James Craig (Missouri soldier)

James Craig
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Missouri's 4th district
In office
March 4, 1857 – March 3, 1861
Preceded byMordecai Oliver
Succeeded byElijah Hise Norton
Circuit Attorney of Missouri's 12th Judicial Circuit
In office
1852–1856
Preceded bySamuel Archer
Succeeded byJames M. Bassett
Member of the Missouri House of Representatives
In office
1846–1848
Preceded byStephen Cooper
Succeeded byJames Foster
ConstituencyHolt County
Personal details
Born(1818-02-28)February 28, 1818
Washington County, Pennsylvania, U.S.
DiedOctober 12, 1888(1888-10-12) (aged 70)
St. Joseph, Missouri, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseHelen Pfouts (m. 1843)
RelationsMalin Craig (grandson)
Louis A. Craig (grandson)
Children6
ProfessionAttorney
Military service
AllegianceUnited States
Union
ServiceMissouri Militia
Union Army
Years of service1847–1849, 1863–1865 (Militia)
1861–1863 (Army)
RankBrigadier General (Militia)
Brigadier General (Army)
CommandsNorthwestern Department of Missouri (Militia)
Department of the Platte (Army)
WarsMexican–American War
American Civil War

James Craig (February 28, 1818 – October 22, 1888) was an American lawyer and politician from Saint Joseph, Missouri. He represented Missouri in the U.S. House from 1857 until 1861. He also served as a militia captain in the Mexican–American War.

During the American Civil War, Craig served as a brigadier general of U.S. volunteers. From April to November 1862, Craig was the military commander in charge of the overland mail routes in Kansas and Nebraska. On November 2, 1862 he assumed command of the District of Nebraska Territory and commanded until May 5, 1863 when he resigned. Craig again served as a brigadier general, this time in the Missouri State militia, in 1864 and 1865.