Frederick W. Lander

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Frederick W. Lander

Frederick West Lander (December 17, 1821 – March 2, 1862) was a transcontinental United States explorer, general in the Union Army during the American Civil War, and a prolific poet.

Lander was born in Salem, Massachusetts, the son of Edward and Eliza West Lander. He was educated at the Norwich Military Academy in Vermont and took up the profession of civil engineering.

The United States government employed him on transcontinental surveys to select a route for a Pacific railroad. Later he undertook a survey for the same purpose at his own expense and was the only man of the party to survive. He constructed the overland wagon route in the face of great difficulties and constant hostility of the Indians. After its completion in 1859, Lander Road became popular with wagon trains as an alternate route from Burnt Ranch in the Wyoming Territory to Fort Hall in the Oregon Territory.

During the early part of the Civil War, Lander served with distinction on secret missions and on the staff of General McClellan, until his sudden death from congestion of the brain, at which time he had the rank of brigadier general of volunteers. He was engaged in the capture of Philippi, the battle of Rich Mountain, and many minor skirmishes. While commanding his brigade, he was badly wounded in the leg at Edward's Ferry, but recovered to lead a successful charge at Blooming Gap.

He was the husband of English-born stage actress Jean Margaret Davenport, who served as a nurse during the Civil War. They were married in October 1860. Lander published a popular poem on the Battle of Ball's Bluff, as well as several other patriotic poems that drew national attention.

He died from complications of pneumonia at Paw Paw, Virginia.

His name lives on through the town of Lander, Wyoming, and Lander County, Nevada, as well as in Lander Peak in Wyoming's Wind River Range near South Pass and in Lander Creek west of those mountains.