James F. Fagan

James Fleming Fagan was born in Kentucky in 1828. Ten years later, Fagan moved with his family to Arkansas. As an adult, Fagan managed the family farm in southern Arkansas. During the Mexican-American War, Fagan served as a lieutenant in the Arkansas Regiment of Mounted Volunteers. When the Civil War started, Fagan raised a company of volunteers and was appointed colonel for the 1st Arkansas Infantry. His first big action took place at the Battle of Shiloh. In September 1862, Fagan was promoted to brigadier general and sent back to Arkansas. At the close of 1862, Fagan led a brigade during the Battle of Prairie Grove. During the failed attack on Helena, Arkansas, Fagan’s brigade took over 400 casualties. In April 1864, Fagan led a cavalry division in a successful attack against the Federal supply train in the Battle of Marks' Mills during Steele’s Camden Expedition. This effort resulted in a promotion to major general.

During Price’s 1864 invasion of Missouri, Fagan commanded Fagan’s Division in Maj. Gen. Sterling Price’s Army of Missouri. After the war ended, Fagan was paroled in June 1865, after which he returned to Arkansas and returned to his family’s plantation. Fagan returned to command when he became the commander of the militia supporting Joseph Brooks during a dispute over the 1872 Arkansas gubernatorial election. In 1875, President Grant appointed Fagan, a US marshal in Arkansas. Fagan died in Little Rock, Arkansas, in 1893 and is buried in Mount Holly Cemetery there.