James Lorraine Geddes (March 19, 1827 – February 21, 1887) was a soldier in India, a brigade commander in the Western Theater of the American Civil War, college administrator and professor, and military songwriter.

In the American Civil War, Geddes served in the Union army, enlisting as a private in the 8th Iowa Infantry.

Subsequently, he served as the provost marshal of Federal occupied Memphis, Tennessee, which he saved from seizure by Confederate cavalry under Nathan Bedford Forrest.

[3] After the war, Geddes was principal of the Iowa College for the Blind at Vinton, and until his death was connected with the Iowa College of Agriculture at Ames, being military instructor and cashier in 1870–1882, acting president in 1875–77, librarian in 1877–78, vice-president and professor of military tactics in 1880–82, and treasurer in 1884–87.

He wrote a number of popular war songs, including The Soldiers' Battle Prayer and The Stars and Stripes.