★ Stokes, James Hughes

James Hughes Stokes​

Born: July 11, 1816

Birthplace: Havre de Grace, Maryland

Father: William Brooke Stokes 1784 – 1866

Mother: Henrietta Maria Hughes 1791 – 1860

Wife: Mary Kidder 1832 – 1899

(Buried: Washington Street Cemetery, Geneva, New York)​

Education:

1835: Graduated from West Point Military Academy – (17th​ in class)​

Occupation before War:

1835: Brevet 2nd​ Lt. United States Army, 2nd​ Artillery​

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1835 – 1836: Brevet 2nd​ Lt. United States Army, 4th​ Artillery​

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1835 – 1836: Garrison Duty at Fort Hamilton, New York​

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1836 – 1838: 2nd​ Lt. United States Army 4th​ Artillery​

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1836: Served in the fighting against the Creek Nation​

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1836 – 1838: Served in the Seminole War in Florida​

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1837: Served in the Battle of Okee–cho–bee​

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1838: Served in the fighting against the Creek Nation​

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1838: Helped transfer Native Americans into the west​

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1838: Garrison Duty at Fort Columbus, New York​

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1838 – 1839: 1st​ Lt. United States Army 4th​ Artillery​

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1838 – 1839: Quartermaster Duty purchasing horses for the Army.​

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1839 – 1840: Quartermaster Duty at New York​

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1839 – 1843: Captain United States Army, Assistant Quartermaster​

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1840: Assistant Quartermaster in Winnebago County, New York​

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1840 – 1841: Assistant Quartermaster in the Seminole War​

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1841 – 1843: Assistant Quartermaster in Buffalo, New York​

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1843: Resigned from the United States Army on September 30th​​

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1843 – 1854: Proprietor of Clyde Glass Factory in New York​

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1856 – 1858: Treasurer and Secretary New York and Boston Railroad​

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1858 – 1861: Auditor and Treasurer of Illinois Central Railroad​

Civil War Career:

1861: Removed small arms from St. Louis Arsenal to Springfield, Illinois​

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1861: Helped equip volunteers in Springfield, Illinois​

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1861: Illinois State Commissioner to Purchase Arms for volunteers​

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1862 – 1864: Captain of Illinois Volunteers Artillery​

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1862: Commander of Chicago Board of Trade Battery in Kentucky​

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1862: Served in the Battle of Perryville, Kentucky​

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1862 – 1863: Commander of Pioneers and Battery in Tennessee​

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1862 – 1863: Served in the Battle of Stones River, Tennessee​

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1863: Served in the capture of Chattanooga, Tennessee​

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1863: Served in the Battle of Chickamauga​

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1863: Served against General Wheeler's Raid in Middle Tennessee​

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1863: Served in the Battle of Farmington, Tennessee​

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1863 – 1864: Commander of Artillery Division​

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1863: Served in the Battle of Missionary Ridge​

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1864: Lt. Colonel United States Army Volunteers​

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1864: Inspector of Quartermaster Department Division of Mississippi​

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1864: Made inspections in New Orleans, Louisiana​

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1864: Mustered out of the Union Army on August 22nd​​

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1864 – 1865: Captain & Assistant Adjutant General U.S. Army

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1864 – 1865: Served in the Defenses of Washington, D.C.​

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1865: Brigadier General United States Army Volunteers​

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1865: Mustered out of the United States Army on August 24th​​

Occupation after War:

1865 – 1880: Real Estate Businessman in Chicago, Illinois​

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1868: Became blind from disease he contracted in Seminole War​

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1880 – 1887: Real Estate Businessman in New York City, New York​

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1887 – 1890: Unable to work due to poor health​

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Died: December 27, 1890

Place of Death: New York City, New York

Cause of Death: Pneumonia

Age at time of Death: 74 years old

Burial Place: Washington Street Cemetery, Geneva, New York

 

[gentlemanrob]

Happy Birthday Brig. General James H. Stokes! Salutes remembering General Stokes on his birthday.

 

[Pollaco]

Stokes is said to have spirited away 20,000 firearms from the St. Louis arsenal to Illinois. The arms were delivered to Governor Richard Yates for reissue to loyal recruits.

 

[Pollaco]

Stokes is said to have spirited away 20,000 firearms from the St. Louis arsenal to Illinois. The arms were delivered to Governor Richard Yates for reissue to loyal recruits.

Stokes received a thanks from the Illinois legislatures this.

 

[Pollaco]

He was mustered out of the army in 1864 for some "unknown illness" but was reappointed the same day as captain and assistant adjutant general.

 

[Pollaco]

Stokes is said to have become more and more progressively blind after the war. The blindness was said to have stemmed from his service in Florida.

 

[Biscoitos]

He was mustered out of the army in 1864 for some "unknown illness" but was reappointed the same day as captain and assistant adjutant general.

I have seen a number of similar cases in records of CSN officers.
"Mustered out" or similar on one day and reinstated with a higher rank the very next day. Illness or disability were not factors.

Was this required in some cases by bureaucratic red tape?
Why not in others?

If anyone can explain, please do.

 

[Pollaco]

I have seen a number of similar cases in records of CSN officers.
"Mustered out" or similar on one day and reinstated with a higher rank the very next day. Illness or disability were not factors.

Was this required in some cases by bureaucratic red tape?
Why not in others?

If anyone can explain, please do.

What is puzzling is that he was already a Lt. Colonel when he resigned but was recommissioned as a Captain.

 

[Biscoitos]

What is puzzling is that he was already a Lt. Colonel when he resigned but was recommissioned as a Captain.

Could the answer be that he was no longer capable of doing the duties as a Lt. Col. and so was officially "demoted" to a Captain, (and AAG) a position whose duties he could do?

 

[Pollaco]

Could the answer be that he was no longer capable of doing the duties as a Lt. Col. and so was officially "demoted" to a Captain, (and AAG) a position whose duties he could do?

But he did make brigadier a year later in 1865.

 

[Biscoitos]

But he did make brigadier a year later in 1865.

I don't know what to say.