James Appleton Blackshear

A cadet at the Georgia Military Institute, Marietta, Ga. at the outbreak of the War, he left school to organize "a Company of the boys that were raised up with him near Americus". He was appointed First Lieutenant & Captain of Infantry, Georgia State Troops. He was appointed Captain, Battery D, Sumter Artillery on 15 May 1862 - at not quite 21 years of age.

It is not clear what role if any his battery had on September 17th. His own account speaks only of action generally.

On Ocober 4, 1862 his battery was disbanded, and the best men and material were sent to other batteries to bring them up in strength. He was relieved of his immediate duties, reported to Richmond for orders, and was assigned to recruiting duty in Georgia. He said:

" ... In a few days Lieut. Council reported to me for duty as Asst. Eng. Offr. The business of the office was soon arranged for his accommodation and mine. He preferred the society of gentlemen and consequently the work of our office and there not being enough to busy us both I paid my respects to the ladies and lived the life of a loafer as most men are want to do..."

Beginning in 1865 he taught school in Sumter County, Georgia, then, in 1867, in Louisiana, where he died of tuberculosis at about age 26.

Portions of his diary were published in Blacksheariana , by Perry Lynnfield Blackshear, Sr., 1954, and are posted online. This material is the source of much of the text above.

7/5/1841; Sumter County, GA

1867; Claiborne Parish, LA