Maj. James B. White, CSA
Class of 1849
Hometown: Marion, SC
- 5th Superintendent of The Citadel, 1861-1865.
- White accepted a position as professor of mathematics at the Arsenal in 1853. After teaching at both the Arsenal and Citadel, he became Superintendent of the Arsenal in 1858. In 1861, he was appointed Superintendent of The Citadel Academy.
- Major White was Superintendent of the Citadel Academy during the Civil War. Prior to the outbreak of the War, the Corps of Cadets of the South Carolina Military Academy, consisting of The Citadel and Arsenal Academy Corps of Cadets, were made a part of the state's military organization and designated "The Battalion of State Cadets." The Citadel Corps, composed of upper class cadets, was designated Company A. Major White commanded Co.'A.' The Arsenal Corps consisting of first year cadets, was designated Co. 'B,' and commanded by its Superintendent, J P Thomas, class of 1851, also a Distinguished Citadel Alumnus. During the War, Citadel officers and cadets were often called upon to support the defense of Charleston and vicinity. The Corps of Cadets flag carries 9 streamers marking specific campaigns.
- Major White commanded the Battalion of State Cadets, during the Battle of Tulifinny Creek, December 6-9, 1864. During this engagement, the entire Battalion of State Cadets fought together with local militia to successfully defended a critical railroad trestle against a much larger Union force. The Battalion suffered eight casualties including one killed. This marked possibly the only time in US history that an entire college student body was actively engaged in battle.
- Together with other prominent Citadel alumni, White was instrumental in reviving the Association of Graduates and securing the return of The Citadel and grounds from the War Department in 1879, and its reopening as a military college in 1882.
- White's officer sword and scabbard were successfully recovered through the efforts and generosity of several Alumni, and returned to the college on December 2, 2016. They are on display in The Citadel museum.
- White's son Richard, class of 1906, is also a Distinguished Citadel Alumnus.