brig. Gen. John Pope after the Utah Territory rebelled. His main task for the remainder of the war was restoring the infrastructure that had been damaged by the rebles.