Lang, David, 1838-1917.

David Lang rose to prominence as one of Florida's most distinguished soldiers of the Civil War era, serving for a time as commander of the only Florida Brigade in Lee's Army of Northern Virginia.

Lang, a native of Camden County, Georgia, was born in 1838. He attended Georgia Military Academy in Marietta, where he graduated in 1857. Following the completion of his studies, Lang moved to Florida with his family, working as a surveyor in Suwannee County.

Upon the outbreak of the Civil War, Lang joined the First Florida Infantry Regiment, serving twelve months until the expiration of his enlistment in April 1862. He then immediately organized, and was elected captain of, a new company which became Company C of the Eighth Florida Infantry Regiment. Lang quickly rose to regimental command and, upon the illness of Edward A. Perry, temporarily commanded the entire Florida Brigade. At Gettysburg in July 1863, Lang led his small band of Floridians into some of the most vicious fighting of the battle. The Brigade played a prominent role in the fighting on July 2, and the following day supported the major Confederate assault against the center of the Union lines (commonly known as Pickett's Charge). Lang's unit suffered casualties approaching 500 of the 700 men that began the battle, perhaps the highest percentage of losses for any Brigade in Lee's Army.

Lang served with the Brigade until the end of the war, surrendering at Appomattox in April of 1865. After the war Lang worked as a civil engineer, before being appointed Adjutant General of the State Militia by his former commander and now Florida Governor, Edward Perry. Lang also served on the State Board of Pensions, was private secretary for Governors Mitchell and Bloxham, and was cashier of the Florida State Hospital in Chattahoochee from 1901 until his death in 1917.

Lang, a native of Camden County, Georgia, was born on May 9, 1838. He attended the Georgia Military Academy in Marietta, where he graduated in 1857. Following the completion of his studies, Lang moved to Florida with his family, working as a surveyor in Suwannee County.

Upon the outbreak of the Civil War, Lang joined the First Florida Infantry Regiment, serving twelve months until the expiration of his enlistment in April 1862. He then immediately organized and was elected captain of a new company which became Company C of the Eighth Florida Infantry Regiment. Lang quickly rose to regimental command and, upon the illness of Edward A. Perry, temporarily commanded the entire Florida Brigade.

At Gettysburg in July 1863, Lang led his small band of Floridians into some of the most vicious fighting of the battle. The Brigade played a prominent role in the fighting on July 2, and the following day supported the major Confederate assault against the center of the Union lines (commonly known as Pickett's Charge). Lang's unit suffered casualties approaching 500 of the 700 men that began the battle, perhaps the highest percentage of losses for any Brigade in Lee's Army. Lang served with the Brigade until the end of the war, surrendering at Appomattox in April 1865.

After the war Lang worked as a civil engineer, before being appointed Adjutant General of the State Militia (1885-1894) by his former commander, Florida Governor Edward Perry. Lang also served on the State Board of Pensions, was private secretary for Governors Mitchell (1893-1897) and Bloxham (1897-1901), and was cashier of the Florida State Hospital in Chattahoochee from 1901 until his death in 1917.