Col. James D. Nance
Class of 1856
Featured in two books as one of The South's ablest and courageous combat commanders, he is one of two Citadel Alumni known to have a public monument in his honor ( the other is Thomas Howie) at the spot he was KIA in Virginia at the battle of The Wilderness. Nance led the 3rd S.C., one of the most elite units on either side, and a unit that suffered the highest casualty rate of any in the confederate army. Nance participated in most of the major engagements to include Gettysburg. He was recommended for promotion to Brigadier General by Longstreet himself, but the beauracracy in Richmond had not processed the paperwork before he was KIA on 6 May 1864.