1st Lt. William
Elias James, Co. F
by Ken Howle
William Elias James was born Jan 15th, 1840 in what was then called the community of Palmetto in Darlington District, SC. He was the third child of William E. and Mary Ellison Ervin James. His father, a wealthy Georgetown planter, purchased nearly 2400 acres of land between Darlington and the village of Florence in 1834. William, Sr. became one of the largest and successful planters in the district, with over a hundred slaves.
The James children were the epitome of fine Southern aristocracy. They were tutored privately by the best teachers around, were taught proper manners and etiquette, and brought up to be devout Presbyterians. William’s mother died in childbirth when he was seven, and his father moved his sister into the stately home to help rear the children. Aunt Lavinia was quite the governess---at times overbearing and demanding—but she was instrumental in ensuring the children where brought up with the best of everything, including strong moral characters. After the Cheraw & Darlington Railroad came through the James’ land in the 1850’s, the family was always eager to entertain and board weary travelers. The James’ quickly earned a reputation as some of the finest hosts in the state.
As teens, William and his brother Robert were sent to further their education at Oglethorpe College in GA. Although their father was pro-Union, the brothers regularly attended secession meetings in nearby Milledgeville, the capitol of Georgia. Both graduated in March of 1861, as their native state was gearing up for a military confrontation with Washington. William. Sr. was unable to convince his sons to stay home. When the 8th SC Volunteer Infantry returned from Charleston to Florence on May 1st, 1861, the James’ brothers enlisted for service. William would be chosen as a corporal in the “Darlington Grays”, Co. F under Capt. William H. Evans.
Given his education and organizational skills, William was soon selected as the regiment’s quartermaster sergeant soon after the regiment’s arrival in Virginia. He served at 1st Manassas and was later tasked with moving the 8th’s baggage and stores from Centreville to Yorktown, VA. The exceptional completion of this logistical task earned William a promotion to Orderly Sgt. Of Co. F. After participating in the battle of Williamsburg on May 4th, 1862, he learned that his brother Robert had died of typhoid in Richmond. After obtaining a furlough, he returned home to bury his brother---only to learn his father had died 10 days earlier.
Although mourning the loss of two family members and now responsible for one of the largest plantations in the district, 1st Sgt. James was determined to return to his men. He discovered that his father had sunk a considerable amount of money in Confederate bonds and had several contracts to supply the government with corn, wheat, and fodder. William left instructions to his Aunt Lavinia and placed his most trusted slave, Doc McGill, in charge of the plantation (Doc’s brother, Tom, was William’s body servant throughout the war). He returned to the 8th SCV just before Lee’s Maryland Campaign.
1st. Sgt. James fought up Maryland Heights with his regiment to secure the surrender of Harper’s Ferry. On Sept. 17th, 1862, he and 71 comrades—the entire rank and file of the 8th SCVI—charged into the cauldron of death at Sharpsburg. Wounded in the hand, William remained on the field until nightfall. As the winter of 1862 approached, William was promoted to 2nd Lt. He was again wounded in the arm as he fought behind the stone wall at Fredericksburg on Dec. 13th. He returned home for a while, but returned to take part in the regiment’s action at Chancellorsville in May 1863. At Gettysburg, he played a critical part of holding the regiment together after it’s fateful attack on the Peach Orchard. As the unit was ordered to withdraw to the Rose Farm, Co. F’s commander, Capt. John K. McIver was mortally wounded and fell into William’s arms. For a while, the two were caught behind the Union lines until a Confederate counterattack enabled James to carry his dying captain off the field.
Lt. James would write of the 8th SCV at Gettysburg: “Nowhere in the recorded annuals of war was there a more gallant and desperate attack than that made by Kershaw’s Brigade on that fateful afternoon.”
With J.E. Bass now captain of Co. F, William was promoted to 1st Lt. They would led the Grays at Chickamauga, Campbell’s Station, and Knoxville. On Dec. 14th, 1863, Lt. James was seriously wounded at Bean’s Station, TN. He was sent home to recover. While there, he married Ms. Helen S. Kendall on March 1st, 1864. Although born in VA, Mrs. James had been raised in New Orleans by relatives and was a refugee from that city.
After getting his affairs in order, Lt. James rejoined the 8th SCVI now back in VA. He fought at the Wilderness and at Spotsylvania. At the latter battle on May 8th, William received a bad wound to his side. It would keep him in a Richmond hospital for months.
Lt. James returned to the unit just before Kershaw was ordered to reinforce Gen. Early in the Shenandoah Valley. He fought at the battles of Guard Hill on Aug 16th, 1864 and was in command of the company at Berryville on Sept. 3-4th. He and most of the regiment were captured while on picket duty near Abraham’s Creek on Sept. 13th. Although surrounded by three regiments of Federal cavalry, James advocated fighting their way out, but to no avail. William and the other officers were taken to the prisoner of war camp on Johnson’s Island, Ohio. There, he survived forced starvation by the guards, mostly through packages of food sent to him by a friend in New York. One of his proudest feats while imprisoned was the retention of a few silver coins he had, despite repeated attempts by the guards to find them.
William was paroled on June 16th, 1865. He was able to take a train back to Florence and walked home from there. He found the plantation in financial ruin, but many of his former slaves refused to leave him and he hired them as tenant farmers. William set about rebuilding with the same determination that saw him through the war. Within a few years, the James’ began to prosper again.
Reconstruction was an abomination to William. He became an outspoken opponent to the Carpetbagger government and preached the evils of the Republican Party. On three separate occasions, his home was attacked by a roving band of Negro outlaws. In 1873, he single-handedly scattered another mob attempting to lynch one of his neighbors. He was an active member of the local Red Shirt club and in 1876, enthusiastically supported Wade Hampton for governor. That same year, he was elected clerk of court for Darlington. As life began to return to a degree of normalcy, William turned his attention to his family and his religion. He and Helen would have six children. He became a presiding Elder at the Darlington Presbyterian Church and an active choir member. As a Freemason, James became Master of the St. David’s Lodge three times and a state Deputy Grand Master.
Always a servant to the community and his neighbors, James became secretary of the Darlington Agricultural & Mechanical Fair (which raised funds to purchase the Darlington Confederate Monument). He was chosen president of the Darlington Agricultural Society, which he remained for several years.
In 1879, William built a grand 12-room house for his family that he named “Palmetto Hall”. It not only was a stately home, but also entertained guests and travelers from around the country. In 1882, he was elected captain of the Florence Rifles, and five years later was appointed colonel of the 4th Regiment of State Troops. He also was a commander of the Darlington Camp #785, United Confederate Veterans (and was adjutant for years afterward) and Chancellor of the Knights Pythius, both of which he worked tireless to improve and expand. In March of 1887, Gov. Richardson appointed him a brigadier general of the 3rd Brigade of SC State Troops.
Gen. James also served as Chairman on the Board of Electors for Darlington throughout the 1890s and was a county census manager. He was a much sought after speaker for veteran’s reunions, memorial days, and political rallies. He wrote articles for the local newspapers on a variety of subjects, from his war experiences, to his planting techniques, to the various trips around the country that he and Helen often went on. In 1900, he was elected to the SC General Assembly, the first of four terms he would serve until his death.
Friends, family, comrades, and neighbors always recalled the memory of Gen. James with a bit of awe and reverence. He was patriotic, public-minded, courageous, unselfish, prudent, and faithful to God, family, and state. He maintained a sterling character throughout his life, was tolerant and generous to his fellow man, and his wisdom and opinion was sought by all. He was a loving, kind, and patient husband and parent. His courteous and devoted demeanor was punctuated by a cheerful, sunny disposition that all his contemporaries enjoyed. Music, botany, and horse breeding were among his favorite hobbies.
William Elias James died on March 15th, 1913. He is buried at Grove Hill Cemetery in Darlington.
Author: Ken Howle (Pee Dee Rifles Camp 1419, S.C.V.
and 8th S.C.V.I. Reenactors, Palmetto Battalion)