You probably already knew James was killed in action at Rappahannock Station, VA, 11/7/1863.
From the OR, here's a report on the part played by the 6th Maine :
Report of
Maj. George Fuller, Sixth Maine Infantry, of engagement
at Rappahannock.
HEADQUARTERS SIXTH MAINE VOLUNTEERS,
November 10, 1863.
SIR: I have the honor to submit to you the following report of the
part taken by this regiment in the engagement at Rappahannock
Station, on the 7th day of November, 1863:
The regiment left camp near Warrenton, Va., at daylight on the
morning of the 7th instant, in company with the rest of the brigade,
and marched toward Rappahannock Station. When within 1 mile
of the station, the regiment was halted and formed in line of battle
in the edge of a wood about 200 yards to the right of the railroad.
This was about 12 m. At 2 p. m. Lieutenant-Colonel Harris was
ordered to relieve the Forty-ninth Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers,
which was upon the skirmish line. Companies A, F, D, I,
and C, composing the right wing, were sent forward, under my
command, for that duty, and the skirmish line was duly relieved, the
right of the line connecting with the skirmishers of the One hundred
and twenty-first New York Regiment, and the left connecting
with those of the Twentieth Maine Regiment, belonging to the Fifth
Corps. At 2.30 p. m. the skirmish line was ordered to advance upon
the enemy, which it did in gallant style, quickly driving in his
skirmishers upon the fortifications. Our loss upon the line up to
this time was 1 killed and 5 wounded.
At sunset the left wing was ordered to advance, and it was
immediately thrown forward to within 250 yards of the skirmish line,
and ordered to lie down under the crest of hill, just in our front.
Immediately after, orders came from General Russell to deploy the
left wing, double the skirmish line, and with the Fifth Wisconsin
regiment as a support, to charge the enemy's works. The wing was
at once deployed, and immediately upon the arrival of the Fifth
Wisconsin, thrown forward upon the skirmish line. Here but a
moment's delay was caused by arranging the skirmishers, now
doubled, and at the command, "forward, double-quick," the regiment
rushed upon the works, under a heavy fire of musketry and
artillery. The fire grew heavier as the line neared the works, and
the men were struck down with fearful rapidity; but unwavering,
with wild cheers, the survivors reached the "fortifications," and
springing over them engaged the enemy in a hand-to-hand conflict.
The enemy, astonished and bewildered, quickly gave way and fled,
many of them toward the river, but by far the greater part to their
left, which was as yet unassailed, leaving in our hands 350 prisoners,
4 guns, and 1 stand of colors.
The works along the whole length of our line were now in our
possession. And now the enemy, strong in their rifle-pits farther to
their left, commenced a raking fire down the length of our line, which
proved very destructive, and, perceiving the weakness of our force,
advanced heavily upon our right, compelling that part of the line
to abandon the works; but disputing every foot of the ground, the
men fell back upon our center and left, which still retained possession
of the fortifications, and turning sharply upon the enemy kept
them at bay until the opportune arrival of the Fifth Wisconsin,
which came up upon the run, and with its usual impetuosity rushed
into the conflict. With the invaluable aid of this regiment, we were
quickly gaining ground when the arrival of the Forty-ninth and the
One hundred and nineteenth Pennsylvania Regiments, together with
the storming of the enemy's left by the Fifth Maine and the One
hundred and twenty-first New York Regiments, who carried those
works with a rush, decided the battle, the enemy being either
captured or driven across the river.
I would here mention that about 80 men belonging to the Fifth
Corps, under the command of Captain Morrill, of the Twentieth
Maine regiment, forming a skirmish line upon our left, rendered
valuable aid in carrying and holding the works. I would also beg
leave to mention here the following-named officers, to whose invaluable
efforts, after we had lost two-thirds of our line officers, the
obstinacy with which the fight was conducted is due, viz: Captains
Lincoln and Bassford, and Lieutenants Honey, Norris, Smith, and
Williams (the two latter, although severely wounded, rejoined their
companies next morning and reported for duty), and First Sergt. W.
H, Coan, Company H, who, after his officers had fallen, took
command of the company, and by his cool and determined conduct
helped much to the result. Captain Summers and Lieutenant Hobbs,
of Company A, forming the right support of the line, and Lieutenants
Hill and Pierce, of Company C, forming the left support, did
their duty well and nobly.
I regret to state that during the early part of the engagement,
Lieutenant-Colonel Harris, while gallantly leading on his men, fell
dangerously wounded, and the command devolved upon me. Adjutant
Clark was also severely wounded while in the works, bravely
doing his duty, but not before he had driven his sword into his
versary. Captains Furlong, killed; Burnham, Roberts, and Witherell,
wounded; and Lieutenants Wilkins and McKinley killed; Waite,
Pottle, Jacobs, Morton, Knowles, and Chamberlin, wounded, were
stricken down while gallantly leading on their men--doing their duty
as only such officers can.
Numerous instances of personal valor among the enlisted men of
the regiment have come to my knowledge, too numerous, indeed, to
mention in this hurried report, but I cannot refrain from asking your
attention to the following two instances of unexampled courage and
coolness: Sergt. Otis O. Roberts*, of Company H, with only 5 men,
rushed upon the color-bearer of the Eighth Louisiana Regiment,
who was in the midst of his color company, and after a hand-to-hand
conflict, in which the bayonet was freely used, succeeded in capturing
the colors, and compelling the whole company to surrender.
Privates Robinson Kitching, and Thomas W. Chick, of Company B,
and Private Lawrence O. Laughlin, of Company G, pursued the
enemy to the river, firing three shots after them, and ordered them
to surrender. Three commissioned officers and 175 men obeyed the
order, and the 3 men marched their prisoners safely to the rear.
After the engagement, the regiment was ordered to hold the right
redoubt of the enemy's works, near the railroad, until further orders,
which it did until the next day, when at 1 o'clock p. m. the brigade
crossed the Rappahannock, and taking a position went into camp.
The regiment lost in this terrible engagement 139 officers and men,
a full list of whose names and rank I respectfully submit.
I have the honor to be, captain, very respectfully, your obedient
servant,
GEORGE FULLER,
Major, Commanding Sixth Maine Volunteers.
Capt. C. H. HURD, Assistant Adjutant-General.
Source: Official Records
CHAP. XLI.] EXPEDITIONS TO THE RAPPAHANNOCK, VA. PAGE 598-48
[Series I. Vol. 29. Part I, Reports. Serial No. 48.]
James' mother, Eliza, filed for a pension June 30, 1880. The complete file at the National Archives would certainly help in your story.
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